Occupational health effects due to the exposure of solvents: a critical review

In the pharmaceutical, chemical and other industries, the use of various different kind solvents is a common practice, which are mostly used in enhancing the reaction, purification of the synthesis of the products and also it is used in the cleaning of the various equipment’s such as reactors and centrifuges. As exposure to the solvents are hazardous and critical in nature, so it is necessary to take proper safety precautions, while handling of the solvent. In case the solvents and chemicals are not handled properly with the safety norms, it will have a negative effect on the health of the occupants in the working environment, thus resulting in the various disabilities or nonfunctioning of the various parts in the human body. Higher exposure for the longer duration leads to the fatality. Throughout the globe the exposure limiting concentration is measured in the various forms, which has been discussed in this paper. Recent WHO report for the exposure of the chemical since 2016 to 2019 has been presented. The review helps the occupants in industrial environment to know the various exposures of different solvents, its effects on health and the limitation of the standards, which have been followed globally. The various threshold limit specified by the various international bodies have been presented.