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Table 1 Typical uses, upper range of reported exposure levels, and recommended exposure limits for solvents reported to be associated with connective tissue diseases

From: Epidemiology of organic solvents and connective tissue disease

  

Exposure levels

ACGIH TLV:

Solvent

Typical industrial uses

(mg/m3)

8 h TWA (mg/m3)

Benzene

Petroleum refining product; a component of gasoline [83]

0.1–27.2

1.6

Toluene

Tire vulcanization

5.66

188

 

Leather finishing

735

 
 

Hospital laboratory

47.5

 
 

General manufacturing [84]

452

 

Xylene

Hospital laboratory

1700

434

 

General manufacturing [84]

61

 

Trichloroethane

Nonflammable cold cleaning solvent; used alone or blended [4]

Not typically

1910

  

used in

 
  

consumer products

 

Trichloroethylene

Nonflammable liquid that dissolves fats, greases, tars, and waxes;

 

269

 

used for cold cleaning [4].

  
 

Degreasing [85]

4833

 
 

Also used in typographic correction fluids [86]

  

Perchloroethylene

Nonflammable liquid used in cold cleaning where slow

 

170

 

evaporation is desired [4]

  
 

Degreasing

12204

 
 

Dry cleaning [85]

3899

 

VM & P naphtha

Paint thinner with a boiling point range of 100–160°C [3]

 

1370

Mineral spirits

Moderate flammability solvent with a boiling point range

 

525

(Stoddard solvent)

of 149–205°C; dissolves oil and grease [4]

  
 

Commonly used in dry cleaning and as a paint thinner

  
  1. ACGIH, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists;TLV, threshold limit value; TWA, time weighted average; VM & P, varnishmaker's and painter's.