Contact with the eyes and skin may result in irritation. Vapors are readily absorbed through the lungs. Inhalation of ethylbenzene vapors causes drowsiness, narcosis, headaches, cramps, and tightness of the chest. Severe overexposure can cause death due to respiratory center paralysis. If aspiration occurs, chemical pneumonitis or pulmonary edema may result. Ingestion may result in kidney or liver damage. Ethyl benzene is absorbed through the skin at a low rate.

Acute overexposure to petroleum distillate vapors may cause CNS effects, including headache, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion. Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and CNS disorders. Aspiration of the liquid into the lungs may result in chemical pneumonitis, which may be fatal.

Aspiration of xylene may result in chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage. Ingestion and skin absorption may lead to CNS depression, symptoms may include nausea, dizziness and blurred vision.

Animal studies indicate that chronic overexposure to ethylbenzene may cause liver and kidney injury. Increased liver and kidney weight were found in rats exposed to 400 ppm for 186 days. Animal studies indicate that the vapors may be embryotoxic. Prolonged skin contact will cause edema and blistering. In NTP 2-year inhalation studies, clear evidence of carcinogenicity of ethylbenzene in male rats was noted based on increased incidences of kidney neoplasms. Incidences of testicular adenoma, lung neoplasms and liver neoplasms, respectively. Prolonged or repeated skin contact with petroleum distillates may cause defatting and dermatitis.

The chronic effects of overexposure to xylene include possible liver and kidney damage. A mixture of o, m, and p - xylenes was teratogenic and embryotoxic to mice by the oral route; however, these effects were accompanied by maternal toxicity. Rats exposed to 1000 mg/m3 by inhalation exhibited no tertogenic effects; however, minor skeletal abnormalities occurred.