Industrial solvents and psychological effects Chuan Fang Jin, MD, MPH a , Marc Haut, PhD, ABPP-cn b , Alan Ducatman, MD, MS c, * a Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, West Virginia University School of Medicine, West Virginia University Health Science Building South, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA b Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, PO Box 9137, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA c Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, West Virginia University Health Science Building South, P.O. Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA Industrial solvents and their use Solvents are substances in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution. Most solvents are lipophilic, low molecular weight, volatile liquids at room temperature. The term ‘‘industrial solvent’’ is generally applied to liquid organic compounds used on a large scale to perform numerous functions in industry. Solvents differ widely in structure. Nine general classes of solvents are classified by their solubility in oil or water, flammability and explosivity, and volatility. The most widely used are hydrocarbons (aliphatic and aromatic). Other classes include halogenated hydrocarbons, aldehydes and ketals, alcohols, ethers, glycol derivatives, esters, and ketones. Many common solvents are mixtures and are general rather than precise descriptions of the contents. For example, Stoddard solvent and thinners (hydrocarbon mixtures) contain numerous identi- fiable compounds. Solvents are constituents of, or are required in the production of, a wide variety of products. Organic solvents are used for extracting, dissolving, or suspending materials such as fats, waxes, and resins that are not soluble in water. The removal of the solvent from a solution permits the recovery of the solute intact with its original properties. Solvents are also used in paints, adhesives, glues, coatings, and in the production of dyes, polymers, plastics, textiles, printing inks, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and as industrial cleaners. 1526-0046/04/$ – see front matter D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.coem.2004.03.009 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: aducatman@hsc.wvu.edu (A. Ducatman). Clin Occup Environ Med 4 (2004) 597 – 620