<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The aim of our study was to investigate organic solvents as chemical risk factors of the work environment in different branches of the industry in Latvia during 1998-2006 and to evaluate the possible impact of solvents to worker health according to the exposure index. The work conditions were studied in 116 enterprises of different branches of industries in Latvia. The analysis of 1790 measurements showed that organic solvents in the work environment have different degrees of exposure probability risk on worker health. The exposure levels in workplaces differ. More than half of surveyed workplaces (56.7%) had a low organic solvent exposure probability level, in 25.2% workplaces it was medium, and in 18.1% workplaces high. The most widely used organic solvents were aromatic hydrocarbons, which was recorded in 35% of the measurements made during assessment of aromatic hydrocarbon group organic solvent exposure in the work environment. In most workplaces several solvents were present simultaneously. Since solvents have a one-way effect on the human body, the actual exposure risk level is higher than shown when evaluating the exposure index of a single solvent only.</p></abstract>

The aim of our study was to investigate organic solvents as chemical risk factors of the work environment in different branches of the industry in Latvia during 1998-2006 and to evaluate the possible impact of solvents to worker health according to the exposure index. The work conditions were studied in 116 enterprises of different branches of industries in Latvia. The analysis of 1790 measurements showed that organic solvents in the work environment have different degrees of exposure probability risk on worker health. The exposure levels in workplaces differ. More than half of surveyed workplaces (56.7%) had a low organic solvent exposure probability level, in 25.2% workplaces it was medium, and in 18.1% workplaces high. The most widely used organic solvents were aromatic hydrocarbons, which was recorded in 35% of the measurements made during assessment of aromatic hydrocarbon group organic solvent exposure in the work environment. In most workplaces several solvents were present simultaneously. Since solvents have a one-way effect on the human body, the actual exposure risk level is higher than shown when evaluating the exposure index of a single solvent only.

Organic solvents as chemical risk factors of the work environment in different branches of industry and possible impact of solvents on workers' health

Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema iela 16, Rīga, LV-1007, LATVIA

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

The aim of our study was to investigate organic solvents as chemical risk factors of the work environment in different branches of the industry in Latvia...

Organic solvents as chemical risk factors of the work environment in different branches of industry and possible impact of solvents on workers' health

Published Online: Aug 18, 2010

Page range: 25 - 32

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-010-0011-z

Keywords
risk factors of work environment, organic solvents, exposure indexes, chemicals of different classes

This content is open access.

Organic solvents as chemical risk factors of the work environment in different branches of industry and possible impact of solvents on workers' health

Published Online: Aug 18, 2010

Page range: 25 - 32

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10046-010-0011-z

Keywordsrisk factors of work environment, organic solvents, exposure indexes, chemicals of different classes

This content is open access.

Keywords
risk factors of work environment, organic solvents, exposure indexes, chemicals of different classes