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Tetraethyl lead (as Pb)
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 78–00–2
NIOSH REL: 0.075 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 0.075 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.1 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
Description of substance: Colorless liquid (unless dyed red, orange, or blue) with a pleasant, sweet odor.
LEL: . . 1.8% (10% LEL, 1,800 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 40 mg Pb/m3
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the rat LC50 of 6 ppm (approximately 80 mg/m3) [Saglik Dergisi 1963 cited by NIOSH 1974]. However, because of the unreliability of tetraethyl lead analytical methods utilized prior to 1968, 40 mg Pb/m3, which is approximately 50% of the LC50, has been utilized as the IDLH.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50 | LCLo | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse | Akatsuka 1973 | —– | 650 mg/m3 | 7 hr | 999 mg Pb/m3 (2.4) | 100 mg Pb/m3 |
| Rat | Cremer & Calloway 1961 | 850 mg/m3 | —– | 1 hr | 680 mg Pb/m3 (1.25) | 68 mg Pb/m3 |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Akatsuka 1973 | oral | —– | 30 | 135 mg Pb/m3 | 14 mg Pb/m3 |
| Rat | Magistretti et al. 1963 | oral | 35 | —– | 157 mg Pb/m3 | 16 mg Pb/m3 |
| Rat | Schepers 1964 | oral | 17 | —– | 76 mg Pb/m3 | 7.6 mg Pb/m3 |
| Rat | Schroeder et al. 1972 | oral | 12.3 | —– | 55 mg Pb/m3 | 5.5 mg Pb/m3 |
| Rat | Springman et al. 1963 | oral | —– | 24 | 108 mg Pb/m3 | 11 mg Pb/m3 |
Human data: It has been stated that 100 mg Pb/m3 for 1 hour may produce illness [Fleming 1963].
| Revised IDLH: 40 mg Pb/m3 [Unchanged]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Fleming 1963] and animals [Akatsuka 1973; Cremer and Calloway 1961], a value of about 100 mg Pb/m3 would have been appropriate for tetraethyl lead. However, the original IDLH for tetraethyl lead (40 mg Pb/m3) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. Akatsuka K [1973]. Tetraalkyl lead poisoning. Sangyo Igaku (Japanese Journal of Industrial Health) 15:3-66.
2. Cremer JE, Calloway S [1961]. Further studies on the toxicity of some tetra and trialkyl lead compounds. Brit J Ind Med 18:277-282.
3. Fleming AJ [1963]. Lead Symposium, Kettering Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, February 25-27, 1963.
4. Magistretti M, Zurlo N, Scollo F, Pacillo D [1963]. Tossicita comparata del piombo tetra-etile e del piombo tetra-metile. Med Lav 54:486-495 (in Italian).
5. NIOSH [1974]. TP45500. Plumbane, tetraethyl-. In: The toxic substances list, 1974 ed. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 74-134, p. 634.
6. Saglik Dergisi [1963]; 38:653.
7. Schepers GWH [1964]. Tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead comparative experimental pathology: Part I. Lead absorption and pathology. Arch Environ Health 8:277-295.
8. Schroeder T, Avery DD, Cross HA [1972]. Tetraethyl lead dose response curve for mortality in laboratory rats. Experientia 28:923-924.
9. Springman E, Bingham E, Stemmer KL [1963]. The acute effects of lead alkyls. Arch Environ Health 6:469.