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Bettesworth Construction
chemical safety

Turpentine: What It Is, Where It’s Used, and What to Do After Exposure

Turpentine is a pine-derived solvent used in some paints and other products. Learn how to identify it, understand exposure risks, and get prompt help after exposure.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 4 min read
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Turpentine is a pine-derived solvent found in some paints, coatings, thinners, and cleaning products. It is not the same thing as mineral spirits, and a product called “paint thinner” is not necessarily pure turpentine. Its hazards depend on the product and how a person is exposed. If someone may have swallowed turpentine or breathed its fumes, contact a poison center or emergency service promptly; do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional or poison center tells you to.

What is turpentine?

Turpentine and turpentine oil are derived from substances in pine or other evergreen trees. The terms can refer to related materials, but composition and use vary by product. Turpentine is a volatile hydrocarbon solvent; it should not be assumed interchangeable with mineral spirits or other paint thinners.

Health Canada identifies turpentine or turpentine oil in product contexts that include paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, automotive products, paint and varnish thinner, laundry and dishwashing products, and cleaning or furniture-care products. That does not mean every product in those categories contains it. Check the product label or safety information for its actual ingredients.

What is turpentine used for?

Painting and coatings

Turpentine has traditional uses as a solvent for painting and coatings. If using a product sold for this purpose, follow its label and safety directions, including those for ventilation, storage, and disposal. The name “paint thinner” alone does not identify its ingredients.

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#1 Best Overall
Winsor & Newton Distilled Turpentine, 250ml (8.4-oz) Bottle
  • Suitable for removing varnish (including dammar varnish)
  • Keep tightly Closed and away from light to prevent oxidation
  • Do not use if it has thickened
  • Package dimensions : 7.0 inches (H) x 3.0 inches (L) x 5.0 inches (W)

Other products

Turpentine may also appear in some cleaning, automotive, adhesive, and household-care formulations. Use the directions for the particular product rather than assuming that products with similar purposes have the same composition or hazards.

Is turpentine toxic?

Yes. Turpentine can cause poisoning if swallowed or if fumes are inhaled; skin or eye contact can also cause harm. Effects vary with the product, amount, route, and duration of exposure. MedlinePlus lists possible effects including breathing difficulty, severe coughing or choking, neurologic symptoms, skin irritation or burns, eye injury, and gastrointestinal injury. Serious lung injury is also a concern if the liquid enters the airways.

Rank #2
Diamond G Forest Products, LLC 4 Oz 100% Pure Gum Spirits of Turpentine
  • 100% Pure and All-Natural
  • Made in the USA
  • Fresh, Clean Pine Scent

For workplace context, NIOSH’s IDLH reference says eye and central-nervous-system effects above 1,500 ppm might impede escape if a respirator fails. This is an emergency escape-related figure, not a general safe-exposure limit.

What should you do after a possible exposure?

Get case-specific guidance from a poison center or emergency medical service. Call local emergency services immediately for severe symptoms, trouble breathing, collapse, or an unconscious person. In the United States, MedlinePlus directs people to Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Outside the United States, contact the local poison center or emergency service.

