Exposure to large doses of solvents may slow down reaction- time and affect rational judgement. This may increase the risk of accidents both at work and outside, such as in the traffic on the way back home. Solvents irritate the eyes and the respiratory tract. Solvents clean and defat, not only metal plates in the process, but also the skin. This is a very common cause of skin disorders and dermatitis.
Some solvents penetrate the skin and enter the blood circulation.
Solvents may damage the liver, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, bone marrow and the nervous system. The solvents which pose the most serious risk to health should be substituted by less hazardous ones. If this is not possible with regard to the workprocess, at least the conditions during handling should be adjusted so that there is no risk of skin contact and that the concentration of vapour in the air is kept low. This may be achieved, for example, by using a closed process. Amongst the most hazardous solvents are benzene, carbon disulphide and carbon tetrachloride.