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tert-Butyl acetate
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 540–88–5
NIOSH REL: 200 ppm (950 mg/m3) TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 200 ppm (950 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 200 ppm (950 mg/m3) TWA
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a fruity odor.
LEL: . . 1.5% (10% LEL, 1,500 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 10,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on an analogy with n-butyl acetate for which an IDLH of 10,000 ppm was chosen. No other data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base the IDLH for tert-butyl acetate.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Animal data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
Human data: Exposures of 200 to 300 ppm cause slight irritation of the eyes and nose, and short exposures to 3,300 ppm cause extreme irritation of the eyes and nose [ILO 1983].
| Revised IDLH: 1,500 ppm [LEL]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on health considerations, acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [ILO 1983], and an analogy to n-butyl acetate, a value of about 2,500 ppm would have been appropriate for tert-butyl acetate. However, the revised IDLH for tert-butyl acetate is 1,500 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% of the lower explosive limit of 1.5%). |
REFERENCE:
1. ILO [1983]. Butyl acetate. In: Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety. Third (revised) edition. Vol. I (A-K). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, pp. 782-783.