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Toluene
Description: Toluene (C.A.S. 108-88-3) is a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet odor. Its natural sources include crude oil and the tolu tree. It is produced through petroleum refining and as a byproduct of styrene production and coke oven operations. Ninety-two (92) percent of toluene is used as a component of gasoline. One percent of toluene is used in solvents in paints, inks, adhesives, and cleaning agents, and in chemical extractions. The remainder is used in the chemical synthesis of benzene, urethane foams, and other organic chemicals; in the production of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and cosmetic nail products; and as an agent to expel or destroy roundworms and hookworms. Chemical and physical properties: Toluene is a colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent, benzene-like odor. It is flammable and produces poisonous gas in a fire; containers of it may explode in fire. It is slightly soluble, and incompatible with strong oxidizers. Synonyms for toluene are phenyl methane, methyl benzol, toluol, and methyl benzene. Identification: Health effects: Dysfunction of the central nervous system is the primary human health concern resulting from exposure to toluene. Toluene can affect humans when breathed in or passed through the skin. Exposure may result from glue sniffing, solvent abuse, or industrial accidents. Toluene may cause mutations in living cells; there is insufficient data on its carcinogenic potential. It may damage a developing fetus. Short-term exposure to low to moderate concentrations of toluene, such as in the workplace, can produce fatigue, confusion, general weakness, drunken actions, memory loss, nausea, and loss of appetite. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of toluene first results in lightheadedness and euphoria, followed by dizziness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, and, in some cases, death as a result of inability to breathe. Potential effects of long-term exposure to low to moderate concentrations of toluene are uncertain. Longterm exposure to high concentrations is associated with permanent brain damage, and bone marrow damage, causing low blood cell counts. Effects such as impaired speech, vision and hearing, loss of muscle control, and loss of memory and balance have been reported after such exposures. Asthmatics, individuals with other respiratory difficulties or cardiovascular disease, and the elderly may be at increased risk from exposure to toluene. Cigarette smokers and chronic alcohol drinkers may also be at increased risk. Exposure Values: Economics: U.S. manufacturers of toluene are Amerada Hess Corp, St. Croix, VI; American Petrofina Incorporated, Port Arthur, TX; Amoco Corporation, Texas City, TX; Ashland Oil, Inc, Leach Station, Catlettsburg, KY; Atlantic Richfield Co, Channelview, TX; Houston, TX; BP America, Inc, Alliance, LA; Lima, OH; Champlin Refining & Chemicals Inc, Corpus Christi, TX; Chevron Corp, Philadelphia, PA; Port Arthur, TX; Crown Central Petroleum Corp, Pasadena, TX; Dow Chemical USA, Freeport, TX; Exxon Corp, Baytown, TX; Kerr-McGee Corp, Corpus Christi, TX; Koch Industries, Inc, Corpus Christi, TX; Mobil Corp, Mobil Oil Corp, Beaumont, TX; Chalmette, LA; Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Chocolate Bayou, TX; Corpus Christi, TX; Phillips Petroleum Company, Sweeny, TX; Phillips Puerto Rico Core Inc, Hato, PR; Guayama, PR; Salomon Inc, Houston, TX; Shell Oil Co, Deer Park, TX; Sun Company, Inc, Marcus Hook, PA; Toledo, OH; Tulsa, OK; Texaco Inc, Delaware City, DE; El Dorado, KS; Port Arthur, TX; Unocal Corp, Beaumont, TX; Chicago, IL; USX Corporation, Texas City, TX; and Drummond Co Inc, Birmingham, AL. Regulation: The Federal Drug Administration regulates it as a residual solvent in finished resin. EPA offices overseeing regulations and guidelines applicable to toluene include Water Regulations and Standards, under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System; Emergency and Remedial Response; Solid Waste; and Toxic Substances. Under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986, releases of more than one pound of toluene into the air, water, and land must be reported annually and entered into the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). National Overview of 1998 Toxics Release Inventory See EPA's Toxic Release Inventory. Notations: The NIOSH recommended exposure limits (RELs) are time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations for up to a 10-hour workday during a 40-hour workweek. A short-term exposure limit (STEL) is designated by "ST" preceding the value; unless noted otherwise, the STEL is a 15-minute TWA exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday. A ceiling REL is designated by "C" preceding the value. Any substance that NIOSH considers to be a potential occupational carcinogen is designated by the notation "Ca." The OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) are found in Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3 of the OSHA General Industry Air Contaminants Standard (29 CFR 1910.1000). Unless noted otherwise, PEL are TWA concentrations that must not be exceeded during any 8-hour workshift of a 40-hour workweek. A STEL is designated by "ST" preceding the value and is measured over a 15-minute period unless noted otherwise. OSHA ceiling concentrations (designated by "C" preceding the value) must not be exceeded during any part of the workday; if instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, the ceiling must be assessed as a 15-minute TWA exposure. In addition, there are a number of substances from Table Z-2 (e.g., beryllium, ethylene dibromide, etc.) that have PEL ceiling values that must not be exceeded except for specified excursions. For example, a "5-minute maximum peak in any 2 hours" means that a 5-minute exposure above the ceiling value, but never above the maximum peak, is allowed in any 2 hours during an 8-hour workday. Information Sources:
Originally published in Environment Writer by the National Safety Council. Reprinted with permission. Environment Writer Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Office of Marine Programs Narragansett, RI 02882 Tel: 401-874-6211; Fax: 401-874-6485 Disclaimer * Copyright 2002-2006 * All rights reserved. * University of Rhode Island |