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Rank #3
TERLANS Professional Odorless Oil Paint Thinner 100 ml (3.38 Fl.Oz.) – Controlled and Smooth Dilution, Completely Odorless Turpentine Substitute for Painting
  • Completely Odorless & Non-Toxic: TERLANS Oil Paint Thinner is a completely odorless solution, making it perfect for artists who work in enclosed studios or sensitive environments. Developed especially for odorsensitive users for thinning oil paint. The harmful and smelling aromatic component is less than 2%. The odor can only be perceived when the nose is very close to the cap. Flash point: 106.5 °C Designed for controlled dilution, not aggressive stripping. Slower evaporation for better control. Not intended as heavy-duty degreaser
  • Tested & Certified Safety: Independently tested by an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory and passed SOR/2001-269 Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 (Canada) for chemical product safety and packaging compliance.
  • Premium Turpentine Substitute: Enjoy a safer alternative to traditional turpentine — ideal for thinning oil paints and achieving smoother applications without harsh fumes.
  • Perfect Paint Compatibility: Offers flawless blending with oil colors and 100% evaporation, ensuring no residue is left behind for a smooth, professional finish.
  • Multi-Purpose Thinner & Cleaner: Suitable for thinning oil paints and Terlans refined linseed oil, dissolving natural & synthetic oils (including wood finishing oils), and organic resins.
  • If swallowed: Do not induce vomiting unless poison control or a health care professional directs you to. Vomiting can increase the risk that the liquid enters the lungs.
  • If inhaled: Move the person to fresh air if this can be done safely, and seek prompt medical or poison-center advice.
  • On skin or in eyes: Flush with water for at least 15 minutes and obtain expert guidance, especially if irritation or injury persists.

Keep the product container or label available when calling so responders can identify its ingredients and concentration. These steps do not replace individualized medical advice.

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Do regulations or product labels mean turpentine is safe for a particular use?

No broad safety conclusion follows from a listing or from one product label. The U.S. FDA food-contact inventory lists turpentine under CAS 8052-14-0 and points to 21 CFR 172.510 and 175.105. The FDA instructs users to consult the applicable regulation to determine whether a substance is authorized for a specific intended use; this is not a general approval for household or medicinal use.

Rank #4
Winsor & Newton Oil & Alkyd Solvents English Distilled Turpentine 250 ml
  • Strong thinner and brush cleaner
  • Pure spirits of gum turpentine
  • Removes varnish
  • Keep closed, Store in dark
  • 250 ml bottle

Health Canada’s turpentine and turpentine oil page describes a draft assessment, not a final conclusion. It proposes potential liver and kidney effects for certain specified exposure scenarios, including topical products at stated concentrations and short-term skin contact or inhalation involving 100% turpentine paint thinner or remover. The agency says its evaluation is continuing; these statements should not be generalized to every product or exposure.

A DailyMed label for the named product DIE DA WAN HUA PAIN RELIEVING lists turpentine oil at 6% as an external analgesic and says “For external use only.” The label also says the FDA has not evaluated whether the product complies. That product-specific label does not establish that turpentine oil is generally safe or effective as a remedy.

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A cited reproduction of U.S. 16 CFR § 1500.14 describes danger-labeling requirements for turpentine and products containing at least 10% by weight because of oral toxicity and aspiration hazards. Legal requirements can change; consult the current official regulation for a compliance decision.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Winsor & Newton Distilled Turpentine, 250ml (8.4-oz) Bottle
Winsor & Newton Distilled Turpentine, 250ml (8.4-oz) Bottle
Suitable for removing varnish (including dammar varnish); Keep tightly Closed and away from light to prevent oxidation
$20.91
Bestseller No. 2
Diamond G Forest Products, LLC 4 Oz 100% Pure Gum Spirits of Turpentine
Diamond G Forest Products, LLC 4 Oz 100% Pure Gum Spirits of Turpentine
100% Pure and All-Natural; Made in the USA; Fresh, Clean Pine Scent
$22.99
Bestseller No. 4
Winsor & Newton Oil & Alkyd Solvents English Distilled Turpentine 250 ml
Winsor & Newton Oil & Alkyd Solvents English Distilled Turpentine 250 ml
Strong thinner and brush cleaner; Pure spirits of gum turpentine; Removes varnish; Keep closed, Store in dark
$17.99

How should you assess a product containing turpentine?

  • Identify the product: Read the label and safety information; do not infer ingredients from a generic name such as “thinner.”
  • Check intended use: A painting solvent, cleaner, and topical product are different formulations with different directions.
  • Note concentration and exposure: Risk depends on how much is present, the route, and how long exposure lasts.
  • Follow local requirements: Labeling and permitted uses depend on jurisdiction and the specific application.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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