Description
Toluene is a sweet-smelling, industrial solvent and a volatile organic compound (VOC). Toluene is used in consumer products such as adhesives, nail polish, cosmetics, rubber cement, paints, paint thinners, lacquers, stain removers, dyes and inks. It is also found in gasoline, car exhaust, and cigarette smoke. These are the most likely sources of exposure to toluene for children.
Toluene is produced by petroleum refining and as a byproduct of styrene manufacturing. It is used to manufacture benzene and urethane. Emissions of toluene where people live could occur as a result of these industrial activities.
Toluene also occurs naturally in crude oil and the tolu tree.
Health Effects
Immediate Health Effects
- If SWALLOWED, toluene is Not Available
- If ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, toluene is Not Available
- If INHALED (SNIFFED OR BREATHED IN), toluene is Not Available
Longterm or Delayed Health Effects
- This chemical is considered an Unclassifiable Carcinogen by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or another agency.
- Neurotoxin = Can harm brain and central nervous system
- Development Toxicant = Can interfere with normal development of a fetus or child
Other
- If inhaled, may depress the central nervous system, causing lightheadedness, headaches, euphoria, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, memory loss, and, at higher concentrations, unconsciousness or death.
- Eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, causing coughing; dry, cracked skin and skin rash/dermatitis.
- Kidney and liver damage. Hearing loss. Irregular heartbeat.
- Exposure to high levels during pregnancy can damage fetal development, possibly causing impaired mental functions, attention deficits, retarded growth, fetal solvent syndrome (with symptoms resembling fetal alcohol syndrome), and birth defects, including facial and limb abnormalities. These effects were noted in the infants of women who were chronic paint sniffers during pregnancy.
Some studies found higher rates of spontaneous abortion and miscarriage in women occupationally exposed to toluene or in wives of men occupationally exposed to it. However, the subjects of these studies may have been exposed to other solvents or there were other problems with the studies, making the results less than conclusive.
- Inhalation over a long period of time can cause sore throats, fatigue, sleep problems, loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, dizziness, headaches. Impairment in reactions time, spread of perception, loss of hearing, memory and concentration problems and alteration in learned behaviors.
Permanent brain damage can also result from prolonged exposure, impairing speech, vision and hearing, and causing loss of muscle control, memory, and balance. These neurological effects are apparent in chronic solvent abusers. Some of these effects have also been noted in occupationally exposed individuals.
How Exposures Occur
Consumer Products
- Children can inhale toluene released by some paints, paint thinners, fingernail polishes, perfumes, lacquers, rubber cement, stain removers, fabric dyes, inks and adhesives when they are used inside the house, especially without adequate ventilation.
Secondhand Cigarette Smoke
- Children can inhale small amounts of toluene from secondhand cigarette smoke.
Automobile Exhaust and Gasoline
- Toluene can be emitted in car, truck, and airplane exhaust, as well as gasoline fumes. Children may be exposed to toluene fumes if they live near busy highways and streets, or spend a lot of time near or in gas stations.
Outdoor Air
- Children living near industrial facilities that release toluene or hazardous waste disposal sites could inhale traces of toluene.
Drinking Water
- Toluene may contaminate drinking water.
Significant Statistics
In a test of human exposures, toluene was detected in the blood of every person tested (250), and in the fat tissue of 91% of people tested.
Toluene, CASRN 108-88-3 (Human Health Effects). Toxnet Hazardous Substances Data Bank, National Library of Medicine.http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~byAI8S:1
Solutions
How to detect toluene
- Read labels before purchasing cleaners, paints and paint removers, aerosol sprays, adhesives and other household products that may contain solvents. A search for toluene in the National Library of Medicine’s Household Products Database will show a list of brands that contain it.
Or request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the product’s manufacturer. Material Safety Data Sheets can also be obtained online at Vermont Safety Information Resources Inc. or Interactive Learning Paradigms Inc.
- In Drinking Water: Toluene is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires that community water systems monitor toluene levels, and make public when levels exceed the set Maximum Contamination Level (MCL). The MCL for toluene has also been set at 1 part toluene per million parts of water.
Community water systems are required to produce annual consumer confidence reports and mail them to every water customer.
If your water source is a well, your water is not monitored for contaminants as is required for public water supplies by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Private testing of the water is necessary.
Even if your water comes from a community water system, contaminant levels can vary from house to house. You can have your water tested by sending samples to a certified laboratory.
You can search for water quality reports from your water provider, obtain information on well water testing and find a list of state-certified drinking water laboratories at the U.S. EPA’s Office of Water’s website, or call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-426-4791.
How to minimize exposure to toluene
- Use products containing solvents, such as nail polish, rubber cement, stain removers, paint thinners and strippers, outdoors or with plenty of ventilation by opening windows and using fans, especially exhaust fans. Keep skin and eyes protected from contact by using gloves and protective eyewear when necessary. Limit use of these products around children.
If you are pregnant or have heart problems, avoid using products containing toluene.
- Reduce your children’s exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke.
Alternatives
- Choose least toxic and low-or no-VOC cleaning products, paints, sealants, paint thinners, adhesives, etc.
- Toluene-free nail polishes include L’Oréal Paris Jet-Set Quick Dry Nail Enamel,® Revlon Nail Enamel,® Garden Botanika Natural Color Nail Color,® and Kiss Products Kiss Colors.®
- Service stations with plastic vapor-recovery boot nozzles on their gas pumps release fewer fumes into the air during filling.
For More information
Books, articles, factsheets and reports
Montague, Peter. “Solvents: All-Purpose Poisons,” Rachel’s Environment and Health News, No. 647 (April 22, 1999).
http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?issue_ID=1316
Other government agencies
Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road E-29
Atlanta, GA 30333
800-447-1544, 888-422-8737
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
11 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-497-7440
http://psr.igc.org/
Nonprofit organizations
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-2700
http://www.nrdc.org
Other websites
Environmental Defense Chemical Scorecard
http://www.scorecard.org
Other
When released into the air, toluene combines with oxygen and forms benzaldehyde and cresol. These compounds can be harmful to humans.
Source: Public Health Statement for Toluene, CAS# 108-88-3. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Control, May 1994.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/phs8923.html
