Xylene is a colorless, flammable liquid used as a solvent, cleaner, and paint thinner. It is found in petroleum, gasoline, and jet fuel and can be used to make plastics and polyesters. Exposure to xylene can cause neurological effects, eye irritation, and respiratory problems. It can also be fatal in high doses.
Xylene, also called xylene, dimethyl benzene, violet 3 and methyl toluene, is an isomer that can be found in three forms. It is traditionally used in the leather, rubber and paint industries, especially as a solvent, cleaner and paint thinner. Since it occurs naturally in petroleum, it is no surprise that it is also found in gasoline and jet fuel. It can also be considered a narcotic type of drug, as it can be an intoxicant when inhaled.
Xylene is a highly flammable, colorless liquid. Typically, it has a sweet smell, with a balm-like scent. It is usually refined through an alkylation process from crude oil, but can also be obtained as a byproduct from the carbonization of coal, extracted from benzene, or through the methylation of toluene.
There are many ways xylene can be used. For example, it is sometimes used to make some polyester clothes and plastic bottles. In fact, nearly 50 percent of the xylene produced is used to make polymers used in plastics and polyesters. It is also used as a solvent in the paint and rubber industries. Some steel cleaners also contain it.
If xylene is released into the environment, it evaporates rather rapidly from surface water and soil into the air. Inside Earth’s air, sunlight typically breaks it down into less aggressive chemicals, but the process can take several days. In soil, it can be broken down by selected microorganisms. If water is contaminated with the chemical, it can build up in shellfish, fish, plants and other marine life.
It is possible for people to be exposed to xylene. Because consumer products, such as gasoline, rust removers, paints, and even cigarette smoke, contain xylene, it is possible for the chemical to be absorbed through the consumer’s skin or lungs when these products are used. If a food or water source is contaminated with chemicals, exposure is also possible. In fact, many people are exposed through contaminated soil from oil storage tanks leaking from underground. Furthermore, people working in the chemical industry may also be exposed.
There are harmful health effects for people exposed to xylene. Neurological effects, such as headache, dizziness, incoordination, and confusion may occur. The eyes can also become irritated and some people may experience trouble breathing, a slow reaction time and memory problems. If a person inhales a high level of the chemical, it can cause death. It is considered a narcotic, but it is not a controlled substance.
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