There have been discussions here on the dangers of thinners used with various paints. I know that a lot of folks like to use acrylics because isopropyl alcohol is supposed to be much safer than turpentine or lacquer thinners. I decided to look up just how dangerous the later two substances are.
Turpentine has been used for centuries. In the middle ages it was used as a medicine, both internal and external. Internal is NOT a good idea, we know now- it can cause kidney damage. Don't drink it! As far as the vapors, Vicks vapo-rub still uses it as the active ingredient. In high concentrations it is not good for lungs and air passages, but those are really high concentrations. It is not believed to be a carcinogen, unlike many other organic solvents.
Acetone (active ingredient in many lacquer thinners) seems to be more dangerous. It is flammable at much lower concentrations, and is more dangerous to inhale.
So I guess I will continue to use turpentine frequently, and continue to occasionally use some lacquer thinner, but only rarely.