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Petroleum distillates are colorless liquid petrochemical mixtures with kerosene-like odor and a boiling range of 90–240 °C containing hydrocarbons ranging between C7 and C12 divided into three major components. The group with highest proportion (30–50%) is usually linear and branched alkanes. The second group of relevant components is cycloalkanes, which can be found in petroleum distillates between 30 and 40%. Finally aromatic hydrocarbons can also be found in significant proportions up to 25% in these distillates. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that petroleum distillates may change over the years, mainly due to different origins of crude oils used for production and changes undergone in the refinery processes, which can conduce to variations in the exact composition of the same product even among different manufacturers. It is also remarkable that the name ‘petroleum distillates’ might include other preparations coming from different distillations of crude petroleum; indeed, European regulation for classification of labeling of chemicals considers petroleum distillates as a total of 12 different products, five with CAS number as described above plus another seven preparations corresponding to heavier distillation fractions (higher than C15).
The petroleum distillates can be divided into three different categories according to the manufacturing procedure, that might be by catalytic hydrodesulfurization (type 1), by solvent extraction (type 2), or by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst (type 3) . The proportion or aromatics is lower than 25, 5, and 1% for types 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A special preparation of petroleum distillate type 1 is manufactured in the United States under the name of Stoddard solvent. A fourth type (type 4) might be considered as a crude mixture not treated beyond the process of distillation.
Petroleum distillates types 1, 2, and 3 are further divided into three technical grades, which are defined by flash point: low flash petroleum distillates (ranging between 21 and 30 C), regular flash petroleum distillates (ranging between 31 and 54 C), and high flash petroleum distillates (with flash point higher than 55 °C).
Petroleum solvents are included by International Agency for Research on Cancer within Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans). However, the current European regulations consider distillates as belonging to carcinogen category 1B (presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans) and require that these distillates be labeled with the hazard statement H350 (may cause cancer). In addition, they are also classified for aspiration toxicity and mutagenicity.

Colorless liquid with a kerosene-like odor;density 0.79 at 20°C (68°F); boils at 154–202°C (309–395°F); insoluble in water, miscible with most organic solvents..

STODDARD SOLVENT is a complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained from the distillation of crude oil or natural gasoline. It consists predominantly of saturated hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9 through C12 and boiling in the range of approximately 140.degree.C to 220.degree.C (284.degree.F to 428.degree.F).

No serious health hazard has been reported asresulting from exposure to Stoddard solvent.Vapors are an irritant to the eyes, nose, andthroat. Skin contact can cause defatting andirritation. A 7-hour exposure to 1700 ppmwas lethal to cats.

Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Plastic gloves; goggles or face shield (as for gasoline); Symptoms Following Exposure: INHALATION: mild irritation of respiratory tract. ASPIRATION: severe lung irritation and rapidly developing pulmonary edema; central nervous system excitement followed by depression. INGESTION: irritation of stomach; General Treatment for Exposure: INHALATION: remove victim to fresh air. ASPIRATION: enforced bed rest; give oxygen; call a doctor. INGESTION: do NOT induce vomiting; guard against aspiration into lungs. EYES: wash with copious amounts of water. SKIN: wipe off and wash with soap and water; Toxicity by Inhalation (Threshold Limit Value): 200 ppm; Short-Term Inhalation Limits: 4000-7000 ppm for 60 min.; Toxicity by Ingestion: Grade 2, LD50 = 0.5 to 5 g/kg; Late Toxicity: Data not available; Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics: Vapors are nonirritating to the eyes and throat; Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Minimum hazard. If spilled on clothing and allowed to remain, may cause smarting and reddening of skin; Odor Threshold: Data not available.

Flammable

Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.

Bioaccumulation and Environmental Persistency
No relevant information is available regarding the potential of petroleum distillates to be bioaccumulated. However, its potential for bioaccumulation is dependent of the bioaccumulation potential of their individual components. In general, lower molecular weight alkenes display higher water solubility and do not tend to bioaccumulate, aromatics may exhibit a moderate tendency to bioaccumulate, and the higher molecular weights alkanes tend to bioaccumulate, as observed in aquatic organisms such as mussels and others after crude fuel spills containing several of the components found in petroleum distillates.
The volatile hydrocarbons tend to be photodegraded in the atmosphere. The hydrocarbons dissolved in water or retained on soil can be biodegraded by microorganisms. In general, the rate of biodegradation is higher for aromatics than for aliphatic hydrocarbons, and for lineal hydrocarbons than for branched or cyclic compounds. Degradation by aerobic microorganisms is usually faster than degradation by anaerobic microorganisms.

The mechanism of action of petroleum distillates on central nervous system is not known, but it is reported that inhalation of petroleum distillates causes oxidative stress in hippocampus.
The nephrotoxicity of petroleum distillates has been clearly demonstrated in rats, but not in other species like humans, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, and monkeys. It is proposed that petroleum distillates exert their toxic effects on kidney by binding to the carrier protein a-globulin after their resorption in the proximal tubule, causing in this way the described nephropathy. The selectivity of this toxic effect toward rats is explained because this target protein is synthesized in large amounts only in this species. Humans do not produce a-globulin, which allows being resistant to nephrotoxicity induced by hydrocarbons. The resistance of female and castrated male rats to this kind of nephrotoxicity is understood considering that the synthesis of a-globulin is under androgenic control.