Dangerous Chemicals

A solvent is a substance capable of dissolving another substance to form a solution. Organic solvents contain carbon as their base (petroleum based).

Commercial industries routinely use Organic solvents. Examples are chloroform, paint removers, and other chemicals used in fungicides and pesticides.  They are useful because they can dissolve oils, fats, resins, rubber, and plastics. For example, solvents can be used to dissolve dirt on machinery. Organic solvents are found in paints, varnishes, lacquers, adhesives, glues, and degreasing/cleaning agents, and in the production of dyes, polymers, plastics, textiles, printing inks, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals.

Many organic solvents are recognized as carcinogens, reproductive hazards and neurotoxins. They can leach into groundwater from spills or leaks and remain for years. Risks from organic solvents vary depending on the volume or quantity stored and where they are stored. The Drinking Water Threats from Organic Solvents in the Quinte Area fact sheet contains more information on organic solvents.

DNAPLs are chemicals that are heavier or denser than water and do not dissolve easily in water. When spilled on the ground, these substances sink below the water table, creating contamination of the groundwater that can last for decades or centuries.  DNAPLs are difficult to locate and remove from below the ground and complete cleanup is considered unattainable.

DNAPLs are considered dangerous and toxic to human health even at low levels. Some are classified as carcinogenic to humans and animals.

DNAPLs are used widely in many industries and are also found in smaller quantities in common household products like adhesives and cleaners. Because they are persistent in the environment, DNAPLs pose a threat at greater distances from wells than some other chemical threats. DNAPLs are also considered a very high risk based on the likely inability to clean up the water source following a spill or leak, and the time and expense needed to replace a well.

Common types of DNAPLs include timber treating oils such as creosote, transformer and insulating oils containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), coal tar, and a variety of chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE). The most common DNAPLs are chlorinated solvents, for example, Trichloroethylene (TCE), which is used to clean metal products, and is also found in paint removers or strippers, spot removers and rug-cleaning fluids. Some other common DNAPLs are dry cleaning chemicals, cleaning and degreasing solvents and varnishes. The Drinking Water Threats from DNAPLs in the Quinte Area fact sheet contains more information on DNAPL threats.