Effect of Toluene and Xylene in solvents on humans Essay

Toluene and Xylene are some of the major compounds in the solvents that affect the humans. Both, Toluene and Xylene, exert some effects like irritation at the site of contact and CNS depression. Irritation Solvents are in liquid form when at room temperature, but they are volatile too. When these solvents are in liquid form, once they come in contact with the skin, irritation may occur. When they are volatile, inhalation of these vapors may cause irritation in the respiratory track and the vapors may cause irritation to the eyes even. CNS Depression CNS depression is defined as the consistent effect of these solvents at sufficiently high levels of exposure. The symptoms are disorientation, giddiness, and euphoria. The syndrome may progress to paralysis, convulsions and unconsciousness. Death may ensue. The mechanism is not clear yet but the observation that narcosis (CNS Depression) was related to the solubility of toluene and Xylene in lipid and not at all related to their chemical structure, and hence suggested that narcosis resulted from CNS cell dysfunction following solubilizing of the solvents in the cell membrane. There are also a variety of specific effects of toluene and Xylene in solvents on humans. The diversity of these effects is a result of the different metabolic being formed. They are effect on liver, kidneys, nervous system, and hematopoietic system.