Petroleum Solvents Pollution

It is not always apparent to the wider public that solvents have numerous uses in common objects and processes around us; however, very many industrial products, from plastics to dyes and rubber, are dependent on such solvents.

Chemical Structure

Petroleum solvents are made up of liquid hydrocarbon derived from petroleum and petroleum by-products, used either for various commercial products or in laboratories for research purposes. They are used industrially because of their effectiveness, low cost and ready availability.

Uses

Gasoline, benzene, toluene, propane, octane, xylene and other petroleum products can be used as solvents in numerous processes, among which:

• de-oiling seeds
• removing fat from bones
• manufacturing artificial leather
• cleaning various types of products
• removing coatings
• manufacturing plastics
• manufacturing dyes and varnishes

Toxicity

Petroleum solvents are low in toxicity (compared to other types). However, they do have negative health effects if accumulated over time or inhaled/ingested in large quantities:

• nausea
• headache
• dizziness
• skin rash
• mild respiratory problems
• suspected increased risk for lung cancer and prostate cancer
• thyroid problems