Toluol

Andrea Hartwig

2021

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has re-evaluated the maximum concentration at the workplace (MAK value), the Pregnancy Risk Group, sensitization, absorption through the skin and germ cell mutagenicity of toluene [108-88-3]. The critical effects of toluene are neurotoxicity in humans, especially on the central nervous system, behavioural toxicity and ototoxicity as well as effects on colour vision. No indication of chronic effects in the range of 50 ml toluene/m3 were observed in an epidemiological longitudinal study in rotogravure printing, even taking into account individual estimates of lifetime exposure to toluene. Extensive, well-controlled experimental studies demonstrate no short-term toxic effects on behaviour at exposures lower than 50 ml toluene/m3 (in some cases even higher), which would show up as a significant reduction in performance in neuropsychological tests. Therefore, on the basis of numerous huma...