• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.545-549
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• 1996

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to the toluene at 3,000${\pm}$200ppm via inhalation for two hours in the single inhalation group and three weeks by two hours per day, six da ys per week in the repeated inhalation group. The blood toluene concentration in the repeated inhalation group was significantly lower than that in the single inhalation group after 210 and 240 minutes of exposure. The peak concentration of blood toluene was 58.13${\pm}$4.63${\mu}$g/ml in the single inhalation group and 54.24${\pm}$6.87mcg/ml in the repeated at the end of 120 minutes of the exposure. The behavioral change of rats for the initial 30 minutes of the toluene inhalation showed mildly increased movement and excitement but remained calm and inhibitory behaviors after that period; more inhibitory behaviors in the single inhalation group compared with the repeated inhalation group. In open-field test, after the termination of the toluene inhalation, no difference had been statistically observed between the toluene inhalation group and the control group in ambulation, rearing, preening and grooming.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 1995

The effects of toluene inhalation on the contents of amino acid neurotransmitters in rat brain were investigated and blood toluene concentrations inducing changes of behavior and amino acid neurotransmitter contents in rat brain were observed. Male wistar rats were exposed to toluene vapor (single dose : 1700, 5000 and 10000 ppm for 2 hrs, repeated dose : 1700 and 5000 ppm for 2 hrs/day$\times$6 days). Toluene concentrations in blood and the inhalation chamber were assayed by GC with headspace sampler. HPLC method following PITC derivatization was used to measure the amino acid contents in brain tissues such as frontal cortex, caudate, hippocampus, cerebellum and brain stem. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid levels were increased by single inhalation of toluene (5000 ppm) in all the brain areas assayed in this experiment. In caudate and cerebellum, taurine levels were decreased by single inhalation of low dose toluene (1700 ppm), but increased by repeated administration. At high blood toluene concentration, GABA levels were increased in all the brain areas assayed in this experiment and the increasing extents of inhibitory amino acid contents measured in caudate and hippocampus were greater than those of excitatory amino acids. These results suggest that the changes of amino acid neurotransmitter contents in brain by exposure to toluene may modulate toluene-induced behaviors.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 1997

Toluene inhalation increases glutamate level and its receptor in various brain regions. In this study, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities were investigated in various rat brain regions using NADPH diaphorase staining method which examined histochemical changes of NOS in the neural cells. Also, in vitro LDH leakage assay and MTT test were performed to investigate the toxic influences of toluene in cultured granule cell of rat cerebellum which was significantly affected with toluene in vivo. Rats were exposed to toluene of 10000 ppm for 3 days. 7 days and 14 days by 20 min $\times$ 2 times a day. NADPH diaphorase staining was processed in the different brain regions after inhalation. NADPH diaphorase staining density was not significantly changed at 3 days inhalation group, but the density decreased in proportion to the duration of toluene inhalation. Over 30% of staining density was decreased at 14 days group which was maximum duration of inhalation in this study. The tendency of staining density decrease was significant in granule cell of cerebellum. Cell death by toluene exposure was observed in cultured cerebellar granule cell. $EC_{50}$ measured with LDH leakage assay and MTT test were 43 mM and 72 mM respectively.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 1998

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to the toluene at 3,000${\pm}$200ppm via inhalation for two hours (single inhalation group), three weeks by two hours per day, six days per wee k (repeated inhalation group). We examined the level of excitatory amino acids of the extracellular neurotransmitter within the corpus striatum of rats by using in vivo microdialysis. Aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters were generally decreased in the inhalation groups compared with the control group, and more significantly decreased in the repeated inhalation group than in the single inhalation group except that Asp was increased from 60 min after the beginning of the inhalation to 30 min after the termination.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.282-291
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• 2020

Inhaled solvents such as toluene are of particular concern due to their abuse potential that is easily exposed to the environment. The inhalation of toluene causes various behavioral problems, but, the effect of short-term exposure of toluene on changes in emotional behaviors over time after exposure and the accompanying pathological characteristics have not been fully identified. Here, we evaluated the behavioral and neurochemical changes observed over time in mice that inhaled toluene. The mice were exposed to toluene for 30 min at a concentration of either 500 or 2,000 ppm. Toluene did not cause social or motor dysfunction in mice. However, increased anxiety-like behavior was detected in the short-term after exposure, and depression-like behavior appeared as delayed effects. The amount of striatal dopamine metabolites was significantly decreased by toluene, which continued to be seen for up to almost two weeks after inhalation. Additionally, an upregulation of serotonin 1A (5-HT_1A) receptor in the hippocampus and the substantia nigra, as well as reduced immunoreactivity of neurogenesis markers in the dentate gyrus, was observed in the mice after two weeks. These results suggest that toluene inhalation, even single exposure, mimics early anxiety-and delayed depression-like emotional disturbances, underpinned by pathological changes in the brain.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 1998

