Zinc oxide

RTECS #

ZH4810000

CAS #

1314-13-2; 8051-03-4; 78590-82-6
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

December 2018

Molecular Weight

81.37

Molecular Formula

OZn

Synonyms

Actox 14
Actox 16
Actox 216
AI3-00277
Akro-zinc bar 85
Akro-zinc bar 90
Amalox
Azo-33
Azo-55
Azo-55TT
Azo-66
Azo-66TT
Azo-77
Azo-77TT
Azodox-55
Azodox-55TT
C.I. 77947
C.I. Pigment White 4
Cadox XX 78
Chinese White
Cynku tlenek (Polish)
Electox 2500
Emanay zinc oxide
EMAR
Felling zinc oxide
Flowers of zinc
GIAP 10
Green seal-8
Hubbuck's White
Kadox 15
Kadox 72
Kadox-25
K-Zinc
Outmine
Ozide
Ozlo
Permanent White
Philosopher's wool
Powder base 900
Protox type 166
Protox type 167
Protox type 168
Protox type 169
Protox type 267
Protox type 268
Red Seal 9
Snow White
Unichem ZO
Vandem VAC
Vandem VOC
White seal-7
XX 203
XX 601
XX 78
Zinc oxide (ACGIH:OSHA)
Zinc oxide fume
Zinc oxide fume (OSHA)
Zinc White
Zinca 20
Zincite
Zincoid
Zn 0701T
ZN-0401 E 3/16''

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	500 mg/24H	mild	28ZPAK -,10,1972
skin /rabbit	500 mg/24H	mild	28ZPAK -,10,1972

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
Cytogenetic Analysis	inhalation/rat	100 µg/m³	CYGEDX 12(3),46,1978
Cytogenetic Analysis	other cell types/human	100 µmol/L/30H	MUREAV 650,39,2008
DNA adduct	/Escherichia coli	3000 ppm	MUREAV 89,95,1981
micronucleus test	lung/human	1.25 µg/well/48H	MUREAV 805,7,2016
morphological transform	embryo/hamster	1 mg/L	SHIGAZ 74,1385,1987
other mutation test systems	oral/Drosophila melanogaster	6.25 mmol/L/48H	FCTOD7 84,55,2015
sister chromatid exchange	embryo/hamster	300 µg/L	SHIGAZ 74,1385,1987
Unscheduled DNA Synthesis	inhalation/guinea pig	5300 µg/m³/3H/6D	TXAPA9 78,29,1985
Unscheduled DNA Synthesis	embryo/hamster	1 mg/L	SHIGAZ 74,1385,1987

Reproductive Effects Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
oral/rat	6846 mg/kg (1-22D pregnant)	Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Homeostasis Reproductive: Effects on newborn: Stillbirth Reproductive: Effects on newborn: Growth statistics (e.g., reduced weight gain)	JONUAI 98,303,1969

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, leukemia cells	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 10 mg/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Apoptosis in vitro	TOXRE* 3,430,2016
In Vitro/Human, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.1 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.)	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Human, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.2 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Human, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.1 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Human, lung tumor	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.1 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.)	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Human, lung tumor	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.1 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Human, oral mucosa	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 0.31 gm/L/5M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 30,402,2015
In Vitro/Human, oral mucosa	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 0.31 gm/L/5M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.)	TIVIEQ 30,402,2015
In Vitro/Human, oral mucosa	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 1.25 gm/L/5M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell morphology: overgrowth of cell appendixes etc.	TIVIEQ 30,402,2015
In Vitro/Mouse, fibroblast	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.1 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.)	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Mouse, fibroblast	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 0.1 gm/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 27,174,2013
In Vitro/Mouse, macrophage	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 12.13 mg/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.) In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc. In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Other assays	TIVIEQ 28,1144,2014
In Vitro/Rat, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 977.2 µmol/L/1H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 32,347,2016
In Vitro/Rat, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 1230.3 µmol/L/1H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell membrane integrity: Cytoplasmic enzymes leakage (lactate dehydrogenase, ATP enzymes etc.)	TIVIEQ 32,347,2016
In Vitro/Rat, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 2630.3 µmol/L/1H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell protein synthesis	TIVIEQ 32,347,2016
In Vitro/Rat, lung	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 1047.1 µmol/L/1H	Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation	TIVIEQ 32,347,2016
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 600 mg/m³	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	JIDHAN 9,88,1927
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 2500 mg/m³		ENTOX* -,481,2005
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 25 mg/m³/3H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Phosphatases Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation	TOXID9 72,298,2003
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 25 mg/m³/3H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation	TOXID9 44,213,2005
intraperitoneal/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 240 mg/kg		ZDKAA8 38(9),18,1978
intratracheal/mammal (species unspecified)	lowest published toxic dose: 250 mg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVN1* -,151,1988
intratracheal/rat	Lethal dose: >4979 µg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Dehydrogenases Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Other enzymes	ESKGA2 35,P19,1989
oral/human	lowest published lethal dose: 500 mg/kg		YAKUD5 22,291,1980
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 7950 mg/kg		ENTOX* -,481,2005
oral/rat	Lethal dose: >8437 mg/kg		GTPZAB 18(5),48,1974
Tank with water/Daphnia	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 5.5 mg/L/96H		AQUTO* 178,158,2016

