Information Regarding Xylene, Paint, and Coatings
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~sj2FUW:1
XYLENE
CASRN: 1330-20-7
Major Uses :
SOLVENT-EG, FOR PAINTS,
COATINGS, ADHESIVES & RUBBER
Hazards Summary :
The major hazards encountered in the use and
handling of xylene stem from its toxicologic properties
and flammability. Exposure to this clear, sweet-smelling liquid may occur during
its use as a solvent for paints, coatings,
adhesives, and rubber and as a component of gasoline. Toxic by all routes of
exposure (ie, dermal, ingestion, and inhalation), xylene
can cause effects including headache, dizziness, skin and eye irritation, kidney
and liver impairment, to pulmonary edema, coma, and death. The ACGIH recommends
a workplace exposure limit (TLV) of 100 ppm as an 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA);
however, to assure protection, wear Buna-N-rubber gloves, apron, and safety
glasses. In unknown concentrations or emergency situations, an approved organic
vapor cannister respirator with a full-face plate or self-contained breathing
apparatus and full protective clothing are recommended. If contact does occur,
immediately flush exposed eyes with running water, wash exposed skin with soap
and water, and remove contaminated clothing. Xylene is
ignitable by heat, sparks, and flame and may do so explosively in an enclosed
area. Also, vapor may travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition,
and flash back. The heat of a fire may cause containers to explode and/or cause
thermal degradation of xylene, producing irritating or
poisonous gases. Fires involving xylene may be
extinguished with dry chemical, CO2, water spray, fog, or foam. For massive
fires in enclosed areas, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. If a xylene
tank car or truck is involved in a fire, isolate 1/2 mile in all directions.
Runoff from fire control water may cause pollution, and upon entering a sewer,
may create an explosion hazard. Xylene substance should
be stored in cool, well-ventilated places, away from sources of ignition and
strong oxidizing materials. ... For small spills of xylene,
take up with sand or other non-combustible absorbent, and place in containers
for later disposal, or absorb on paper and evaporate in an appropriate exhaust
hood. For large spills on land, dike to contain or divert to impermeable holding
area (water spray may need to be applied to control flammable vapor) and remove
material with pumps or vacuum equipment. Absorb residual with sand, vermiculite,
or activated carbon and place in metal containers with covers. For large spills
on water, contain material with booms, weirs, or natural barriers. Apply a
universal gelling agent, and use (oil) skimming equipment or suction hoses to
remove slick and trapped, solidified mass. Prior to implementing land disposal
of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult environmental regulatory
agencies.
Consumption Patterns :
SOURCE OF P-XYLENE,
61.7%; SOURCE OF O-XYLENE, 12.3%; SOLVENT FOR PAINTS
& COATINGS, 5.7%; OTHER SOLVENT USES, 3.1%; SOURCE
OF ETHYLBENZENE, 3.1%; SOURCE OF M-XYLENE, 0.9%;
GASOLINE BACK-BLENDING & MISCELLANEOUS, 13.2% (1980 RECOVERED USE)
Probable Routes of Human Exposure :
NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has
statistically estimated that 1,528,018 workers (316,320 of these are female) are
potentially exposed to xylenes in the US(1). An average xylene
concn of 0.1 ppm was detected in the breathing zones of paint
shops sampled in the US(2). Lab personnel are exposed to an average xylene
concn of 0.16 ppm and material handling personnel are exposed to an average xylene
concn of 1.6 ppm at hazardous waste facilities in the US(3). The 8 hour TWA
exposure to xylenes for personnel at organic solvent recycling plants was
measured as 1 ppm(4). A study from 1979-1987 calculated the average exposure to
xylenes in paint manufacturing plants as 2.01 ppm in
breathing zone locations(5). A survey of 97 autobody shops in the US reported
the 8 hour TWA exposure to xylenes was 3.3 ppm for painters and 0.7 ppm for
non-painting personnel(6). The 8 hour TWA for worker exposure to xylenes in a
German histology laboratory and a US histology laboratory was measured as
243-295 mg/cu m and 11-315 mg/cu m respectively(7). The 8 hour TWA for worker
exposure to xylenes in a US hospital laboratory was measured as 3-1700 mg/cu
m(7). Occupational exposure may be through inhalation and dermal contact with
this compound at workplaces where xylenes are produced or used(SRC). The general
population will be exposed to xylenes largely via inhalation of ambient air,
particularly in areas with heavy traffic, near filling stations and near
industrial sources such as refineries(SRC). Exposure may also arise from
consuming contaminated food and drinking water(SRC). An average concn of 0.37
ppb of 3- and 4-xylene was measured in blood samples
collected from 60 persons in the US that are not occupationally exposed to
xylenes(8).
Major Uses :
IN AVIATION GASOLINE; PROTECTIVE COATINGS;
SYNTHESIS OF ORG CHEMICALS
Corrosivity :
Xylene will attack
some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings.
