摘要
甲苯屬於芳香族碳氫有機溶劑。在現在日常生活中，甲苯（methybenzene, toluene）廣泛被應用在各種有機化學成品，如油漆、染料、塗漆、汽油、黏著劑等碳氫化合物的溶劑都含有甲苯。甲苯進入人體途徑有急性經口食入，急性或慢性吸入揮發性甲苯因而中毒。甲苯因會刺激中樞神經造成欣快感，所以常有人用來吸食而成癮，導至因長期慢性吸食而造成急性中毒。也有常期暴露在含有甲苯的工作場所中，例如油漆工、加油站及有機化學工廠的工人等，不知覺中慢性吸入揮發性甲苯而產生毒性。甲苯對人的身體影響是多方面，不少病例報告因甲苯中毒，產生對各器官系統，甚至神經及精神方面的影響。在一般環境中接觸甲苯的機會是如此多，所以本文特別介紹甲苯在人身體的吸收、代謝、毒性、治療及預防中毒。
關鍵字
甲苯並列摘要
Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and also known as methylbenzene. It is used in the manufacture of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, explosives, dyes and other organic compounds. The solvent of paints, lacquers, gums, resins, pesticides and gasoline addictive all contain toluene. People who long-term exposed to the environment containing methylbenzene aerosol and those toluene abuser are the high risk groups. Most of them suffered intoxication did not know the prior event of the toluene inhalation toxicity. Routes of entery to our body include acute ingestion, acute and chronic inhalation. Poisoned patients might present central nervous system excitation followed by depression, and injury to cardiovascular, respiratory and intestinal system. There were some reports that the toluene may be related to carcinogenicity and teratogenesity. Herein, we illustrated the absorption, metabolism, clinical toxicity, prevention and treatment of toluene and remined clinical physicians to keep in mind of high prevalence of toluene intoxication.