422 Toluene
than a placebo, a choice having little to do with the drug’s appeal in other
circumstances.
Drug interactions.Not enough scientific information to report.
Cancer.Most, but not all, laboratory tests indicate toluene has no potential
for causing cancer. Animal experiments have not produced cancer. Whether
toluene causes cancer in humans is unknown.
Pregnancy.Toluene passes from a pregnant female into the fetus. Animal
experiments designed to duplicate toluene abuse patterns have produced low
birth weight and slow maturation of offspring; intermittent birth defects are
also observed but without enough evidence to be sure they are caused by
toluene, particularly since dosages tend to be so high as to sicken the pregnant
females. Chronic exposure to the substance caused pregnancy failure in rab-
bits. In a mice experiment the death rate of offspring with prenatal exposure
was nearly twice the rate of nonexposed offspring. Industrial exposure to tol-
uene has been associated with human fetal deformity and spontaneous abor-
tion, but toluene’s exact role is uncertain because the women were exposed
to other chemicals as well. Association has been noted with birth defects of
the heart and of the digestive and urogenital systems. Such association does
not prove cause and effect, but it does indicate areas needing further research.
A study of 18 infants with prenatal exposure to toluene found that 39% were
premature births, with 9% dying soon afterward. Over half were smaller than
normal and had trouble catching up to usual size in ensuing months. Fully
67% had smaller-than-normal heads, implying smaller-than-normal brains. Al-
most all had classic head and facial characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Similar findings came from a study of 30 infants born to 11 toluene abusers
and from a study of another 21 infants. Case reports are consistent with those
findings. Most, if not all, toluene abusers also abuse other drugs, so firm con-
clusions about fetal effects of toluene cannot be reached from these studies
and cases. Indeed, one group of researchers concluded that some effects
blamed on toluene were actually caused by alcohol abuse during pregnancy.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Aydin, K., et al. “Cranial MR Findings in Chronic Toluene Abuse by Inhalation.”AJNR.
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Devathasan, G., et al. “Complications of Chronic Glue (Toluene) Abuse in Adoles-
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Evans, A.C., and D. Raistrick. “Phenomenology of Intoxication with Toluene-Based
Adhesives and Butane Gas.”British Journal of Psychiatry150 (1987): 769–73.
Filley, C., R.K. Heaton, and N.L. Rosenberg. “White Matter Dementia in Chronic Tol-
uene Abuse.”Neurology40 (1990): 532–34.
Glaser, H.H., and O.N. Massengale. “Glue-Sniffing in Children: Deliberate Inhalation
of Vaporized Plastic Cements.”Journal of the American Medical Association 181
(1962): 300–304.
Goodwin, T.M. “Toluene Abuse and Renal Tubular Acidosis in Pregnancy.”Obstetrics
and Gynecology71 (1988): 715–18.
Kamiyoshi, S., et al. “[Generalized Muscle Weakness Mimicking Periodic Paralysis in
a Patient with Toluene Abuse.]”No To Shinkei[Brain and Nerve] 54 (2002): 427–30.
Abstract in English.