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Abstract

Toluene is the starting material in the manufacture of the high explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT); it is also used as a solvent in the lacquer industry. It is more irritant, with a stronger narcotic action, than benzene; but it affects the blood-forming organs less severely. In the investigation reported, three normal persons submitted to varying con centrations of toluene, in the air breathed. Single exposures of eight hours, to concentrations from 50 to 800 parts per million, caused no definite change in the white blood cell picture, in the circulation, or in respiration. Inhalation for eight hours of concentrations of 200 p.p.m. caused slight impairment of co-ordination and reaction time, which might render persons thus affected more prone to accidents. This state was more pronounced with concentrations of 600 to 800 p.p.m. The ratio of inorganic to organic sulfates in the urine was not affected. Immediately after exposure, a temporary slight lymphocytosis took place. The spleen and bone marrow were essentially normal; and there were no indications of injury to the blood-forming organs. The investigations show that toluene has narcotic properties, but continued exposure to concentration as high as 5, 000 p.p.m. is not liable to set up injury of the blood-forming organs or the liver. Since exposure for eight hours to 200 p.p.m. produced slight changes in muscular co-ordination, that concentration is considered the maximal, permissible in air for eight hours' daily exposure, but in operations which offer specific accident hazards, even this concentration may prove to be too high. In addition to the studies upon human beings, the effects of high concentrations were investigated by using dogs and rats. E. L. Colls.