toluene - National Park Service

C) Body Burden Residues in Humans: Typical, Elevated, or
of Concern Related to the Well-being of Humans:
All 8 samples of mothers' milk from 4 urban areas
were positive(1). Human blood, 250 specimens, 100%
pos, 0.2-38 ppb, 1.5 ppb avg(2). US FY82 National
Human Adipose Tissue Survey specimens, 46
composites, 91% pos, (>1 ppb, wet tissue concn),
250 ppb max(3). [(1) Pellizzari ED et al; Bull
Environ Contam Toxicol 28: 322-8 (1982) (2) Antoine
SR et al; Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 36: 364-71
(1986) (3) Stanley JS; Broad Scan Analysis of the
FY82 National Human Adipose Tissue Survey Specimens
Vol. I Executive Summary p. 5 USEPA-560/5-86-035
(1986)] [609].
Tis.Misc. (Other Tissue Information):
No information found.
Bio.Detail: Detailed Information on Bioconcentration,
Biomagnification, or Bioavailability:
Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for toluene in biota have been
predicted to be between 15 and 70 (values less than 100 generally
indicate that a compound is unlikely to undergo significant
bioconcentration in organisms or biomagnification along food
chains) [866].
Some bioconcentration factors (log BCF) are [902]: 1.12 for
eels, 0.22 for Manila clam, 0.62 for mussels, 2.17 for
microorganisms in water, 0.92 for goldfish, 2.58 for algae, 1.95
for fish, and 0.89 also for fish. General BCF in l/kg: 10.7
[689]. In humans, toluene is absorbed from the lungs and to some
extent through the skin; inhaled toluene was not excreted rapidly
enough to be completely eliminated with 24 hours, in a study on
human volunteers [606].
Based on its lipophilic properties, toluene is expected to
have a moderate tendency to bioconcentrate in the fatty tissues of
aquatic organisms. The bioconcentration factor was estimated to be
about 10.7 in fish and about 4.2 in mussels. The levels that
accumulate in the flesh of aquatic species also depend on the
degree to which the species metabolize toluene. The highest tissue
levels of toluene tend to occur in species such as eels, crabs, and
herring that have a low rate of toluene metabolism [904].
Metabolism of toluene limits its tendency to biomagnify in the
food chain [904].
Bioconcentration [609]:
BCF: eels (Anguilla japonica, 13.2(1); Manila clam (Tapes
semidecussta), 1.67(2); mussel (Mytilus edulis), 4.2(3); algae