[AT] Solvent

[kgw]

I realize that everything that Walt says is absolutely true (well, it 
can be backed up by government resarch, etc), but I do have to ask 
myself just how much harm a slight amount of contact might make.

Going back to the early 60's, I spent about 20 years working with many 
industrial printing solvents, including a LOT of touol/toluene.  It was 
the best thing we had for many uses because it was a relatively slow 
solvent.  Some of our other major solvents were Methyl Ethyl Ketone 
(MEK), ethyl acetate, and various alcohols.  Today, the toluol/toluene 
and MEK are rarely seen.

Anyway, for those 20 years, I was physically in toluol to some degree 
virtually every working day.  I have gotten high on spills, I have used 
hundreds-thousands of gallons in a common mop bucket in an effort to 
keep the machine area floor clear of inks, adhesives, etc.

Though I have (so far, knock on wood) no indications of any cancers, I 
have had to deal with some depression etc that I wonder if might not be 
at least partially due to these solvents.  But my contact was so 
great---hell, I have on numerous occasions used toluol to fill a Zippo 
lighter and used the lighter as intended.

Point being here.  No, I don't condone that we go out and LOOK for 
trouble, but is such infrequent contact REALLY a problem, or do we spend 
much of our time tilting at windmills?

-- 
Gene

Gene Waugh
Elgin, Illinois 60123 USADAVIESW739 at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 6/21/2005 8:02:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time,  
> walking_tractor at yahoo.com writes:
> I like using xylene (xylol) or  toluene
> (toluol) for wiping parts down prior to painting. 
> 
> Great  choice Dave.
> 
> Benzene has been banned as solvent in the United States for  over twenty 20 
> years, yet workers are still exposed by direct and indirect  sources. People 
> working with petroleum solvents containing benzene are at  greatest risk, 
> because Benzene remains in use in most petroleum solvents. By  using the solvent 
> workers may come into contact by breathing in into their lungs  or may absorb it 
> through their skin when applying the solvent. Millions of  workers may be 
> exposed to benzene every year. 
> 
> Benzene products and close  relatives include:
> Toluene
> Metal Cleaners and  Degreasers
> Xylene
> Mesitylene 
> Most Petroleum Products
> Synthetic  Detergents
> SuperLAB
> 
> Workers in the following areas are at  risk:
> 
> Industrial plant workers who use solvents
> Painters
> Gasoline  Workers
> Oil Refinery Workers
> Chemical Lab workers
> People in the rubber  industry
> Pesticide manufacturing
> Printing/newspaper
> Paper and Pulp  manufacturing
> Adhesive production
> Leather manufacturing
> 
> 
> If you  worked in the above industries for any length of time and get 
> Leukemia or a rare  disease benzene may be the cause. People who are exposed over 
> long periods of  time are at greater risk, but studies have shown that even small 
> amounts of  Benzene can cause cancer.
> Smoking and certain inherited genetic traits are  the other risks factors, 
> but absent Benzene it is very rare that a person who  has one of the few known 
> risk factors for Leukemia will develop the  disease.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Walt Davies
> Cooper Hollow Farm
> Monmouth, OR 97361
> 503 623-0460 
>  
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 


-- 
Gene

Gene Waugh
Elgin, Illinois 60123 USA