Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes xylene as a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. There are three forms of xylene in which the methyl groups vary on the benzene ring: meta-xylene, ortho-xylene and para-xylene (m-, o- and p-xylene). These different forms are referred to as isomers.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that chemical companies produce xylene from petroleum and that it is one of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms of volume. Xylene is used as a solvent and in the printing, rubber and leather industries. It is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in paints and varnishes. It is also found in small amounts in airplane fuel and gasoline.
Workers may be harmed from exposure to xylene with the level of exposure depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. NIOSH states that exposure to xylene can irritate the eyes, nose, skin and throat. Xylene can also cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and in high doses, death.
Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to xylene according to NIOSH include:
• Painters and furniture refinishers who use paint thinners, solvents, lacquers and paint removers
• Biomedical laboratory workers who use it as a solvent to fix tissue specimens and rinse stains
• Workers involved in the distillation and purification of xylene
• Workers employed in industries who use xylene as a raw material
• Gas station and automobile garage workers through exposure to petroleum products
To help protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL).
These are just a few of the many things to know about xylene and potential occupational exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes xylene as a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. There are three forms of xylene in which the methyl groups vary on the benzene ring: meta-xylene, ortho-xylene and para-xylene (m-, o- and p-xylene). These different forms are referred to as isomers.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that chemical companies produce xylene from petroleum and that it is one of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms of volume. Xylene is used as a solvent and in the printing, rubber and leather industries. It is also used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in paints and varnishes. It is also found in small amounts in airplane fuel and gasoline.
Workers may be harmed from exposure to xylene with the level of exposure depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. NIOSH states that exposure to xylene can irritate the eyes, nose, skin and throat. Xylene can also cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, loss of muscle coordination, and in high doses, death.
Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to xylene according to NIOSH include:
• Painters and furniture refinishers who use paint thinners, solvents, lacquers and paint removers
• Biomedical laboratory workers who use it as a solvent to fix tissue specimens and rinse stains
• Workers involved in the distillation and purification of xylene
• Workers employed in industries who use xylene as a raw material
• Gas station and automobile garage workers through exposure to petroleum products
To help protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL).
These are just a few of the many things to know about xylene and potential occupational exposure risks. To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
