Description
Ambient air quality objectives are established as part of the Alberta air quality management system. The purpose of this assessment report was to provide a review of scientific and technical information to assist in evaluating the basis and background for an ambient air quality objective for toluene. Toluene is a clear, colourless, volatile and flammable liquid under standard conditions. It is a naturally occurring component of crude oil and petroleum. Toluene is also formed during the combustion of organic materials; thus forest, grass and other biomass fires will release toluene to the atmosphere. The manufacturing of toluene occurs primarily via isolation from petroleum mixtures by the distillation of reformed or pyrolyzed petroleum and coal-tar oil. Toluene is widely used as a solvent in paints, varnishes, pesticide formulations, printing inks, dyes, adhesives, sealants, cleaning agents, nail polish, and for chemical extractions. Toluene also is used as a feedstock or starting...