Toluene 421the habit. Recreational users may have trouble remembering what they did
while intoxicated, and persons with occupational exposure have shown mem-
ory damage. Sniffers may also experience nausea, appetite loss, tremors,
speech difficulty, double vision, and ringing in the ears. Permanent hearing
damage occurs in rats. Industrial exposure may harm a person’s ability to
move around; such problems may be unnoticeable in everyday life but can be
detected with scientific tests. In contrast to such occupational exposure, daily
abuse for several years may cause significant problems in mobility; those
symptoms may mimic beriberi.
Brain, lung, eye, and liver injury can occur in recreational users. Investi-
gators find that some physical damage may improve if exposure to toluene
stops, although brain damage may be permanent. High blood pressure is re-
ported in blood circulating through the lungs. Controversy exists about
whether cardiac injury occurs, although a case report notes a heart attack
suffered after a teenager sniffed toluene. Another case report tells about a
previously healthy toluene sniffer, hospitalized with an extremely slow pulse
rate that could result in heart stoppage. Anemia and other changes in blood
composition may develop, changes affecting males and females in different
ways. For example, in one study of persons chronically exposed to the sub-
stance, women had higher blood cholesterol levels than normal, and men had
lower levels than normal. Chronic abuse can deplete a person’s potassium
levels; such depletion can damage muscles and produce irregular heartbeat.
Although researchers concluded from one experiment that moderate exposure
causes no kidney damage, stronger exposure may result in such harm. The
chemical may produce a kidney malfunction called renal tubular acidosis,
which might lead to rickets. Renal tubular acidosis can have fatal complica-
tions, but case reports indicate the condition can clear up if a victim stops
toluene sniffing.
Regular exposure can be dangerous enough, but an overdose can create a
medical emergency. In humans an overdose can dangerously speed up the
heart, cause seizures and convulsions, and produce coma. Fatalities occur. An
unusual hazard comes from the chemical’s ability to increase salivation; in one
case, a semiconscious person nearly drowned in his own saliva as it flowed
into his lungs.
The liquid can be absorbed through skin and may cause skin irritation.
Toluene is flammable, thus hazardous around flames or burning cigarettes.
Abuse factors.Monkeys have exhibited as much interest in toluene as in
opiates and amphetamines. Tolerance has developed in rats and humans. De-
pendence is reported in humans, with a withdrawal syndrome including quea-
siness, perspiring, facial tics and abdominal cramps, peevishness, and
difficulty with sleep. Symptoms last for several days. One reviewer of scientific
studies, however, has questioned whether either tolerance or dependence has
really been seen. Two experiments with monkeys found that they would self-
administer toluene, behavior that is a classic indication of addictive potential,
but circumstances in those tests did not simulate conditions of human recre-
ational use. Animals that are strapped down with tubes shoved into a body
orifice might well find a drug that reduces discomfort to be more attractive