NIOSH logo and tagline

Silica, crystalline (as respirable dust)

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

CAS number: 14808–60–7

NIOSH REL: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA; NIOSH considers crystalline silica to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: TWA 50 µg/m3

1989 OSHA PEL: Cristobalite: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA

Tridymite: 0.05 mg/m3 TWA

Quartz: 0.1 mg/m3 TWA

Tripoli: 0.1 mg/m3 TWA

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: Quartz (respirable dust): 0.1 mg/m3 TWA

Cristobalite (respirable dust): 0.05 mg/m3 TWA

Tridymite (respirable dust): 0.05 mg/m3 TWA

Description of substance: Varies

Original (SCP) IDLH*: No Evidence [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 500 times the OSHA PEL — see discussion below.]

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The available toxicological data show no evidence that indicates an acute exposure to a high concentration of crystalline silica would impede escape or cause any irreversible health effects within 30 minutes. For this draft technical standard, therefore, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device. However, for some particulate substances for which no evidence of an IDLH exists, the determination of allowable respiratory protection based on protection factors may result in the assignment of respirators for concentrations that are not likely to be encountered in the occupational environment. Therefore, for all such particulate substances it has been arbitrarily determined that only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 500 ´ the OSHA PEL.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Animal or human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.