Deteriorating air quality and increasing health concerns have resulted in the use of industrial solvents being scrutinised.
Improved air quality measurement techniques and a growing body of data have uncovered disturbing facts about mineral spirits and other low-flash solvents once presumed to be relatively innocuous.
Solvents: health risks
Numerous studies have discovered unsuspected health consequences due to solvent exposure.
One study reported that people exposed to even moderate amounts of airborne or skin-absorbed solvent may be affected by fatigue, depression, confusion, attention deficit, memory loss, tingling, numbness, loss of smell, muscle weakness and irritability.
Exposure symptoms generally seem to affect the central nervous system.
Long-term exposure was found to produce irreversible symptoms including cognitive and behavioural changes, impotence, skin irritation and cancer. In an effort to curb ozone air pollution, many countries have established strict air quality standards.
However, many people are not aware that just one solvent parts washer generates volatile organic compounds comparable to the annual emissions of ten cars.
In recent years, a number of waterbased parts cleaners have been introduced which effectively eliminate many of the problems with solvents.
However, non-bioremediating waterbased parts washers present another set of problems.
They require regular skimming of oils and the fluids must be collected and disposed of according to strict guidelines. They also generate grey water that requires special disposal at regular intervals.
Perhaps most importantly, waterbased parts washers do not cope well with certain greases and some contaminants, and efficiency drops away quickly the longer the fluid is used.
Bioremediating parts washing
Developments in bioremediation of cleaning solutions has enabled significant advances for parts cleaning.
While ordinary water-based parts cleaners lose effectiveness as the fluid becomes contaminated, the bioremediating parts cleaning solutions are highly efficient.
The bioremediated fluid is comfortable to touch, never caustic and does not need not to be skimmed of oil or disposed of as grey water.
Cost efficiency, hazard management, government regulation and legal liability are important considerations for maintenance engineers and plant managers.
The change to bioremediating parts washing can simplify operations and reduce health and environmental risks.
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