Toxicity of Toluene to Several Freshwater Species

Toluene is methylated benzene and obtained mainly from tar oil. It has many common uses as a solvent and in the manufacture of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, explosives, dyes and many other organic compounds. Toluene behaves as a narcotic in high concentrations in organisms. Acute exposures were made with a coelenterate (Hydra sp.), an annelid.(Lum­ briculus variegatus), an amphipod (Gammarus pseudolinmaeus) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Tests with invertebrate organisms were repe(lted. AJ,l tests ere flow-through tests of 96 h duration in which exposure concentrations were measµred.Battelle Memorial Research Institut