Objective To analyze the volatile chemical compositions of thinner used in jewelry processing industry, and to provide evidence for occupational hazards monitoring and prevention of occupational diseases in jewelry processing industry.

Methods Totally 64 thinner specimens sampled from 63 jewelry processing enterprises were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and the results were statistically analyzed. Occupational health field investigation was done while the thinner samples were taken.

Results Among 64 samples, 56 volatile chemical compositions were detected. The top two of detection rates were dichloromethane and methanol, and the detection rates were 67.19% and 53.13%, respectively. Other chemical compositions were benzene, methylbenzene, dimethoxymethane, pentane, methyl chloride, propyl alcohol, pexane(other isomers), dimethylcyclopentane, and so on.The first three compounds with the highest mean volume fraction of volatile chemical components in 64 samples were dichloromethane(33.91%), methanol(7.9%) and benzene(7.1%). The detected volatile chemical components with high risk included trichloroethylene, hexane, 1, 2-dichloroethane and benzene. It was noted that the sample with the most volatile chemical components detected contained 11 components. The field survey showed that the monthly usage of thinner in jewelry processing industry was 0.5-18.0 kg, and the rate of equipping engineering protective facilities was higher than 90%, but the rate of using individual protective equipment was only 21.9%.

Conclusion Considering the quantity of the detected occupational hazards of volatile chemical components of thinner and their proportion and toxicity, occupational health supervision departments and enterprises should pay more attention to such occupational hazards in thinner used in Jewelry processing industry.