Organic Vapour - Gas Profile
Organic Vapours (OV) are liquids of a petroleum base that evaporate and create a vapour in the air. They are carbon-based and dissolve other substances. They are most common in the construction and manufacturing industries as they are a by-product of the manufacturing of many household and industrial products.
Organic vapours can come from products such as gasoline, solvent-based epoxy and paint thinner but are also more commonly used to manufacture items such as cleaning products, paint and adhesives. These products can disperse a higher volume of organic vapours than others. Working with gases such as toluene, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, and sulphur dioxide also includes the risk of organic vapours. Organic vapours are a risk to humans when they are overexposed. This can occur through inhaling vapours as solvents evaporate, which are then inhaled into the lungs and spread throughout the bloodstream. Common symptoms of exposure to organic vapours include headaches, disorientation, drowsiness and nausea. However, this can evolve into long-term problems of memory problems, weakness and concentration difficulties.
