If you read my earlier posts you are now realizing how nasty Toluene is.  And now you’re likely wondering how it affects you?  We know it affects the workers at the manufacturers who use Toluene as an adhesive.  We also know inhalant abusers, or “glue sniffers”, are subject to high levels of Toluene.  We also know that the government has “acceptable levels of Toluene” for consumers.  But let me stop right there – acceptable levels of Toluene?  This is another way of saying “It’s too hard to eliminate Toluene”.

Well to that concept I say nonsense.  Ariaprene is now proof that you can have 100% Toluene free products.  Consumer demand for “Toluene Free” and “Solvent Free” will force governments and companies to demand all manufacturers upgrade, evolve and eliminate the nasty solvent.

As I sit in my neighborhood coffee shop, I thought I would point out some items here that likely contain Toluene, to give you an idea of how widespread the usage is.  For as you now know, if you want a strong cheap adhesive, or glue, then Toluene is the most common solvent used.

1)      Neighbor’s Dell Lap-top sleeve – used to adhere the surface fabrics to the inner foam; also used for the lining fabric

2)      Wooden dowel chairs – glue that secures the legs

3)      My computer!!! – used to adhere keys, etc.

4)      My neighbor’s computer bag – used to adhere the leather strap loops to the body of the bag

5)      This woman’s nail polish – used as the bonding solvent

6)      Painted red door – used as the solvent in the paint thinner and paint

7)      Man’s shinny shoes – used as the solvent in his shoe polish

8)      Shinny sofa – used as the solvent to shine / clean the leather

9)      Heavy tape on door – adhesive solvent used (for example – in Duct tape)

10)   Clay flower pot – solvent used to help it solidify and hold

11)   Girl’s Band-Aid on finger – solvent used as adhesive…..on a child’s finger which will certainly go in her mouth!

Im not going to beat around the bush in this post.  Anyone who has seen or heard a commercial for prescription medicine knows at the end they rattle off what seems like 50 possible side effects for the medication.  Well consider the below your possible side effects list, or your “fine print” if you prefer, for Toluene.  And note this applies to consumers as well, not just those on the manufacturing level or inhalant abusers (glue sniffers), although naturally their odds are greater.

Finally, I want to note that I am intending this to educate and not to create fear.  We already exist in a fear based society so that is not my intent.  I hope to educate so you can apply the pressure as well to the government, retailers and brands – get Toluene out of our products!

And if you don’t take my word for it then go check out the “National Library of Medicine”.  They also compiled a list of Toluene side effects.

High Level of Toluene Exposure –

(Greater Potential for Manufacturer Workers and Inhalant Abusers)

1)      Kidney failure

2)      Nervous system damage

3)      Heart failure

4)      Brain malfunction

5)      Depression (frequently found in those who “sniff glue”, which really means “sniffing Toluene”)

6)      Fetus damage for pregnant women

7)      Unconsciousness

8)      Death

Moderate to Low Level of Toluene Exposure –

(Greater Potential on Consumer Level)

1)      Confusion

2)       Light-headedness

3)      Dizziness

4)      Headache

5)      Fatigue

6)      Weakness

7)      Memory loss

8)      Nausea

9)      Appetite loss

10)   Coughing

11)   Wheezing

12)   Hearing and color vision loss

Now that we are a bit more educated on what Toluene is, and what the dangers are, the real question is,  “How do we get rid of it?”  The answer here might be simpler than you think.

Consumers have power just as voters do, if the numbers are great enough than the powers who be will react.  In this case instead of politicians the powers who be are retailers.  Today, especially with the prominence of social media forcing transparency on retailers, consumers can quite easily make a difference.  If enough consumers demand that our retailers only carry products that are “Toluene free” or use “100% water based adhesives” then they will listen.

Often times it comes down to simply being aware of an issue to create a reaction that is long overdue.  They used to tell us that cigarettes weren’t bad for us and could even help with digestion.  That was brands, retailers and the government!  Well now the government is telling us there are “acceptable levels of Toluene” giving the retailers no reason to make the change themselves to “solvent free”.  Don’t get me wrong, there are good proactive retailers out there pushing aggressively for solvents to be removed from their products.  But now is the time for all retailers to push this objective and they only will when the consumer demands it.

If we demand “solvent free”, “Toluene free” or “100% water based adhesive” products to the retailers, they will listen.  That I can assure you as one who works in manufacturing, they are listening more to the consumer than any agency or collective group that gives them advice today.  In the end the consumer has the real power, which is empowering indeed.