Samuel 1-2 Journal

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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540

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Health Science

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Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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1 1-2 Journal: Final Project Review Mona Samuel Southern New Hampshire University PHE-540-X2163 Principles of Environmental Health 23TW2 Professor Tanyi Obenson December 10, 2023

2 Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid with a pungent, sweet odor. It occurs naturally in crude oil and is produced during the gasoline making process (ATSDR, 2017). It is a volatile liquid released into the air during manufacturing, usage, and disposal. It is commonly found in products such as glue, fingernail polish, dyes, paints, paint thinners, adhesives, and industrial solvents. Exposure occurs via inhalation, ingestion and contact with skin or eyes. Acute exposure causes irritated mucous membranes, headaches, dizziness, confusion, euphoria, and anxiety. Chronic exposure causes fatigue, numbness in extremities, cognitive impairment, body system affects (immune, kidney, liver and reproductive). Toluene is commonly an occupational hazard as individuals most at risk to exposure are construction worker, fingernail technicians, and workers involved in gasoline production. (OSHA, n.d) I decided upon Toluene for my final project because it is heavily used in the industry, as a lesser toxic counterpart to benzene, and is a widely known contaminant. Improper disposal by factories also makes it a public health concern. Chronic exposure to toluene has been associated with neurological and respiratory effects in humans. This health hazard associated with Toluene exposure can be costly for the nation and leads to a reduction of public wellness. Another reason I chose Toluene as the topic for my final project is because it is frequently used as an “intoxicative inhalant” for its euphoria like effects. Some individuals inhale toluene containing products such as glue to induce feelings of euphoria. Researching about Toluene might add to the public health effort to increase awareness about the adverse effects of Toluene. The scholarly source I chose that details the neurological effects of Toluene exposure is the article by Filley et. al, 2004 titled The Effects of Toluene on the Central Nervous System. The authors detail the impact of toluene exposure and abuse on the central nervous system myelin. The article list the neurological impact of Toluene exposure of which dementia is the most

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