What is Xylene?
Overview
CAS No. 1330-20-7
Xylene (C8H10) is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. 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. Workers may be harmed from exposure to xylene. The level of exposure depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.
Xylene is used in many industries. It’s used in the petroleum and wood processing industries. Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to xylene include the following:
- 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 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