The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate
Ecotoxicity
Human health
Environmental fate High alert: Drainflow: Very mobile
Substance with no pesticidal activity but sometimes used as a solvent in product formulations.
GB regulatory status
GB COPR regulatory status
Not applicable
Date COPR inclusion expires
Not applicable
GB LERAP status
Not applicable
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)
EC Regulation 1107/2009 status
Not applicable
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur
Not applicable
Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires
Not applicable
EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)
Not applicable
Listed in EU database
No
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States
ATAustria
BEBelgium
BGBulgaria
CYCyprus
CZCzech Republic
DEGermany
DKDenmark
EEEstonia
ELGreece
ESSpain
FIFinland
FRFrance
HRCroatia
HUHungary
IEIreland
ITItaly
LTLithuania
LULuxembourg
LVLatvia
MTMalta
NLNetherlands
PLPoland
PTPortugal
RORomania
SESweden
SISlovenia
SKSlovakia
Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries
ISIceland
NONorway
Additional information
Also used in
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Chemical structure
Isomerism
Xylene exhibits structural isomerism, specifically positional isomerism, due to the different possible arrangements of its two methyl groups on the benzene ring. There are three distinct isomers of xylene: ortho-xylene (o-xylene), meta-xylene (m-xylene), and para-xylene (p-xylene). These isomers share the same molecular formula but differ in the relative positions of the methyl groups, adjacent in o-xylene, separated by one carbon in m-xylene, and opposite each other in p-xylene.
VOC; Potential marine pollutant; Listed on USA Toxic Release Inventory
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
UK statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life: annual average for inland, coastal and territorial waters; 30 µg l⁻¹ UK statutory standard for the protection of surface water quality: annual average for inland, coastal and territorial waters; 30 µg l⁻¹
Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)
Not applicable
Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)
Not applicable
Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)
Not applicable
Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)
Not applicable
Examples of recorded resistance
-
Physical state
Clear, colorless liquid
Commercial
Property
Value
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
-
Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically
Raw Chemicals
Example products using this active
Xylene
Formulation and application details
-
Commercial production
Xylene is commercially produced as part of the BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) aromatic hydrocarbon group, primarily through catalytic reforming of naphtha, a light petroleum distillate. In this process, naphtha is treated to remove impurities and then exposed to a platinum-based catalyst at high temperatures and moderate pressures, converting it into a mixture of aromatic compounds including the three xylene isomers. Another method is toluene disproportionation, where toluene is converted into xylene and benzene using zeolite catalysts under similarly high-temperature and pressure conditions. The resulting xylene mixture is separated and purified using fractional distillation and selective adsorption techniques.
Impact on climate of production and use
The GHG emissions associated with the manufacture of xylene vary depending on the production method and energy sources used, but they are significant due to the energy-intensive nature of aromatic hydrocarbon processing. While exact emission factors can differ by region and technology, a published life cycle assessment suggested that producing 1 kilogram of xylene can result in approximately 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms of CO₂-equivalent emissions, depending on the efficiency of the process and whether fossil fuels are used as the primary energy source.
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
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Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
-
-
-
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
900000
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets 3 = Unverified data of known source
Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
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-
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Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost
From plant surface
-
-
-
From soil surface
-
-
-
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
-
-
-
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
-
-
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
General biodegradability
-
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix
Hydrolysis is not a major degradation route - although xylene dissappears rapidly in solution due to volatilsation
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Air degradation
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.
Main risk of exposure is during handling such as mixing, loading and cleaning operations
MRLs
European
EU MRL pesticide database
Great Britain
GB MRL Register
Notes
-
Drinking Water Standards
Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.5 mg l⁻¹
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP Evaluation Documents / and other DEFRA (UK) documents; Also Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
UK EA QS database 2018
-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
-
-
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Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 0 = No data
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
?Possibly, status not identified
XNo, known not to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
No data found
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
General human health issues
Blood, bone marrow, kidneys, liver toxicant IARC Group 3 carcinogen - not classifiable
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Flammable Vapours may form explosive mixtures with air IMDG Transport Hazard Class 3
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242
Environmental fate
Warning:
Ecotoxicity
