Editing Paint thinner (section)

==Hazards and health concerns==
Some paint thinners can ignite from just a small spark in relatively low temperatures. These solvents are [[volatile organic compounds]] (VOCs), with white or mineral spirits having a very low [[flash point]] at about 40°C (104°F), the same as some popular brands of charcoal starter. All such solvents with low flash points are hazardous and must be labelled as [[flammable]].
<ref>{{Cite book |title=Material Safety Data Sheet |publisher=HOC Industries, Inc. |year=2003 |edition=Revised |location=Wichita, KS |pages=1}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is Paint Thinner Flammable? |url=https://firefighterinsider.com/paint-thinner-flammable-flashpoint/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref>[[Health and Safety Executive]] "[https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/hazardous-substances/solvents.htm Construction hazardous substances: Solvents]"</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Labelling and packaging - Chemical classification |url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/labelling-packaging/index.htm |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.hse.gov.uk}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hazard symbols and hazard pictograms - Chemical classification |url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/labelling-packaging/hazard-symbols-hazard-pictograms.htm |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.hse.gov.uk}}</ref>

Prolonged exposure to VOCs emitted by paint containing these solvents or its clean-up using paint thinner are hazardous to health. VOCs exhibit high [[Lipophilicity|lipid solubility]] and for this reason, they [[bioaccumulation|bioaccumulate]] in [[adipose]] / fatty tissues.
<ref name="Wania, F. 1996">{{cite journal | author = Wania F., Mackay D. | year = 1996 | title = Tracking the Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants | journal = Environmental Science & Technology | volume = 30 | issue = 9| pages = 390A–396A | doi = 10.1021/es962399q | pmid = 21649427 }}</ref>
Extensive exposure to these vapours has been strongly related to [[Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy|organic solvent syndrome]], although a definitive relation has yet to be fully established.
<ref>{{Cite journal |pmc = 1472097|year = 2006|author1 = SPURGEON A|title = Watching Paint Dry: Organic Solvent Syndrome in late-Twentieth-Century Britain|journal = Medical History|volume = 50|issue = 2|pages = 167–188|pmid = 16711296|doi=10.1017/s002572730000973x}}</ref>
For safety reasons, the use of substances containing these solvents should always be done in well-ventilated areas, to limit the health consequences and minimise the risk of injuries or fatalities.<ref>Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf</ref> In countries with poor environmental protection regulation, workers commonly experience a high exposure to these chemicals with consequent damage to their health.
<ref>"Internal emails reveal how the chemical lobby fights regulation", [[The Guardian]] [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/internal-emails-reveal-how-the-chemical-lobby-fights-regulation]</ref>

The [[American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists]] has established [[threshold limit value]]s (TLVs) for most of these compounds. The TLV is defined as the maximum concentration in air which can be breathed by a normal person — i.e. excluding children, pregnant women, etc. — in the course of a typical American [[work week]] of 40 hours, day-after-day through their work life without long-term ill effects. Globally, the most widely accepted standard for acceptable levels of VOC in paint is [https://greenseal.org/standards/gs-11-paints-coatings-stains-and-sealers/ Green Seal's GS-11 Standards] from the US which defines different VOC levels acceptable for different types of paint based on use case and performance requirements.
<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Korea expands VOC controls and tightens limits in paint|url=https://chemicalwatch.com/80009/south-korea-expands-voc-controls-and-tightens-limits-in-paint|access-date=2021-03-27|website=chemicalwatch.com}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Consumer Products Regulations|url=https://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/VOC/What_Are_Volatile_Organic_Compounds_(VOC)_and_Overview_of_Global_VOC_Regulations.html|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.chemsafetypro.com}}</ref>

Due to their hazardous nature and environmental threat of damaging pollution — [[persistent organic pollutants]] from aromatic organic compounds that are resistant to degradation are often found in wastewater with poor handling and disposal resulting in them seeping into groundwater, contaminating public water supplies
<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Huang |first1=Andrew C. |last2=Nelson |first2=Cait |last3=Elliott |first3=John E. |last4=Guertin |first4=Daniel A. |last5=Ritland |first5=Carol |last6=Drouillard |first6=Ken |last7=Cheng |first7=Kimberly M. |last8=Schwantje |first8=Helen M. |date=2018-07-01 |title=River otters (Lontra canadensis) "trapped" in a coastal environment contaminated with persistent organic pollutants: Demographic and physiological consequences |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=238 |pages=306–316 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.035 |pmid=29573713 |bibcode=2018EPoll.238..306H |issn=0269-7491|doi-access=free }}</ref>
<ref name="ritter">{{cite web|title=Persistent organic pollutants|author=Ritter L|author2=Solomon KR|author3=Forget J|author4=Stemeroff M|author5=O'Leary C.|url=http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/ritter/en/ritteren.pdf|publisher=[[United Nations Environment Programme]]|access-date=2007-09-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926101350/http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/ritter/en/ritteren.pdf|archive-date=2007-09-26}}</ref>
— so in recent decades, laws from legislatures like the [[European Parliament]] in [[EU regulations]] have extensively reduced the usage of these VOC solvents in favour of [[water-based paint]]s — that is, using ones like [[acrylic paint]]s that have been reformulated to be made with water as the primary solvent, with only low levels of hydrocarbon solvents, if any — which perform in a very similar way as oil paints, but also are much less polluting, so have a much lower environmental impact.
<ref>[[Health and Safety Executive]] "Paint and coatings" [https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/faq-paint.htm]</ref>

===Addiction===
Paint thinners are often used as an [[inhalant]], due to its accessibility and legality as a drug. Many teenagers become addicted to thinner and due to lack of knowledge, parents and caregivers do not notice it or give it much attention. By using paint thinner a person could experience hallucinations, sensitive hearing (for the first time), speech deformation, memory loss, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paint Thinner Addiction Treatment: Addiction Signs, Causes, And Withdrawal Symptoms |url=https://www.lybrate.com/topic/treatment-for-paint-thinner-addiction |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Lybrate |language=en}}</ref>