Health Dangers And Risks Associated With Turpentine

Lung Damage

Longer-term exposure to turpentine is linked to lung damage, and patients often develop a chronic form of bronchitis. Individuals who have worked with turpentine regularly for more than five years are at an increased risk of lung cancer. Patients exposed to turpentine at their workplace need to follow proper safety precautions, including the use of face masks and protective clothing, to reduce the potential for lung damage from this chemical. Individuals who work with turpentine regularly may want to have more frequent checkups with a physician to monitor their lung health. To assess the lungs, doctors will begin by listening to the patient's breathing with a stethoscope. They will check for any wheezing, coughing, or other abnormal sounds. Patients might need to have a chest x-ray, CT scan, pulmonary function tests, and a sputum test as part of an evaluation for chronic bronchitis. Individuals with this condition will often be treated with bronchodilators (inhaled medications that open the airways), and theophylline (an oral medicine that relaxes muscles in the airways) may be needed to relieve shortness of breath. Steroids are sometimes required, and patients are typically offered pulmonary rehabilitation to help improve their breathing overall.

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