The diagnosis and management of solvent-related disorders

Millions of workers in the United Stares are recurrently exposed to solvent s throughout their working lives. Members of this class of compounds share the ability to dissolve waxes, fats, and oils as their common characteristi c. This review offers the health practitioner a practical approach to the d iagnosis, management, and prevention of solvent-related disorders that resu lt from exposures to these compounds in the workplace. A description of com monly used solvents is provided along with a brief review of the literature that documents their acute and chronic effects on health. Am. J. Ind. Med. 37:44-61, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.