An official website of the United States government
Dinitrobenzene (o-, m-, p-isomers)
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 528-29-0 (o-isomer), 99–65–0 (m-isomer), 100-25-4 (p-isomer)
NIOSH REL: 1 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 1 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 1 mg/m3 (0.15 ppm) TWA [skin]
Description of Substance: Pale-white or yellow solid.
LEL:. . Unknown
Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 mg/m3
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base an IDLH for dinitrobenzene. The chosen IDLH, therefore, has been estimated from the statement by Deichmann and Gerarde [1969] that the probable lethal oral dose for an adult is 2 grams.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p-isomer Cat |
Spector 1955 | oral | —– | 29 | 203 mg/m3 | 20 mg/m3 |
| m-isomer Rat Rabbit |
Kitchens et al. 1978 Kitchens et al. 1978 |
oral oral |
83 —– |
—– 400 |
581 mg/m3 2,800 mg/m3 |
58 mg/m3 280 mg/m3 |
Human data: The probable lethal oral dose has been reported to be 2 grams [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969]. [Note: An oral dose of 2 grams is equivalent to a worker being exposed to about 1,300 mg/m3 for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]
| Revised IDLH: 50 mg/m3Basis for revised IDLH: No inhalation toxicity data are available on which to base an IDLH for dinitrobenzene. Therefore, the revised IDLH for dinitrobenzene is 50 mg/m3 based on acute oral toxicity data in humans [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969]. |
REFERENCES:
1. Deichmann WB, Gerarde HW [1969]. Dinitrobenzenes. In: Toxicology of drugs and chemicals. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc., pp. 226-227.
2. Kitchens JF, Harward WE III, Lauter DM, Wentsel RS, Valentine RS [1978]. Preliminary problem definition of 48 munitions-related chemicals. Vol. 1. Explosives related chemicals. Alexandria, VA: Atlantic Research Corporation, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command Contract No. DAMD17-77-C-7057.
3. Spector WS, ed. [1955]. Handbook of toxicology. Vol. 1. Acute toxicities of solids, liquids and gases to laboratory animals. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co., pp. 116-117.