

Ban Toluene in the United States


Ban Toluene in the United States
The Issue
We are a group of high school students in Michigan learning about harmful factors that are used daily
Toluene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. Toluene can cause many health problems including cancer.
Toluene is used in many products like nail polish, nail polish remover, paint thinners, paint, rubber, explosives(TNT),stain remover, hair dyes and even some blemish patches.
Toluene exposure leads to DNA methylation, resulting in unregulated expression of several mRNAs associated with gliomas and Alzheimer’s disease.
( DNA methylation is a process where methyl groups are added to DNA, which can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself)
Methylation from toluene exposure can lead to cancer, atherosclerosis, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Methyltransferase ( an enzyme that speeds up the process/ chemical reaction in the body that attaches methyl groups to DNA) is hereditary meaning if a pregnant woman is exposed to toluene the baby can be affected as well.
People who work in nail salons, near underground gasoline storage tanks, construction workers who use adhesives, paints, and solvents, and workers involved with gasoline production are at high risk of being effected by toluene.
We are trying to ban this because it is an unsafe product used in TNT yet, we use it on our face.
19
The Issue
We are a group of high school students in Michigan learning about harmful factors that are used daily
Toluene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. Toluene can cause many health problems including cancer.
Toluene is used in many products like nail polish, nail polish remover, paint thinners, paint, rubber, explosives(TNT),stain remover, hair dyes and even some blemish patches.
Toluene exposure leads to DNA methylation, resulting in unregulated expression of several mRNAs associated with gliomas and Alzheimer’s disease.
( DNA methylation is a process where methyl groups are added to DNA, which can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself)
Methylation from toluene exposure can lead to cancer, atherosclerosis, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Methyltransferase ( an enzyme that speeds up the process/ chemical reaction in the body that attaches methyl groups to DNA) is hereditary meaning if a pregnant woman is exposed to toluene the baby can be affected as well.
People who work in nail salons, near underground gasoline storage tanks, construction workers who use adhesives, paints, and solvents, and workers involved with gasoline production are at high risk of being effected by toluene.
We are trying to ban this because it is an unsafe product used in TNT yet, we use it on our face.
19
The Decision Makers


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Petition created on April 11, 2025