Thursday 5 March 2015

Toluene - is it worth the risk?


Toluene is widely used in a number of industries. Its primary use is as a component of gasoline; however, it is also used as a solvent and for the creation of other chemicals2. Additionally, toluene has been used in explosives2 and in the production of methamphetamine3. Toluene is considered relatively safe for commercial use as its lethal dose is fairly high4. However, if it is so safe, why are most countries in the world trying to phase it out?
Toluene is commonly used in very small concentrations, which is leading people to believe its use is safe. However, because it is used in a number of products all over the world, the risk of toxic effects is increased. This is known as a compound effect. The compound effect of toluene’s constant release into the environment is negatively impacting global health2,5. Though toluene may not cause cancer, at sufficiently high concentrations it does cause damage to the nervous system, birth abnormalities, and death4. Additionally, because toluene dissolves well in fats2, like those in cell membranes, it can enter living organisms fairly easily. This is not only an issue for humans, but for all plant and animal life as well2. In addition to its negative health effects, when toluene is released into the atmosphere it produces dangerous chemicals. These chemicals contribute to smog production and act as green house gases5. Therefore, toluene is promoting the green house effect5, ultimately increasing global warming. Overall, Toluene is harmful to the organisms it directly touches and to the health of our global ecosystem. However, because toluene exposure in small concentrations has little to no observable effects on the body, it is still being used. Unfortunately, because it is so widely used, its compound effect may be taking a substantial toll on human and environmental health. So I ask you, is toluene worth the risk?

  1. Mills, B. (Creator) (2006) Toluene-potential. (Web). Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Toluene-potential.png
  2. Fabri, J., Graeser, U., & Simo, T.A. (2011). Toluene. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://library.mtroyal.ca:2206/doi/10.1002/14356007.a27_147.pub2/full
  3. Red phosphorous/iodine methamphetamine synthesis. (2004). Retrieved February 20, 2015, from https://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/meth.rp.html
  4. The KAVLI Nanoscience Institute. (2005). Material safety data sheet: Toluene. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://kni.caltech.edu/facilities/msds/toluene.pdf
  5. Stoye, D. (2000). Solvents. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Retrieved February 23, 2015, from http://library.mtroyal.ca:2206/doi/10.1002/14356007.a24_437/full

No comments:

Post a Comment