How does xylene enter the body

Cannella, W. Xylenes and ethylbenzene. New York: John Wiley and Sons [online]. Carlsson, A. Distribution and elimination of 14C-xylene in rat. Work Environ. Health 7 1 Carpenter, C. Kinkead, D. Geary, Jr. Sullivan, and J. Petroleum hydrocarbon toxicity studies. Animal and human response to vapors of mixed xylene. Crawl, J. Desi, I. Kovacs, Z. Zahumenszky, and A. Maze learning in rats exposed to xylene intoxication. Psychopharmacologia 11 3 Dudek, B.

Gralewicz, M. Jakubowski, P. Kostrzewski, and J. Neurobehavioral effects of experimental exposure to toluene, xylene and their mixture. EPA U. Environmental Protection Agency. Xylenes CAS Reg. Fabre, R. Truhaut, and S. Toxicological research on substitute solvents for benzene. Study of xylenes [in French]. Gamberale, F. Annwall, and M. Exposure to xylene and ethylbenzene. Effects on central nervous functions.

Garcia, H. Gerarde, H. Toxicological studies on hydrocarbons: III. The biochemorphology of the phenylalkanes and phenylalkenes. AMA Arch. Health 19 4 London: Elsevier. Goldie, I. Can xylene xylol provoke convulsive seizures?

Gusev, I. Reflective effects of microconcentrations of benzene, toluene, xylene and their comparative assessment [in Russian]. Hake, C. Stewart, A. Wu, S. Graff, and H. Hastings, L. Cooper, and W. Human sensory response to selected petroleum hydrocarbons.

Applied Toxicology of Petroleum Hydrocarbons, H. MacFarland, C. Holdsworth, J. MacGregor, R. Call, and M. Lane, eds. Holdren, M. Chuang, S. Gordon, P. Callahan, D. Smith, G. Keigley, and R. Prepared for Geo-Centers, Inc. June HSDB [accessed June 29, ]. Jenkins, L. Jones, and J. Long-term inhalation screening studies of benzene, toluene, o- xylene, and cumene on experimental animals.

Kezic, S. Monster, J. Kruse, and M. Skin absorption of some vaporous solvents in volunteers. Health 73 6 Janmaat, J. Kruse, A. Monster, and M. Percutaneous absorption of m- xylene vapour in volunteers during pre-steady and steady state. Klaucke, D. Johansen, and R. An outbreak of xylene intoxication in a hospital.

Korsak, Z. Sokal, and R. Toxic effects of combined exposure to toluene and m- xylene in animals. Subchronic inhalation study. Health 5 1 Wisniewska-Knypl, and R. Toxic effects of subchronic combined exposure to n-butyl alcohol and m- xylene rats. Health 7 2 Kumarathasan, P. Otson, and I. Measurement of the distribution of m- xylene in rat tissues by head space gas chromatography. Laine, A. Savolainen, V. Matikainen, T. Salmi, and J. Acute effects of m- xylene inhalation on body sway, reaction times, and sleep in man.

Health 65 3 Loizou, G. Jones, P. Arkrill, D. Dyne, and J. Estimation of dermal absorption of m- xylene vapor in humans using breath sampling and physiologically based pharmacokinetic analysis. Maltoni, C. Conti, G. Cotti, and F. Experimental studies of benzene carcinogenicity at the Bologna Institute of Oncology: Current results and ongoing research.

Paksy, and M. Acta Physiol. Morley, R. Eccleston, C. Douglas, W. Greville, D. Scott, and J. Xylene poisoning: A report on one fatal case and two cases of recovery after prolonged unconsciousness.

Moszczynski, P. Occupational exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene and the T lymphocyte functions. Haematologia 17 4 NTP TR NIH Ebendal, M. Eriksdotter-Nilsson, T. Hansson, A. Henschen, A. Johnson, T. Kronevi, U. Kvist, N. Testicular atrophy and loss of nerve growth factor-immunoreactive germ cell line in rats exposed to n-hexane and a protective effect of simultaneous exposure to toluene or xylene.

