Toluene (methylbenzene): Environmental effects
Description
Toluene evaporates when exposed to air. It also evaporates from water. In the air it quickly is reacted into other chemicals, in the water and soil bacteria break it down. It has moderate acute (short-term) toxicity on aquatic life. Toluene has caused membrane damage to the leaves in plants. It has moderate chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life. Chronic and acute effects on birds or land animals have not been determined. Toluene is expected to minimally bioaccumulate.
Entering the environment
Industrial emissions of toluene can produce elevated, concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Because of its short life expectancy in the atmosphere toluene is expected to be confined to the local area within which it is emitted. Toluene that makes its way into the ground, and does not evaporate, may move through the ground and enter groundwater (bore water), it is degraded in the water with in days.
Where it ends up
Toluene quickly evaporates to a gas if released as a liquid. It evaporates from both water and soil when exposed to air. It will break down in the air in a few days into other chemicals (benzaldehyde and cresol, which are harmful to humans). In the soil and water bacteria will break it down.
Environmental guidelines
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters: (ANZECC, 1992):
Maximum of 300 micrograms/L (i.e. 0.0003 g/L)
Key
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