Xylene

Xylene is a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid that catches on fire easily. It occurs naturally in petroleum and coal tar and is formed during forest fires. You can smell xylene in air at 0.08-3.7 parts of xylene per million parts of air (ppm) and begin to taste it in water at 0.53-1.8 ppm.

Chemical industries produce xylene from petroleum. It's one of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms of volume.

Xylene is used as a solvent and in the printing, rubber, and leather industries. It is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in paints and varnishes. It is found in small amounts in airplane fuel and gasoline. Exposure to xylene occurs in the workplace and when you use paint, gasoline, paint thinners and other products that contain it. People who breathe high levels may have dizziness, confusion, and a change in their sense of balance. This substance has been found in at least 658 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

See a doctor if you have been harmed by this substance. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be timelimits within which you must commence suit.

Attorneys associatedwith InjuryBoard.com will evaluate your case free of charge. In addition, you will not pay any legal fees unless your attorney recovers money for you. Please click on the free contact an attorney button to take advantage of this valuable service.

Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

See Also¶

1. Toxic & Hazardous Substances
2. Balance Problems: Overview
3. Delirium: Overview
4. Digestive Disorders: Overview
5. Ear, Nose, & Throat Disorders
6. Eye Disorders
7. Headaches
8. Kidney & Urinary Tract Disorders
9. Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
10. Lung & Airway Disorders
11. Memory Loss
12. Skin Disorders: Overview
13. Xylene: Frequently Asked Questions