sec-Amyl acetate

May 1994

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

CAS number: 626-38-0

NIOSH REL: 125 ppm (650 mg/m3) TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 125 ppm (650 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 125 ppm (665 mg/m3) TWA

Description of substance: Colorless liquid with a mild odor.

LEL: 1% (10% LEL, 1,000 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 9,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that 9,200 ppm was lethal to guinea pigs in 7 hours [Patty et al. 1936]. This is the only data on acute inhalation toxicity available on which to base the IDLH.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

					Adjusted
		LC50	LCLo		0.5-hr	Derived
Species	Reference	(ppm)	(ppm)	Time	LC (CF)	Value
G. pig	Patty et al. 1936	—–	9,200	7 hr	22,080 ppm (2.4)	2,208 ppm
G. pig	von Oettingen 1960	—–	10,000	5 hr	21,500 ppm (2.15)	2,150 ppm

Human data: It has been stated that exposure to 1,000 ppm for an hour may be expected to produce serious toxic effects [von Oettingen 1960].

Revised IDLH: 1,000 ppmBasis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for sec-amyl acetate is 1,000 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [von Oettingen 1960] and the similarity of the toxic effects of sec-amyl acetate to those of n-amyl acetate (which also has a revised IDLH of 1,000 ppm).

References:

ACGIH [1971]. sec-Amyl acetate. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 13.
Patty FA, Yant WP, Schrenk HH [1936]. Acute response of guinea pigs to vapors of some new commercial organic compounds. XI. Secondary amyl acetate. Public Health Rep 51(25):811-819.
von Oettingen WF [1960]. The aliphatic acids and their esters: toxicity and potential dangers. AMA Arch Ind Health 21:40/28-77/65.