Paint thinner is a volatile solvent and produces a vapor that, if inhaled, can cause major health problems. When a person inhales the fumes, the immediate problems are nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, and chest pains. This occurs as soon as the person inhales the paint thinner. If the person continues the behavior then they are at risk for long-term effects. They can experience hand tremor and damage to the nervous system that are similar to lead poisoning.
Victims can die from suffocation because paint thinner directly attacks the respiratory system.
Ultimately, the person can suffer from cardiac arrest. Disposal of the solvents also proves to be a challenge to the environment. If the paint thinner is not disposed of properly, then it can leak into the soil and contaminate the water supply. This is a problem because it is very difficult to remove from the soil. There are ways to keep the solvents from contaminating the environment.