Toluene was found to be teratogenic in mice and exposure on days 1-8 of pregnancy resulted in embryotoxic effects. It is combustible, poisonous gasses are produced in a fire. Has been reported to cause liver injury in humans. As methylene chloride is rapidly absorbed via the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, the major source of exposure is through inhalation. It is absorbed into all body tissue and crosses both the placental and blood-brain barrier.
Skin absorption is slow.
While results of mutagenic testing on mammalian cells, including human, were negative, it is weakly mutagenic in bacteria and fungi. There is limited evidence that it is teratogenic. The abstracts were reprinted, with permission, from AATA Vol.