ATSDR Allows More Time for Comments on Draft Toxicological Profile for Xylenes

Stakeholders now have until Sept. 2 to submit comments about a draft toxicological profile for xylenes, which the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry describes as highly flammable, colorless liquids with a sweet odor. The comment period, which was initially set to end on Aug. 3, will be open an additional 30 days. ATSDR received a request for a 90-day extension, but a new Federal Register notice explains that this shorter extension will ensure the agency can finalize the document “within the necessary timeframe.”

Xylenes are present in the environment and are released naturally during wildfires. They are also found in cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust. Xylene sold commercially is typically a mixture of three isomers called ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, and para-xylene, which are used in the production of paints, coatings, and pesticides, according to ATSDR.

Exposure to xylenes occurs primarily in work environments such as petrochemical refineries; facilities that manufacture adhesives, paints, and coatings; and hazardous waste sites. The main routes of exposure are inhalation and ingestion. Dermal exposure could not be quantified, ATSDR explains, though it may be significant following contact with liquid xylenes.

The draft toxicological profile for xylenes is available as a PDF from ATSDR. For more information on xylenes, see the NIOSH and OSHA websites.