[Decrease in the n-hexane risk in shoe manufacturing industry].

In recent years the composition of the glues used in the shoe manufacturing industry in the "Riviera del Brenta" area (northern Italy) has changed considerably, with a gradual reduction of n-hexane. This fact emerged from a survey of 337 gluing stations in 105 shoe factories where 104 different commercial products containing organic solvents were found. The determining element in this change was the substitution of technical hexane with other refinery products which have a low n-hexane content (< 5%). There was a possible health risk due to n-hexane exposure in about only 10% of the gluing stations and in about 8% of commercial products, where mixtures of technical hexane are used. Ethyl acetate, cyclo-hexane, hexane isomers, methyl ethyl ketone, heptane and acetone are among the solvents most frequently used. This change means that assessment of glue composition will be necessary before beginning a health monitoring programme of the exposed population.