Two cases of acute toluene intoxication.
Two patients exposed to high concentrations of toluene in air (greater than 7000 mg/m3) were found at the bottom of a small swimming pool under construction. Their symptoms were stupefaction, paresis, and amnesia. Patient A had been exposed for three hours and patient B for two hours. Ninety minutes after the exposure, the toluene blood concentration in patient A was 4.1 mg/l and in patient B 2.2 mg/l. Urinary ortho-cresol secretion was shown to be a good index of exposure to toluene. After high level exposure, urinary meta-cresol excretion may also be used to monitor toluene exposure.
Meulenbelt
J
J
National Poison Control Centre, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
de Groot
G
G
Savelkoul
T J
TJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000652:urine; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine; D013551:Swimming Pools; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*
D014050:Toluene