NIOSH logo and tagline

Chlorobenzene

May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

CAS number: 108–90–7

NIOSH REL: The 1989 OSHA PEL may not be protective to workers.

Current OSHA PEL: 75 ppm (350 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (46 mg/m3) TWA

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with an almond-like odor.

LEL: . . 1.3% (10% LEL, 1,300 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 2,400 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: AIHA [1964] reported that 8,000 ppm was fatal to cats in 30 minutes [Patty 1963; Flury and Zernik 1931]. Patty [1963] reported that the exposure of cats for 1 hour to 2,400 to 2,900 ppm causes unsteadiness, tremor, and twitching [Flury and Zernik 1931]. Based on the data cited above, an IDLH of 2,400 ppm is chosen for this draft technical standard.

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
RatRat

Cat

Eastman 1978Eastman 1978

Flury and Zernik 1931

LC67: 22,000LC67: 9,000 ———-

8,000

2.3 hr3 hr

3 hr

36,520 ppm (1.66)16,200 ppm (1.8)

8,000 ppm (1.0)

3,652 ppm1,620 ppm

800 ppm

 

Lethal dose data:

Species Reference Route LD50(mg/kg) LDLo(mg/kg) Adjusted LD Derived value
RatRabbit

Mouse

G. pig

Clayton and Clayton 1981Clayton and Clayton 1981

Izmerov et al. 1982

Izmerov et al. 1982

oraloral

oral

oral

2,2902,250

2,300

2,250

———-

—–

—–

3,425 ppm3,365 ppm

3,440 ppm

3,365 ppm

343 ppm337 ppm

344 ppm

337 ppm

 

Other animal data: RD50 (mouse), 1,054 ppm [DeCeaurriz et al. 1981].

Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

 

REFERENCES:

1. AIHA [1964]. Chlorobenzene. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 25:97-99.

2. Clayton GD, Clayton FE, eds. [1981]. Patty’s industrial hygiene and toxicology. Vol. 2B. Toxicology. 3rd rev. ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 3603.

3. DeCeaurriz JC, Micillino JC, Bonnet P, Guenier JP [1981]. Sensory irritation caused by various industrial airborne chemicals. Toxicol Lett 9:137-143.

4. Eastman Kodak Company [1978]. Toxicity and health hazard summary. Rochester, NY. [From ACGIH [1971]. Chlorobenzene. In: Documentation of threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 48-49.]

5. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Schädliche gase dämpfe, nebel, rauch- und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 337 (in German).

6. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 34.

7. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1334.