Ogata, M. Tomokuni, and Y. Urinary excretion of hippuric acid and m- or p- methylhippuric acid in the urine of persons exposed to vapours of toluene and m- or p- xylene as a test of exposure. Yamazaki, R. Sugihara, Y. Shimada, and T. Quantitation of urinary o- xylene metabolites of rats and human beings by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Health 46 2 Olson, B. Gamberale, and A. Coexposure to toluene and p- xylene in man: Central nervous functions. Patel, J. Harper, B. Gupta, and R. Changes in serum enzymes after inhalation exposure of p- xylene. Pound, A.

Induced cell proliferation and the initiation of skin tumor formation in mice by ultraviolet light. Pathology 2 4 Raymer, J. Pellizzari, R. Voyksner, G. Velez, and N. Qualitative Analysis of Air Samples from Submarines. December 22, Human exposure to m- xylene: Kinetics and acute effects on the central nervous system.

Savolainen, and K. Among the metabolites, methyl hippuric acid, o-cresal, and hippuric acid are a biomarker in the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to xylene and toluene [ 7 ]. Methyl hippuric acid and hippuric acid are widely accepted indicators in the assessment of xylene and toluene in mixed solvent exposed workers in Thailand.

The previous studies report a good correlation of measurements of exposure to airborne xylene and toluene with their metabolites in urine [ 8 ]. Exposure to xylene and toluene can cause acute and chronic effects in human body systems. Workers exposed to these substances may experience neuropsychological symptoms [ 9 — 11 ], for example, mild headache, fatigue [ 12 ], and cognitive disorders. The impacts of the solvents on mental conditions and emotional disorders [ 13 , 14 ] may include depression, headache, fatigue, anxiety, drunken feelings, and insomnia [ 15 ].

Other disorders may include difficulty in concentrating or remembering [ 16 ], fatigue, sleepiness, and clumsiness. There are many factors in the use of solvents associated with neurological disorders, including personal factors, such as age and gender and inappropriate behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking, not wearing personal protective equipment such as a mask and gloves [ 12 ], inappropriate working conditions [ 9 ], long working hours, and also channels of exposure to the body such as the respiratory tract and the skin.

The exposure assessment allows the biological monitoring of workers by assessing their exposure to substances from the working environment, for example, a personal sampling for the toluene concentration [ 17 ], and an assessment of the environmental concentrations of the solvents that can enter the body via the respiratory tract and skin. The assessment of chemicals can be based on parent compounds or metabolites, such as from blood and urine [ 9 ].

The assessment of chemicals in urine is preferred rather than a blood test because it is a noninvasive method. The relationship between the level of toluene in urine and the concentration of toluene in the working environment as found by using the personal passive badge has already been demonstrated [ 17 ]. There are various methods for assessing the long term impacts on health, for example, epidemiology [ 18 ], and questionnaires, namely, Q16 [ 19 ], Q18 [ 20 ], and Euroquest EQ [ 21 ], which can be applied for screening and the diagnosis for the toxicity of solvents.

The Euroquest questionnaire has been tested for sensitivity and specificity and can be applied for screening and diagnosis for toxicity of the solvents [ 22 ]. Despite the results concerning exposure to solvents and the impact of exposure on the neuropsychological symptoms of workers [ 12 , 16 ], most studies in Thailand assessed the exposure to high concentrations of solvents in the working environment [ 23 ].

More evidence is required regarding the exposure to low concentrations of xylene and toluene and regarding the risk factors for neuropsychological symptoms. This will help to set guidelines for the health screening and for the development of policy to take care of workers at risk. The methodology of the present study was analytical research.

The cross-sectional data was obtained from workers in two paint manufacturing facilities. The data collection period was from April to June The population included workers in paint manufacturing that used solvents in combination with xylene and toluene. The researcher coordinated with all five paint manufacturers in the Eastern Region; however, responses were obtained from executives of two manufacturers to participate in the research. The determination of the sample size applied a sample-size formula that would allow use of multiple logistic regressions to find the factors that had an impact on health [ 24 ], and the calculation of the sample size resulted in persons.