The effect of acute toluene exposure on behaviour and monoamine concentrations in the various brain regions were investigated in the rat. Toluene was adminstered via inhalation to rats at concentrations of 0, 1000, 10000, 40000 ppm for 20 min. During exposure to toluene, spontaneous locomotor activity was counted. After exposure, animals were sacrificed instantly and brains were separated. Regional concentratons of brain monoamines (norepinephrine, NE; dopamine, DA; 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its metabolites (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, DOPAC; homovanillic acid, HVA; 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, 5-HIAA) were determined. The changes in locomotor activity during toluene exposure depended on the toluene concentration. At 1000 ppm concentration, spontaneous locomotor activity increased initially and thereafter decreased. At higher concentrations (10000 ppm and 40000 ppm), spontaneous locomotor activity decreased and eventually ceased. A regional analysis of VA, NE, 5-HT, VOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA indicated a significant decrease in VA concentrations in cerebellum and striatum while NE and 5-HT concentrations were significantly increased in the cerebellum and cortex. 5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased in all brain regions. DOPAC concentrations were significantly increased in cerebellum and cortex while decreased in striatum. These results especially indicated that metabolic conversion of DA to HVA in striatum was highly increased by toluene inhalation. However, It remains to elucidate between behavioural responses and monoamine changes.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.577-582
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• 1999

The blood toluene concentration was determined by using the GC/MSD with HS-SPME technique in postmortem blood, quantitatively. Butane gases was analyzed by using the GC/FID with HS technique in postmortem blood, qualitatively. Seventy five cases of dead associated with inhalation of glue or butane gases happened in Korea for the last 3 years (1996-1998). In 27 cases of deah due to glue sniffing, nine persons died as a result of a fall while intoxication and their blood tolucne concentration was fairly high in the range of $1.3{\sim}21.6{\mu}g/mL$. In case of death due to butane sniffing, fifty four persons died of acute butane gases inhalation or suffocation, and 6 persons died of butane gases as well as glue inhalation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.329-332
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• 1998

Ingredients and concentrations of organic solvents in 7 kinds of adhesive sold on the domestic market were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Vapor concentrations were also analysed to estimate inhalation concentratins when adhesives were abused to get high. Acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl cyclopenatane, cyclohexane and toluene were identified to be used in domstic adhesives as solvents. When organic solvents of adhesives were vaporized in the vial at the room temprature for 30 mins, concentrations of organic solvents in air were in the range of 5,000~140,000ppm. Among these solvents, toluene, known to have strong hallucination effect, showed 5,000~35,000 ppm. The putative concentration of toluene in case of glue sniffing was estimated to be about 5,000ppm in consideration of glue sniffing circumstances. Toluene was found in all adhesives in this study, even adhesives which toluene was not described in label.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 1999

This study focused on risk assessment for inhalation of airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Ulsan industrial complex area. For non-carcinogenic risk, even the highest hazard index of toluene was estimated to be $4.8\times10^{-2}$, which was much lower than 1. The total hazard index of VOCs was estimated to be $5.8\times10^{-2}$. However, lifetime average cancer risk from the inhalation of airborne VOCs was estimated to be about $1.1\times10^{-3}/$, which was much higher than a risk standard of $10^{-5}$. The risk of $4.4\times10^{-5}$. came from benzene, the only human carcinogen among VOCs, while that of $1.05\times10^{-3}$ from probable human carcinogens including 1,3-butadiene and 1,2-dichloroethane. About 70% and 20% of total VOC cancer risk was due to the inhalation of 1,3-butadiene and 1,2-dichloroethane, respectively. Therefore, proper risk management of these 3 VOCs was required for the protection of health from cancer burden in Ulsan industrial complex area.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2014

Background: This study was conducted to assess health risks in regard to exposure by children to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in children's products. Methods: Ten VOCs were measured by head-space gas chromatography in children's products, including toys, oil pastels, sign pens, furniture, ball pools, and playmats. We estimated the average daily dose (ADD) via inhalation during the use of these children's products and calculated hazard quotient (HQ) by dividing ADD by reference dose of VOCs. Results: Among the measured VOCs, five compounds were identified in children's products: benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, and xylene. The detection rates of VOCs in toys, ball pools, furniture, playmats, sign pens, and oil pastels were 85%, 100%, 100%, 30%, 100%, and 60%, respectively. The maximum levels of VOCs were 0.18 mg benzene/kg in toys, 5.92 mg toluene/kg in playmats, 10.37 mg ethylbenzene/kg in ball pools, 24.85 mg xylene/kg in toys, and 118.29 mg styrene/kg in ball pools. From exposure levels of VOCs in the children's products HQs were calculated within a range of $5.71{\times}10^{-10}$ to $4.77{\times}10^{-4}$. The HQ of xylene was the highest for children aged 0-6 playing on the playmats. However, the HQ via inhalation exposure to VOCs in individual products did not exceed 1.00. Conclusion: Based on the results, it was concluded that the use of these children's products do not pose health risks to children.