Benzene: colorless liquid, with special aromatic smell, boiling point 80℃. Toluene and xylene are homologues of benzene, and they are both products of coal tar fractionation or petroleum cracking. At present, toluene and xylene are often used as solvents or diluents for various adhesives, paints, coatings and waterproof materials in interior decoration, instead of pure benzene.
Harmfulness of benzene to human body: benzene is volatile, flammable and explosive. When people inhale high concentrations of toluene and xylene in a short time, they may suffer from central nervous system anesthesia, ranging from dizziness, headache, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue and confusion to coma, leading to respiratory and circulatory failure and death. If long-term exposure to a certain concentration of toluene and xylene will cause chronic poisoning, there may be neurasthenia symptoms such as headache, insomnia, listlessness and memory loss. Benzene compounds have been identified as strong carcinogens by the World Health Organization.