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.
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Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
See Also
- Toxic & Hazardous Substances
- Balance Problems: Overview
- Delirium: Overview
- Digestive Disorders: Overview
- Ear, Nose, & Throat Disorders
- Eye Disorders
- Headaches
- Kidney & Urinary Tract Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Lung & Airway Disorders
- Memory Loss
- Skin Disorders: Overview
- Xylene: Frequently Asked Questions