Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to collect informaton about 34 large volume industrial organic solvents and to organize the information in a useful manner. Production, consumption, use, exposure and toxicological data collected were used to categorize and rank the solvents. Exposure and inhalation toxicity data were analyzed to provide indicators of solvents posing the greatest risk. The study concluded that twelve of the solvents studied may pose a potential risk. Further study of these solvents was recommended. The study also recommended that information regarding dermal absorption of potentially toxic chemicals be found in the literature or generated in the laboratory. Additionally, the study recommended that the Office of Toxic Substances consider a pilot program to assess the utility of future in-depth searches of the open literature. The study also recommended that Threshold Limit Values (TLV's) be established for solvents not already assigned TLV'S. Each solvent in the study was grouped according to use and basic chemical structure. Information about each solvent was listed in a series of 39 use category tables and 16 chemical structural category tables. Solvents were ranked according to total annual production and consumption, annual consumption as a solvent, inhalation and ingestion toxicity, and exposure potential. |