TYPES OF ORGANIC-SOLVENTS USED IN SMALL-SCALE TO MEDIUM-SCALE INDUSTRIES IN JAPAN - A NATIONWIDE FIELD SURVEY

Objective: The aim of the present survey is to identify organic solven ts commonly used in various workplaces in Japan. Methods: A total of 2 4 occupational health service institutions (OHSI) distributed nationwi de in Japan offered data on types of solvent workplaces, types of solv ents used therein, and the solvent concentrations surveyed in a 2-mont h period between April and May 1996 to form a data base (OHSI data bas e, consisting of 1597 cases). Separately, Kyoto Industrial Health Asso ciation (KIHA) offered information on 948 cases studied during a I-yea r period ranging from April 1995 to March 1996 (KIHA data base). The t wo data bases were treated in parallel to examine the reproducibility of the results. Results: Detection prevalence was very low (0-1%) for almost half of the 47 legally regulated solvents. Among the solvents i n use, toluene was most frequently detected, although the prevalence a ppeared to be reduced as compared with that recorded for the early 198 0s. The most frequently observed solvent combinations comprised toluen e, xylenes, and ethyl acetate in the OHSI data base and toluene, xylen es, and methanol in the KIHA data base. Contrary to the case in the 19 80s, dichloromethane was used more often than trichloroethylene as a d egreasing agent in the present survey. No use was detected for carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethylene, o r 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane except for research purposes. Conclusions: Toluene remained the most common solvent and was used in combination with xylenes, ethyl acetate, and methanol. There was an increase in th e use of dichloromethane as a degreasing agent.