Xylene exposure

When jurzra-xylene-exposcd (1200 ppm [5200 mg/m ], 6 h per day for four days) C3H/HeJ mice were infected intraperitoneally with murine cytomegalovirus (10 plaqueforming units after the first xylene exposure), 34% of the mice died, while none died after either exposure alone or after a similar exposure to xylene at 600 ppm [2600 mg/m ], combined with exposure to the virus (Selgrade et al., 1993). Elevated mortality was not related to immune function or hepatic damage. 

Xylene was mentioned as an exposure in four studies. Two were community-based case-control studies, one of which involved brain cancer and one involved several types of cancer. The two industry-based studies were configured as nested case-control studies, one of central nervous system tumours and one of several sites. In none of these studies was xylene the sole or predominant exposure. Cancers at most sites were not significantly associated with xylene exposure in any study. Incidence of colorectal cancer was significantly elevated in the Canadian case-control study, but no other study reported colorectal cancer results. Hodgkin s disease was elevated in one study non-Hodgkin lymphoma was elevated in one study, but not in another. Most results were based on small numbers. In... 

Kilburn KH, Seidman BC, Warshaw R. Neurobehavioral and respiratory symptoms of formaldehyde and xylene exposure in histology technicians. Arch Environ Health 1985 (Jul/Aug) 40(4) 229-33. 

Oral Exposure. The oral MRLs for each of the BTEXs, and the EPA cancer risk for benzene, can be used to assess the potential for health effects for each of these compounds individually. No oral MRLs exist for ethylbenzene, but the limited oral data for this compound are reasonably similar to those for toluene. These MRLs and their associated effects, and the available EPA cancer assessments, are summarized in Table 6-4. Effects of oral exposure to these compounds are similar to those of inhalation exposure. In addition, renal and hepatic effects appear to be sensitive effects of xylene exposure. 

Hein, M. J., Waters, M. A., van Wijngaarden, E., Deddens, J. A., and Stewart, P. A. (2008). Issues when modeling benzene, toluene, and xylene exposures using a Uterature database. J Occup Environ Hyg 5, 36 7. 

Comment by the California Association of Cytotechnologists re Xylene exposure re the OSHA Proposed Performance Standard for Laboratories Using Toxic Substances, 51 FR 26660, July 24, 1986. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Evaluation Reports HETA 83-048-1347, HETA 830076-1414, HETA 81-422-1387, Cincinnati, OH. 

Measurement by Gas Chromatography of Urinary Hippuric Acid and Methyl-hippuric Acid as Indices of Toluene and Xylene Exposure Br. J. Ind. Med. 34(4) 305-309 (1977) CA 88 84137c... 

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