What is Xylenes?
CAS#: 001330-20-7
There are three forms of xylene in which the methyl groups
vary on the benzene ring: meta-xylene, ortho-xylene, and para-xylene
(m-, o-, and p-xylene). These different forms are referred to
as isomers.
Xylene is a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid that catches
on fire easily. It occurs naturally in petroleum and coal tar.
Chemical industries produce xylene from petroleum. It is one
of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms
of volume.
Xylene is used as a solvent and in the printing, rubber,
and leather industries. It is also used as a cleaning agent,
a thinner for paint, and in paints and varnishes. It is found
in small amounts in airplane fuel and gasoline.
Related Resources for Xylenes
-
CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their
frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at
National Priorities List (NPL) sites.
-
Interaction Profile
Succintly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for mixtures of hazardous substances.
-
Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Acute Chemical
Exposures
Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians
and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage
acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
- Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
-
Public Health Statement
Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One
of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
-
ToxFAQ
Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions
about a contaminant and its health effects.
-
ToxGuide [PDF, 75
KB]
Quick reference guide providing information such as chemical
and physical properties, sources of exposure, routes of
exposure, minimal risk levels, children's health, and health
effects for a substance.
-
Toxicological Profile
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for a hazardous substance.
This page was updated on
09/22/2008
