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Effects of a single exposure to toluene at a concentration of 1000 ppm for 4 h on rats' systolic blood pressure were investigated. 9 rats were used in each group (control and exposed groups). The basic blood pressure of the exposed group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The movement of systolic blood pressure due to impulse noise exposure was significantly smaller in the exposed group than in the control group. Toluene exposure at concentration of 1000 ppm for 4 h produced narcotic and inhibitory actions in the diencephalohypophysial and the adrenal gland system in rats.

Rats were exposed to toluene at a concentration of 1000 ppm, 6 h/day, 6 times weekly, for 4 weeks. Functional disturbance of the circadian rhythm of spontaneous activity was found after repeated exposure to toluene, although single exposure under the same conditions did not influence the rhythm. The disturbance was characterized by a significant increase in distribution of activity in the ‘Light’ (L) period, and a significant relationship was observed between the total number of days of exposure and the activity level in the L period. The toluene concentration in the blood immediately after the exposure was 6.8–7.2 μg/ml after one and 18 days of exposure, respectively.