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 5900 µg/m³/3H/3D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Phosphatases Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Dehydrogenases	JTEHD6 25,57,1988
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 4600 µg/m³/3H/6D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Changes in lung weight	TXAPA9 78,29,1985
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 5 mg/m³/6D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi Biochemical: Metabolism (intermediary): Effect on inflammation or mediation of inflammation	HBTME* -,925,2007
inhalation/mammal (species unspecified)	lowest published toxic concentration: 15 mg/m³/1H/84D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVN1* -,153,1988
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 6.9 mg/m³/7D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Changes in lung weight Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Multiple enzyme effects	INHTE5 15,435,2003
oral/chicken	lowest published toxic dose: 6468 mg/kg/1W- intermittent	Endocrine: Evidence of thyroid hypofunction Blood: Other changes Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	TOLED5 57,309,1991
oral/chicken	lowest published toxic dose: 12.93 gm/kg/2W- intermittent	Endocrine: Change in GH	TOLED5 57,309,1991
oral/chicken	lowest published toxic dose: 25.87 gm/kg/4W- intermittent	Endocrine: Other changes	TOLED5 57,309,1991
oral/chicken	lowest published toxic dose: 32203 mg/kg/4W- continuous	Endocrine: Change in GH Endocrine: Evidence of thyroid hypofunction Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	TOLED5 57,309,1991
oral/domestic animal	lowest published toxic dose: 3584 mg/kg/4W- intermittent	Gastrointestinal: Changes in structure or function of exocrine pancreas Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol) Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: Other metals	JJATDK 4,92,1984
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 17431 mg/kg/90D- continuous	Behavioral: Change in motor activity (specific assay)	TOXID9 36(1 Pt2),183,1997

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 2 mg/m³;short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³ (resp)	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ANAEA3 35,165,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		JIDHAN 8,322,1926
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,481,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HBTME* ,925,2007
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,661,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,515,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NBREV* 5,1,1981
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TXAPA9 243,239,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 727,72,2011
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 752,67,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 30,67,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FCTOD7 91,42,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUTAEX 32,203,2017
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 770,204,2016

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1988 PESTICIDE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATION		FEREAC 54,7740,1989
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1998 STATUS OF PESTICIDES	RED Completed	RBREV* -,346,1998
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³ (fume)	DTLVS* 3,284,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypt	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (dust), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³ (fume), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 5 mg/m³, resp, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (dust), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³ (fume), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 4 mg(Zn)/m³ (fume), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 2 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 10 mg/m³ (dust), 5 mg/m³ (fume), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 0.1 mg(Zn)/m³, resp, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 2 mg(Zn)/m³, inhal, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³ (resp), short term exposure limit 20 mg/m³ (resp), SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 4 mg(Zn)/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	Occupational Exposure Limit 1 mg/m³ (resp. dust), 4 mg/m³ (total dust), MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³ (fume), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³;short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³ (inhalable), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³ (fume), short term exposure limit 10 ppm (fume), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (inspirable dust), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 2 mg/m³; short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) fume 5 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) fume 10 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	time-weighted average 0.5 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 1.5 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	ceiling concentration 0.125 mg/m³, fume, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 0.1 mg(Zn)/m³, KZG-week 0.4 mg(Zn)/m³, resp, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 2 mg(Zn)/m³, KZG-week 4 mg(Zn)/m³, inhal, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILAND	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³ (fume), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 5 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEY	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, fume and respirable fraction	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 15 mg/m³, total dust	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m³	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, fume and respirable fraction	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 15 mg/m³, total dust	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 5 mg/m³, fume and respirable fraction	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 15 mg/m³, total dust	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO ZINC OXIDE, fume-air	10H time-weighted average 5 mg/m³;short term exposure limit 10 mg/m³	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO ZINC OXIDE, total dust-air	time-weighted average 5 mg/m³;ceiling concentration 15 mg/m³/15M	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code X5686; Number of Industries 295; Total Number of Facilities 56635; Number of Occupations 168; Total Number of Employees Exposed 919197; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 151582
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code X9509; Number of Industries 1; Total Number of Facilities 7; Number of Occupations 1; Total Number of Employees Exposed 105; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 7

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements by ICP, 7300
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Zinc and compounds, 7030 or 7502
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID121
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID143

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health