The present analyses were initiated to elucidate changes in types of prevalently used organic solvents in various solvent workplaces in Japan during the past 30 years.

Five publications on industrial solvent use were employed as databases, which were supplemented by solvent workplace surveys in 2010–2012; the surveys were conducted following regulation-stipulated procedures. In practice, data on 500–600 unit workplaces/year were available; the data were classified by types of solvent work according to the regulation.

The use of aromatic solvents (typically toluene) has been gradually replaced in a recent few years with methyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol in surface coating workplaces, whereas toluene has been essentially most prevalent in printing and painting workplaces. In cleaning workplaces, the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents was almost terminated in the years before 2000.

The present study may be the first report to note that the prevalence of toluene use has been decreasing in surface coating workplaces to be replaced by alcohols, although toluene has been most prevalent in printing and painting workplaces. In cleaning workplaces, there was a substantial reduction in the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents.