[AT] Solvent

[DAVIESW739 at aol.com]

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