Xylene exposure is contact with or inhalation of xylene, a common solvent in paints, thinners, and adhesives that can affect the nervous system.
Contact with or inhalation of xylene, a flammable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent widely used in paints, coatings, thinners, adhesives, printing inks, and laboratory tissue processing. Inhaling xylene vapor can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, and impaired coordination, and repeated skin contact can cause irritation and dermatitis. OSHA's permissible exposure limit for xylene is 100 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
A pathology lab that uses xylene to process tissue samples moves the work into a ventilated fume hood, provides chemical-resistant gloves, and conducts air monitoring after technicians report headaches at the end of their shifts.
Short-term overexposure can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness; very high exposures can cause loss of consciousness, and long-term exposure may affect the nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
Yes, xylene is a flammable liquid whose vapors can ignite at normal workplace temperatures, so it must be stored in approved containers away from ignition sources and used with adequate ventilation.
Options include substituting a less hazardous solvent, using local exhaust ventilation or enclosed processes, keeping containers closed, and providing appropriate gloves and respiratory protection when engineering controls are insufficient.
Part of SafetyIQ's EHS glossary: plain-English definitions of workplace health and safety terms.
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