Cumene

RTECS #

GR8575000

CAS #

98-82-8
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

December 2018

Molecular Weight

120.21

Molecular Formula

C₉H₁₂

Synonyms

(1-Methylethyl)benzene
2-Fenilpropano (Italian)
2-Fenyl-propaan (Dutch)
2-Phenylpropane
Benzene, (1-methylethyl)- (9CI)
Benzene, isopropyl
Cumeen (Dutch)
Cumene (ACGIH:OSHA)
Cumol
Isopropilbenzene (Italian)
Isopropyl benzene
Isopropylbenzeen (Dutch)
Isopropylbenzol
Isopropyl-benzol (German)
Propane, 2-phenyl
RCRA waste number U055

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	86 mg	mild	AMIHAB 14,387,1956
eye /rabbit	500 mg/24H	mild	85JCAE -,33,1986
skin /rabbit	10 mg/24H open irritation test	mild	AMIHBC 4,119,1951
skin /rabbit	100 mg/24H	moderate	85JCAE -,33,1986

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
mutation in microorganisms	/Salmonella typhimurium	100 µg/plate/3H (-enzymatic activation step)	FCTOD7 40,1,2002

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 200 ppm	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Behavioral: Antipsychotic Behavioral: Irritability	TGNCDL 2,39,1961
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 15300 mg/m³/2H		VCVGH* -,169,1990
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 10000 mg/m³/7H		VCVGH* -,169,1990
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 5150 mg/m³/2H	Behavioral: General anesthetic	VCVGH* -,169,1990
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 10 gm/m³/7H	Liver: Multiple effects Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in both tubules and glomeruli Blood: Changes in spleen	JIHTAB 26,264,1944
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppm/30M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression	TOXID9 66,194,2002
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 300 ppm/30M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression	TOXID9 66,194,2002
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 8000 ppm		ENTOX* -,690,2005
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 39000 mg/m³/4H		VCVGH* -,169,1990
inhalation/rat	Lowest published lethal concentration: 8000 ppm/4H		AMIHBC 4,119,1951
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 12750 mg/kg		GISAAA 36(9),18,1971
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1400 mg/kg	Gastrointestinal: Gastritis	AMIHAB 14,387,1956
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2.9 gm/kg	Behavioral: General anesthetic Behavioral: Ataxia Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory obstruction	VCVGH* -,169,1990
skin/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 12300 µL/kg		AMIHBC 4,119,1951

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 2000 mg/m³/14W- continuous	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity)	VCVGH* -,170,1990
inhalation/rabbit	lowest published toxic concentration: 10000 mg/m³/2H/24W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Blood: Hemorrhage Blood: Changes in leukocyte (WBC) count	VCVGH* -,170,1990
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 1200 ppm/6H/13W- intermittent	Eye: Other eye effects Behavioral: Change in motor activity (specific assay) Blood: Pigmented or nucleated red blood cells	NTIS** OTS0522342
oral/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 89628 mg/kg/194D- intermittent	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in kidney weight	VCVGH* -,169,1990

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 50 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 101,347,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Group 2B	IMEMDT 101,347,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,690,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NETEEC 52,68,2015
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		RTOPDW 55,205,2009

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³) (skin)	DTLWS* 3,14,1973
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 25 ppm (125 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 75 ppm (375 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 20 ppm (100 mg/m³);KZW 20 ppm (250 mg/m³), skin, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	short term exposure limit 50 ppm (250 mg/m³), Skin, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), skin, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-EC	time-weighted average 100 mg/m³ (20 ppm);short term exposure limit 250 mg/m³ (50 ppm), skin, JUN2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 50 ppm (250 mg/m³), skin, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), VLE 50 ppm (250 mg/m³), Skin, FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 50 ppm (250 mg/m³), skin, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 100 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 250 mg/m³, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 50 ppm (250 mg/m³), skin, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³), skin, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 75 ppm (skin), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 25 ppm (125 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 75 ppm (375 mg/m³), skin, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 25 ppm (125 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 50 ppm (246 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 100 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 350 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	time-weighted average 50 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 150 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 25 ppm (120 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 35 ppm (170 mg/m³), Skin, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 100 mg/m³, Skin, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³), Skin, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 25 ppm (125 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 50 ppm (250 mg/m³), skin, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³) (skin)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³) (skin)	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³) (skin)	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 50 ppm (245 mg/m³) (skin)	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO CUMENE-air	10H time-weighted average 50 ppm (Sk)	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 20850; Number of Industries 15; Total Number of Facilities 1199; Number of Occupations 24; Total Number of Employees Exposed 14268; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 2760
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 20850; Number of Industries 2; Total Number of Facilities 24; Number of Occupations 8; Total Number of Employees Exposed 669

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Negative: Histidine reversion-Ames test; S cerevisiae-homozygosis
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: Hydrocarbons, aromatic, 1501
NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens,2016:Reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen
NTP Carcinogenesis studies; on test (prechronic studies), October 2000
On EPA IRIS database

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health