Health effects of chlorobenzene
Contents
Introduction
Chlorobenzene is a colorless liquid with an almond-like odor. The compound does not occur widely in nature, but is manufactured for use as a solvent (a substance used to dissolve other substances) and is used in the production of other chemicals. Chlorobenzene persists in soil (several months), in air (3.5 days), and water (less than 1 day). (Health effects of chlorobenzene)
Exposure to chlorobenzene
There is potential for humans to be exposed to chlorobenzene by breathing contaminated air, by drinking water or eating food contaminated with chlorobenzene, or by getting chlorobenzene contaminated soil on the skin. These exposures are most likely to occur in the workplace or in the vicinity of chemical waste sites.
Occupational exposure occurs primarily through breathing the chemical. Personnel engaged in the production and handling of chlorobenzene would be at greatest risk. Levels of chlorobenzene in the air at several industrial sites during normal operations were found to be below allowable federal standards. Exposure in humans could occur in persons living or working in the vicinity of hazardous waste sites if emissions to water, air, and soil are not adequately controlled.
Chlorobenzene has been found at 97 out of 1,177 NPL hazardous waste sites in the United States. Thus, federal and state surveys suggest that chlorobenzene is not a widespread environmental contaminant. The chemical has not been detected in surface water, although a few ground water systems have been found with chlorobenzene levels in the parts per billion (ppb) range. Background levels of less than 1 ppb were detected in air samples from urban and suburban areas. No information of the occurrence of chlorobenzene in food has been found.
Pathways for chlorobenzene in the body
Chlorobenzene enters your body when you breathe in air containing it, when you drink water or eat food containing it, or when it comes in contact with your skin. Human exposure to contaminated water could occur near hazardous waste sites where chlorobenzene is present. Significant exposure to chlorobenzene is not expected to occur by getting chlorobenzene contaminated soil on your skin. When chlorobenzene enters your body, most of it is expelled from your lungs in the air we breathe out and in urine.
Health effects of chlorobenzene
Workers exposed to high levels of chlorobenzene complained of headaches, numbness, sleepiness, nausea, and vomiting. However, it is not known if chlorobenzene alone was responsible for these health effects since the workers may have also been exposed to other chemicals at the same time. Mild to severe depression of functions of parts of the nervous system is a common response to exposure to a wide variety of industrial solvents (a substance that dissolves other substances).
You should know that one way to learn whether a chemical will harm people is to determine how the body absorbs, uses, and releases the chemical. For some chemicals, animal testing may be necessary. Animal testing may also help identify such health effects as cancer or birth defects. Without laboratory animals, scientists would lose a basic method for getting information needed to make wise decisions that protect public health. Scientists have the responsibility to treat research animals with care and compassion. Scientists must comply with strict animal care guidelines because laws today protect the welfare of research animals.
Additionally, there are vigorous national and international efforts to develop alternatives to animal testing. The efforts focus on both in vitro and in silico approaches and methods. For example, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) created the NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) in 1998. The role of NICEATM is to serve the needs of high quality, credible science by facilitating development and validation—and regulatory and public acceptance—of innovative, revised test methods that reduce, refine, and replace the use of animals in testing while strengthening protection of human health, animal health and welfare, and the environment. In Europe, similar efforts at developing alternatives to animal based testing are taking place under the aegis of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM).
In animals, exposure to high concentrations of chlorobenzene affects the brain, liver, and kidneys. Unconsciousness, tremors and restlessness have been observed. The chemical can cause severe injury to the liver and kidneys. Data indicate that chlorobenzene does not affect reproduction or cause birth defects. Studies in animals have shown that chlorobenzene can produce liver nodules, providing some but not clear evidence of cancer risk.
Harmful levels of exposure to chlorobenzen
Workers exposed to high levels of chlorobenzene complained of headaches, numbness, sleepiness, nausea, and vomiting. However, it is not known if chlorobenzene alone was responsible for these health effects since the workers may have also been exposed to other chemicals at the same time. Mild to severe depression of functions of parts of the nervous system is a common response to exposure to a wide variety of industrial solvents (a substance that dissolves other substances).
In animals, exposure to high concentrations of chlorobenzene affects the brain, liver, and kidneys. Unconsciousness, tremors and restlessness have been observed. The chemical can cause severe injury to the liver and kidneys. Data indicate that chlorobenzene does not affect reproduction or cause birth defects. Studies in animals have shown that chlorobenzene can produce liver nodules, providing some but not clear evidence of cancer risk.
Medical tests for exposure to chlorobenzene
Workers exposed to high levels of chlorobenzene complained of headaches, numbness, sleepiness, nausea, and vomiting. However, it is not known if chlorobenzene alone was responsible for these health effects since the workers may have also been exposed to other chemicals at the same time. Mild to severe depression of functions of parts of the nervous system is a common response to exposure to a wide variety of industrial solvents (a substance that dissolves other substances).
In animals, exposure to high concentrations of chlorobenzene affects the brain, liver, and kidneys. Unconsciousness, tremors and restlessness have been observed. The chemical can cause severe injury to the liver and kidneys. Data indicate that chlorobenzene does not affect reproduction or cause birth defects. Studies in animals have shown that chlorobenzene can produce liver nodules, providing some but not clear evidence of cancer risk.
Further Reading
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