Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon widely used in industry and medical technology as
a solvent. Health and safety authorities in most countries, including Australia, recommend
a threshold limit value (TLV) of 100 ppm in the working environment. Recently, the
amount of the major metabolite of xylene, methylhippuric acid (MHA), in urine has
been recommended as a better indicator of exposure. The American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists has recommended an upper limit for this indicator, called a
biological exposure index (BEI), of 2.0 g MHA/L urine (SG 1.016). Xylene vapour is
absorbed rapidly from the lungs, and xylene liquid and vapour are absorbed slowly
through the skin. Of the xylene absorbed, about 95% is metabolised in the liver to
MHA and 70 to 80% of metabolites are excreted in the urine within 24 hours. However,
the many variables which affect the absorption, metabolism and clearance of xylene
include exercise, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, co-exposure to other solvents,
gender, and gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal pathology. Xylene in high concentrations
acts as a narcotic, inducing neuropsychological and neurophysiological dysfunction.
Respiratory tract symptoms are also frequent. More chronic, occupational exposure
has been associated with anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, chest pain with ECG
abnormalities, dyspnea and cyanosis, in addition to CNS symptoms. Concomitant exposure
to xylene and other solvents, including toluene, affected hematological parameters,
liver size, liver enzymes, auditory memory, visual abstraction, and vibration threshold
in the toes. Normal metabolic pathways were altered and significant increases in some
serum bile acids may reflect early liver damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)