The characteristics of the process in paint production are similar; thus the cluster sampling for two plants was selected for this study. Every worker who worked in a process related to solvent exposure was eligible as a study subject.

For the exposed group, the number of workers in the plant 1 and 2 was 58 workers and 34 workers, respectively. A nonexposed group of workers from food frozen manufacturing was selected as a control group because solvents are not used in the production process.

The inclusion criteria for the exposure group were an age between 20 and 60 years; employment in the production process; an exposure to the solvents for at least 3 months; and voluntary participation in the research. All workers chosen for the study were not compelled. They signed consent forms to participate. The research instruments consisted of four types: 1 interview forms; 2 air sampling tools; 3 gas chromatography; and 4 high performance liquid chromatography HPLC.

First, the researcher instructed and explained the objectives, techniques, methods, process, and procedure of research to the research assistant to ensure consistency in data collection. After that, the researcher explained the research objectives and necessary information to the volunteers and asked them to sign consent forms to participate in the research.

The interview form consisted of three parts. Part 1 general information : this part includes age, gender, education, income, smoking history nonsmoker, ex-smoker, and smoker , and alcohol use nondrinker, ex-drinker, and drinker. Part 2 working history : this part includes exposure to solvents including working hours; characteristics of the solvent-related job categorized by operational practice, namely, low exposure, moderate exposure, and high exposure; and the use of personal protective equipment Table 2.

Part 3 illness history : this part of interview form was created from a literature review and consisted of 20 questions. The researcher and team collected data by interviewing the workers directly. The interview takes about 5—10 minutes per worker.

The neuropsychological disorders were classified into six groups [ 9 ] 1 neurological symptoms: facial paresthesia, weakness, peripheral neuropathy, anosmia, hyposmia, change of taste, dizziness, and numbness, 2 psychosomatic symptoms: headache, sweating with unknown cause, dyspnea, palpitation, lethargy, fatigue, loss of libido, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, 3 mood symptoms: restlessness and depression, 4 memory and concentration: difficulty in concentration, 5 tiredness: drowsiness, and 6 sleep disturbances: insomnia and difficulty in sleeping.

An interview form used for data collection was prepared. The researcher sent the newly designed interview form to experts to consider and verify its structural validity, content validity, comprehensiveness, and language appropriateness. The experts included one physician specializing in occupational medicine and two professors specializing in occupational health and safety.

After all the experts had considered the form, the researcher revised the interview form as recommended. An air sampling tool was used to collect air samples by industrial hygienist in order to measure the concentration of xylene and toluene in the working environment. Air samples containing xylene and toluene were collected by using a passive badge sampler 3M Organic Vapor Monitor.

Personal air sampling was conducted for eight hours starting from the installation of the passive badge on the collar of the workers before beginning work on their shift until the end of their shift. This air sampling was conducted in the middle of the week. After that, the passive badge was immediately placed on ice in a foam-box. The passive badges were sent for analysis to the laboratory of the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases of the Ministry of Health.

A gas chromatography machine was used for analysis. For the gas chromatography, a Column Aqua-Wax Polyethylene Glycol was used to analyze the toluene and xylene concentrations of the passive badges. Carbon disulfide was used for extraction.

Urine samples were collected in the end of shift at the end of workweek. The calibration and quality control was performed as per the NIOSH method , fourth edition [ 27 ]. The standard biological exposure indices BEI of methyl hippuric acid in the urine are 1. The general information of the working history, exposure to the solvents, the disorders, and neurological and psychological health effects are tabulated, along with means, standard deviation, median, minimum, and maximum.

A comparison of the concentration of xylene and toluene in the working environment, and of methyl hippuric acid and hippuric acid, between the nonexposed group factory 1 and the exposed group factories 2 and 3 was done using ANOVA as statistical test.

The independent variables included gender, age, alcohol use, work duration years , the concentration of xylene or toluene in working environment parts per million, ppm , and the use of personal protective equipment, respectively.

