A solvent is any substance that dissolves another substance. Organic solvents used in household products are hazardous and contain the same ingredients as their industrial and commercial counterparts. Solvents are used in many household products. Products that are composed partially of solvents include furniture oil, glues, aerosol sprays, shoe care products, rug cleaners, and oil-based paints. Solvents can be flammable, toxic, or pose a serious health risk through skin absorption and inhalation.
Some health hazards occur immediately.
Others, such as liver and kidney problems, birth defects, and nervous disorders, occur slowly over time. If absorbed through the skin, solvents are readily passed into the bloodstream where they must be filtered out by the liver and kidneys, the body's first line of defense against toxins. Solvent vapors are easily inhaled. Inhalation may cause nose and throat irritation and damage to lung tissue. Solvent vapors or splashes can cause severe eye damage, especially to those wearing soft contact lenses because the lenses absorb the solvents and hold them next to the eye.