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Organic Solvents

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Kanerva's Occupational Dermatology

Abstract

Industrial solvents are chemically diverse, volatile organic liquids that are commonly used to dissolve other organic materials in various industries.

Besides systemic adverse effects, these substances are capable to induce unwanted skin effects. Depending on their specific structure, solvents may induce dryness, whitening, sensory irritation, cumulative irritant contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, chemical burns, as well as scleroderma.

Selected substances such as turpentine and limonene may cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Skin contact should at best be avoided by using appropriate gloves.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    †Deceased.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter StraĂźe 35, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Dr. Sibylle Schliemann & Jan E. Wahlberg†

  2. Department of Occupational and Environmental Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anders Boman

Authors
  1. Dr. Sibylle Schliemann
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  2. Anders Boman
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  3. Jan E. Wahlberg†
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sibylle Schliemann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Thomas Rustemeyer

  2. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany

    Peter Elsner

  3. Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of OsnabrĂĽck, OsnabrĂĽck, Germany

    Swen-Malte John

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Schliemann, S., Boman, A., Wahlberg†, J.E. (2012). Organic Solvents. In: Rustemeyer, T., Elsner, P., John, SM., Maibach, H.I. (eds) Kanerva's Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02035-3_63

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02035-3_63

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