Chronic Toxicity Summary

Toluene occurs naturally as a component of crude oil and is produced in petroleum refining and coke oven operations; toluene is a major aromatic constituent of gasoline (HSDB, 1999). It is used in household aerosols, nail polish, paints and paint thinners, lacquers, rust inhibitor, adhesives and solvent based cleaning agents. Toluene is also utilized in printing operations, leather tanning and chemical processes. Benzene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are common contaminants of toluene. Toluene is considered a sentinel chemical for benzene in the context of air and water sample monitoring. In 1996, the latest year tabulated, the statewide mean outdoor monitored concentration of toluene was approximately 2.2 ppb. For 1998, annual statewide industrial emissions of toluene from facilities reporting under the requirements of the Air Toxics Hot Spots Act in California were estimated to be 5,176,626 pounds (CARB, 1999). Note that this estimate is for stationary sources, and does not include emissions from mobile sources.