Human Toxicity Excerpts :
The quantitative relationship between exposure
to xylene vapor and urinary excretion in methylhippuric
acid isomers were studied in the second half of a working wk. The participants
in the study were 121 male workers engaged in dip-coating
of metal parts who were predominantly exposed to three xylene
isomers. The intensity of exposure measured by diffusive sampling during an 8-hr
shift was such that the geometric mean vapor concn was 3.8 ppm for xylenes (0.8
ppm for o-xylene, 2.1 ppm for m-xylene,
and 0.9 ppm for p-xylene), 0.8 ppm for toluene, and 0.9
ppm for ethylbenzene. Urine samples were collected at the end of the shift and
analyzed for metabolites by HPLC. The statistical analysis showed that there is
a linear relationship between the intensity of exposure to xylenes and the concn
of methylhippuric acid in urine, that the regression line passes very close to
the origin, and that the increment in observed (i.e., noncorrected)
methylhippuric acid concn as a function of incr xylene
concn was 17.8 mg/ppm. Further exam on the basis on individual xylene
isomers showed that the slopes of the regression lines for o- and m-isomers were
similar (i.e., 17.1 and 16.6 mg/L/ppm, respectively), whereas that for p-xylene
was larger (21.3 mg/L/ppm).
Major Uses :
Manufacture of resins, paints,
varnishes, general solvent for adhesives
Human Toxicity Excerpts :
The correlation between xylene
exposure and urinary excretion of methyl hippuric acid (MHA) was studied in 40
workers (35 men, 5 women) employed in the paint
industry. Subjects were exposed primarily to xylene
although exposure to 11 other solvents was possible. Personal sampling showed
8-hr TWA's for xylene ranged from 0-865 mg/cu m with a
median exposure of 69 mg/cu m. Urine was collected over one 24-hr period for
each worker. Personal air samples were collected for each worker over the course
of a complete workday. MHA excretion was linearly correlated to the 8-hr TWA for
xylene exposure after adjustment for body weight. The
total amount of MHA excreted in the urine over 24 hr showed virtually the same
correlation to xylene exposure (r = 0.84) as the MHA
excretion during the latter part of the workshift (r = 0.81, sampling time 4-5
hr) among 37 workers exposed to 8-hr TWA xylene
concentrations of 0-200 mg/cu m.
Human Toxicity Excerpts :
Serum concentrations of liver enzymes were
determined for Swedish paint industry workers exposed
to a mixture of organic solvents including xylene. Mean
xylene exposure for 44 individuals was 82 mg/cu m (19
ppm) with a range of 1 to 6070 mg/cu m; five workers were exposed to a mean
concentration of 865 mg/cu m (199 ppm). Serum alanine aminotransferase,
aspartate aminotransferase, ornithine carbamoyltransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase
activities were not elevated by these exposures. ... Occupational experience
reveals complaints of dermatitis, eczema, and irritation of the eyes and
respiratory tract but rarely serious illness. It is likely that untoward effects
on the hematopoietic system reported in the past as being caused by xylene
resulted from benzene contamination of commercial xylene.
Absorption, Distribution & Excretion :
The correlation between xylene
exposure and urinary excretion of methyl hippuric acid (MHA) was studied in 40
workers (35 men, 5 women) employed in the paint
industry. Subjects were exposed primarily to xylene
although exposure to 11 other solvents was possible. Personal sampling showed 8
hr time weighted average for xylene ranged from 0-865
mg/cu m with a median exposure of 69 mg/cu m. Urine was collected over one 24 hr
period for each worker. Personal air samples were collected for each worker over
the course of a complete workday. Methyl hippuric acid excretion was linearly
correlated to the 8 hr time weighted average for xylene
exposure after adjustment for body weight. The total amount of methyl hippuric
acid excreted in the urine over 24 hr showed virtually the same correlation to xylene
exposure (r= 0.84) as the methyl hippuric acid excretion during the latter part
of the workshift (r= 0.81, sampling time 4-5 hr) among 37 workers exposed to 8
hr time weighted average xylene concentrations of 0-200
mg/cu m.
Analytic Laboratory Methods :
Commercial heterogeneous solvent products (eg paints,
inks, and adhesives) were collected nationwide in Japan in 1980. The vapor phase
of the product containers were analyzed for volatile organic solvent
constituents by means of FID-gas chromatography on two FS-WCOT (OV-101 and
PEG-600) capillary columns. ... Organic solvent components identified, ...
/included/ xylenes /which were/ predominantly the m- (66%) and p- isomers. (61%)
GLCC
RELATED TOXIC SUBSTANCES FOUND IN THE CAMP POND AND CAMP WATER WELL 2003 AND
2004
GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL CORPORATION AND THE PATHFINDERS CAMP