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Propylene imine
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 75–55–8
NIOSH REL: 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]; NIOSH considers propylene imine to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].
Current OSHA PEL: 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 2 ppm (4.7 mg/m3) TWA [skin], A2
Description of substance: Colorless, oily liquid with an ammonia-like odor.
LEL: . Unknown
Original (SCP) IDLH: 500 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Patty [1963] that 5 of 6 rats died from a 4-hour exposure to 500 ppm and 3 of 5 guinea pigs died from a 2-hour exposure to 500 ppm; at 500 ppm, rats survived a 2-hour exposure, and guinea pigs survived a 30-minute exposure [Carpenter et al. 1948].
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50(ppm) | LCLo(ppm) | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatG. pig
G. pig G. pig Rat |
Carpenter et al. 1949Carpenter et al. 1948
Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1948 |
—–LC17 : 500
LC60 : 500 LC100: 500 LC83 : 500 |
500—–
—– —– —– |
4 hr1 hr
2 hr 4 hr 4 hr |
1,000 ppm (2.0)625 ppm (1.25)
800 ppm (1.6) 1,000 ppm (2.0) 1,000 ppm (2.0) |
100 ppm63 ppm
80 ppm 100 ppm 100 ppm |
Other animal data: It has been reported that rats survived a 2-hour exposure to 500 ppm and guinea pigs survived a 30-minute exposure to 500 ppm [Carpenter et al. 1948].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 100 ppmBasis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for propylene imine is 100 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Carpenter et al. 1948, 1949]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the “most protective” respirators be worn for propylene imine at concentrations above 2 ppm.] |
REFERENCES:
1. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Pozzani UC [1949]. The assay of acute vapor toxicity, and the grading and interpretation of results on 96 chemical compounds. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 31:343-346.
2. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Shaffer CB [1948]. The acute toxicity of ethylene imine to small animals. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30:2-6.
3. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 2175.