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Ethyl benzene
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 100–41–4
NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA, 125 ppm (545 mg/m3) STEL
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA, 125 ppm (545 mg/m3) STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (434 mg/m3) TWA, 125 ppm (543 mg/m3) STEL
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with an aromatic odor.
LEL:. . 0.8% (10% LEL, 800 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 2,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] and ACGIH [1971] that in an experimental study 2,000 ppm caused dizziness in one man after a brief exposure of 5 minutes [Yant et al. 1930].
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50(ppm) | LCLo(ppm) | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | Derivedvalue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Smyth et al. 1962 | —– | 4,000 | 4 hr | 8,000 ppm (2.0) | 800 ppm |
Other animal data: RD50 (mouse): 1,430 ppm [DeCeaurriz et al. 1981;
RD50 (mouse): 4,060 ppm [Nielsen and Alarie 1982].
Human data: Dizziness was caused in one volunteer after a 5-minute exposure to 2,000 ppm [Yant et al. 1930].
| Revised IDLH: 800 ppm [LEL]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Yant et al. 1930] and animals [DeCeaurriz et al. 1981; Smyth et al. 1962], a value between 800 and 2,000 ppm would have been appropriate. However, the revised IDLH for ethyl benzene is 800 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% of the lower explosive limit of 0.8%). |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Ethylbenzene. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 104.
2. DeCeaurriz JC, Micillino JC, Bonnet P, Guenier JP [1981]. Sensory irritation caused by various industrial airborne chemicals. Toxicol Lett 9(4):137-143.
3. Nielsen GDF, Alarie Y [1982]. Sensory irritation, pulmonary irritation, and respiratory stimulation by airborne benzene and alkylbenzenes, prediction of safe industrial exposure levels and correlation with their thermodynamic properties. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 65:459-477.
4. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1232.
5. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC, Striegel JA [1962]. Range-finding toxicity data: list VI. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 23:95-107.
6. Yant WP, Schrenk HH, Waite CP, Patty FA [1930]. Acute response of guinea pigs to vapors of some new commercial organic compounds. II. Ethyl benzene. Public Health Rep 45:1241-1250.