In this analysis, the gender ratio of exposure and nonexposure groups is different; thus adjustments were done to control for certain variables in logistic regression. The study found the following demographic characteristics. Of the subjects, there were 92 workers exposed to the solvents exposed group and workers not exposed to the solvents nonexposed group.

Most of the workers exposed to the solvents were males 83 employees, Concerning their smoking history, it was found that most of the workers 60 persons, Concerning their alcohol use, it was found that most of the workers 70 persons, Concerning the work duration of the employees, it was shown that most of them 48 persons, Their average years of work duration were 7.

Most workers 82 persons, In each week, most workers 69 persons, Concerning overtime work, it was found that many workers 40 persons, Their average overtime working hours were The analysis of the airborne xylene and toluene concentration for the exposed group indicates that workers exposed to xylene had a mean exposure of 2.

The mean toluene exposure was 9. The concentration of methyl hippuric acid had a mean of The concentration of hippuric had mean value of This study found a correlation between airborne xylene and urinary methyl hippuric acid levels and found a correlation between airborne toluene and urinary hippuric acid levels.

Regarding the current symptoms of the workers, it was found that they had demonstrable neurological and psychological symptoms. Their psychosomatic symptoms included headache, sweating with unknown cause, dyspnea, palpitation, lethargy, fatigue, loss of libido, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite 65 persons, Concerning their neurological symptoms, most workers had facial paresthesia, weakness, peripheral neuropathy, anosmia, hyposmia, change of taste, dizziness, and numbness 52 persons, The analysis showed that age, concentration of xylene, and the use of personal protective equipment had an influence on the neuropsychological symptoms.

The details are explained below. The factor that influenced psychosomatic symptoms headache, sweating with unknown cause dyspnea, palpitation, lethargy, fatigue, loss of libido, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite was the age of the workers exposed to xylene and toluene. It was found that those workers aged over 40 years, who were exposed to xylene, had adjusted odds ratio aOR of 9.

In case of those who were exposed to toluene, there was an OR of 8. Another factor that affected psychosomatic symptoms was work duration.

It was found that work duration of more than 5 years being exposed to xylene had aOR of 0. Those who worked more than 5 years and who were exposed to toluene had aOR of 0. In addition, it was shown that work duration more than 5 years had an impact on mood symptom among those who were exposed to toluene with aOR at 0.

The factor that affected sleep disturbance was wearing personal protective equipment. It was shown that not wearing personal protective equipment had an impact on sleep disturbance. Those who were exposed to xylene while not wearing personal protective equipment had aOR for sleep disturbance at 3.

Additionally, those who were exposed to toluene while not wearing personal protective equipment had an aOR of 4. The factor that affected tiredness was the concentration of toluene. It was found that the range of toluene concentration in the working environment at The limitations of the present study included the short employment terms of the workers, which did not allow the observation of the impact of long term exposure to xylene and toluene. They were not diagnosed by a medical doctor.

Thus, it was not possible to accurately assess actual disorders due to xylene and toluene. Also, the assessment of neurological and psychological disorders was based on a literature review and all questions were grouped according to Mandiracioglu et al.

Also, because the number of male workers in the nonexposed and the exposed group is different the researchers adjusted for gender in the Logistic Regression Model. Data analysis indicated that sex is not associated with various symptoms.

In this present study, the majority of the exposed group was male The present study assessed the concentration of xylene and toluene in the working environment of paint manufacturers.

It was found that the concentration of xylene and toluene was below the TLV [ 26 ]. It is primarily used as a solvent a liquid that can dissolve other substances in the printing, rubber, and leather industries. Along with other solvents, xylene is also widely used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in varnishes.

Xylene is a clear, colourless liquid with an odour that generally provides adequate warning of hazardous concentrations. It is volatile and readily produces flammable and toxic concentrations at room temperature. Effects of Long-Term Exposure: Can cause dry, red, cracked skin dermatitis following skin contact. May harm the nervous system. Healthscreen UK offer a free quote for every enquiry, based on the exact numbers you provide us.