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Ethanolamine
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 141–43–5
NIOSH REL: 3 ppm (8 mg/m3) TWA, 6 ppm (15 mg/m3) STEL
Current OSHA PEL: 3 ppm (6 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 3 ppm (8 mg/m3) TWA, 6 ppm (15 mg/m3) STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 3 ppm (7.5 mg/m3) TWA, 6 ppm (15 mg/m3) STEL
Description of Substance: Colorless, viscous liquid or solid (below 51 F) with an unpleasant, ammonia-like odor.
LEL(@284 F): 3.0% (10% LEL(@284 F), 3,000 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 1,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [1968] that the saturated concentration (less than 1,316 ppm) at room temperature should not be immediately hazardous to life. However, AIHA [1968] also reported that sprays and mists evolving from these compounds at elevated temperatures may be dangerous.
Existing short-term exposure guidelines: National Research Council [NRC 1984] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
1-hour EEGL: 50 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 3 ppm
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50(ppm) | LCLo(ppm) | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | Derivedvalue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. pig | Treon et al. 1957 | LC67: 233 | —– | 1 hr | 291 ppm (1.25) | 29 ppm |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derivedvalue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatG. pig
Rat Mouse Rabbit Rabbit Mouse Rat |
Hartung and Cornish 1968Sidorov et al. 1968
Sidorov et al. 1968 Sidorov et al. 1968 Sidorov et al. 1968 Sidorov and Timofievskaya 1979 Timofievskaya 1962 Vernot et al. 1977 |
oraloral
oral oral oral oral oral oral |
3,320620
2,050 1,475 1,000 1,000 700 1,720-1,970 |
———-
—– —– —– —– —– —– |
9,150 ppm1,709 ppm
5,650 ppm 4,065 ppm 2,776 ppm 2,756 ppm 1,920 ppm 4,740-5,429 ppm |
915 ppm171 ppm
565 ppm 407 ppm 278 ppm 276 ppm 192 ppm 474-543 ppm |
Other animal data: Cats exposed for 2 hours to vapors of ethanolamine at concentrations reaching 970 ppm displayed vomiting tendencies; mice had no adverse effects from the same exposures [Sidorov et al. 1968]. A single 8-hour exposure to “concentrated vapors” did not kill any of six rats [UCC 1970]. Guinea pigs survived a 15-minute exposure to ethanolamine at 193 ppm [Treon et al. 1957].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 30 ppmBasis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ethanolamine is 30 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Treon et al. 1957]. |
REFERENCES:
1. AIHA [1968]. Ethanolamines. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 29:312-315.
2. Hartung R, Cornish HH [1968]. Cholinesterase inhibition in the acute toxicity of alkyl-substituted 2-aminoethanol. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 12:486-494.
3. NRC [1984]. Emergency and continuous exposure limits for selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 17-25.
4. Sidorov KK, Gorban GM, Tikhonova GP [1968]. Comparative toxicological characteristics of some regenerable absorbers of carbon dioxide. Kosm Biol Aviak Med 2:289-292 (in Russian).
5. Sidorov KK, Timofievskaya LA [1979]. Data for use in setting the MAC for monoethanolamine in the working environment. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 23(9):55 (in Russian).
6. Timofievskaya LA [1962]. Toxicological characteristics of monoethanolamine. Toksikol Nov Prom Khim Vesh 4:81-91 (in Russian).
7. Treon JF, Cleveland FP, Stemmer KL, Cappel J, Larson EE, Shaffer F [1957]. Toxicity of monoethanolamine in air. Cincinnati, OH: Kettering Laboratory.
8. UCC [1970]. Ethanolamines. New York, NY: Union Carbide Corporation, Chemicals and Plastics, p. 30.
9. Vernot EH, MacEwen JD, Haun CC, Kinkead ER [1977]. Acute toxicity and skin corrosion data for some organic and inorganic compounds and aqueous solutions. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 42:417-423.