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TRIPHENYL AMINE

OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.

CAS: 603-34-9; Chemical Formula: (C6H5)3N

OSHA formerly had no exposure limit for triphenyl amine. The proposed PEL was 5 mg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA, and the final rule adopts this limit. NIOSH (Ex. 8-47, Table N1) agrees with the selection of this PEL. The ACGIH has a 5-mg/m3 8-hour TWA limit for this substance. Triphenyl amine takes the form of colorless monoclinic prisms.

Animal studies conducted by the Eastman Kodak Company (Roudabush 1973, as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 612) showed an oral LD(50) in rats of 3200 to 6400 mg/kg and an oral LD(50) in mice of 1600 to 3200 mg/kg. The LD(50) by intraperitoneal administration for both rodent species exceeded 6400 mg/kg. Skin and eye sensitivity tests in both rabbits and guinea pigs were essentially negative, except that application of 5 to 20 ml/kg occlusively for four hours produced slight erythema (Roudabush 1973, as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 612).

OSHA is establishing a 5-mg/m3 TWA limit for triphenyl amine. The Agency concludes that this limit will protect workers against the significant risk of skin irritation, a material health impairment that is potentially associated with exposure to this substance at levels above the new PEL.