| Contents Notes |
The Office of Health and Environmental Assessment has prepared this health assessment to serve as a source document for EPA use. It is fully expected that this document will also serve the information needs of many government agencies and private groups that may be involved in decision-making activities related to toulene. In the development of the assessment document, the existing scientific literature has been surveyed in detail. Key studies have been critically evaluated and conclusions drawn such that the toxicological consequences of exposure to toluene have been qualitatively and quantitatively identified. Observed effect levels and other measures of dose-response relationships are discussed, where appropriate, in order that the adverse health responses are placed in perspective with observed environmental levels. This document evaluates health effects associated with exposure to toluene. Toluene is released into environmental air as a result of evaporative loss through automobile use, industrial use as a solvent, from coke oven production, and during toluene production. The known health effects primarily involve dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS). The health information pertaining to toluene is discussed in detail. This document also discusses production, sources, emissions, environmental levels, and other information to place toluene in a real-world perspective. |
