Toluene is in a ton of things! Toluene is used in aviation gasoline, high-octane blending stock, and petroleum/coal production. It is used as a solvent in things we use everyday like paints, coatings, and gums. Toluene occurs naturally in crude oil and in the tolu tree. The tolu tree is where Toluene gets its name from. It is also in household furniture manufacturing facilities.
Advantages: It's relatively inexpensive, it is available in any quantity and purity and is easy to get. Because of these reasons it makes it a very resourceful solvent to use. This is because it acts as an organic solvent for the coloring agents present in nail polish. …show more content…
Toluene enters the environment when you use materials that contain it, and since it is in things we use commonly (such as paints, paint thinners, adhesives, fingernail polish, and gasoline) there can be a lot in the air.
Individuals who work with gasoline, paint, lacquer, or dyes have greater exposures to toluene, as do people who try to get high off of it and intentionally sniff it a lot. It can enter your body from everywhere; it is in the air, the ground, and water. You are exposed to toluene as soon as you take a breath outdoors or indoors containing this chemical. To ingest toluene through water is very unlikely, unless the water source was somehow contaminated with toluene. So once you have somehow acquire some toluene inside your body, this is what can
happen;
The most serious health concern is damage on your nervous system. Some temporary symptoms include headaches, dizziness, or unconsciousness. However, if you are repeatedly exposed to toluene you may experience permanent effects such as incoordination, cognitive impairment, and vision and hearing loss. High levels of exposure to woman who are pregnant will cause retardation in their baby. People can reduce their risk of exposure to toluene by using consumer products containing the chemical (like glue or paint) in well-ventilated areas. They can also keep anything containing Toluene in air-tight containers so it cannot evaporate into the air.