Description

Toluene (C₆H₅CH₃) is added to gasoline, used to produce benzene, and used as a solvent. Exposure to toluene may occur
from breathing ambient or indoor air affected by such sources. The central nervous system (CNS) is the
target organ for C₆H₅CH₃ toxicity in both humans and animals for acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term)
exposures. CNS dysfunction and narcosis have been frequently observed in humans acutely exposed to elevated
airborne levels of C₆H₅CH₃; symptoms include fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, and nausea. CNS depression has been
reported to occur in chronic abusers exposed to high levels of toluene. Chronic inhalation exposure of humans to
toluene also causes irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes, sore throat, dizziness, and headache. Human
studies have reported developmental effects, such as CNS dysfunction, attention deficits, and minor craniofacial
and limb anomalies, in the children of pregnant women exposed to high levels of toluene or mixed solvents by
inhalation. EPA has concluded that that there is inadequate information to assess the carcinogenic potential of
toluene.

Toluene

Uses

The major use of toluene is as a mixture added to gasoline to improve octane ratings. Toluene is also used
to produce benzene and as a solvent in paints, coatings, synthetic fragrances, adhesives, inks, and cleaning
agents. (1)
Toluene is also used in the production of polymers used to make nylon, plastic soda bottles, and
polyurethanes and for pharmaceuticals, dyes, cosmetic nail products, and the synthesis of organic
chemicals.

The Reference Concentration (RfC) for toluene is 5 milligrams per cubic meter (5 mg/m3) based on
neurological effects in humans. The RfC is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of
magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups)
that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious noncancer effects during a lifetime. It is not a
direct estimator of risk but rather a reference point to gauge the potential effects. At exposures
increasingly greater than the RfC, the potential for adverse health effects increases. Lifetime exposure
above the RfC does not imply that an adverse health effect would necessarily occur. (2)
EPA has high confidence in the RfC, the studies on which the RfC was based, and in the overall toluene
database. There are many high quality chronic human studies available including a subset of studies
presenting a cluster of NOAELs for neurological effects below reported LOAELs for all available endpoints.
In addition, there are numerous supportive animal studies including those showing reproductive and
developmental effects at doses higher than that identified as the point of departure.

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