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sec-Butyl alcohol
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 78–92–2
NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (305 mg/m3) TWA, 150 ppm (455 mg/m3) STEL
Current OSHA PEL: 150 ppm (450 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (305 mg/m3) TWA
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (303 mg/m3) TWA
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a strong, pleasant odor.
LEL(@212 F): 1.7% (10% LEL(@212 F), 1,700 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 10,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Patty [1963] that 10,670 ppm for 225 minutes and 16,000 ppm for 160 minutes were fatal for mice [Weese 1928]. According to Patty [1963], at 20,000 ppm it took 12 to 20 minutes to produce prostration in mice and 40 minutes to produce narcosis; no deaths occurred [Starrek 1938]. The chosen IDLH is probably conservative.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50(ppm) | LCLo(ppm) | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | DerivedValue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatMouse
Mouse |
Shell 1985Weese 1928
Weese 1928 |
———-
—– |
16,00010,670
16,000 |
4 hr3.75 hr
2.67 hr |
32,000 ppm (2.0)20,913 ppm (1.96)
28,000 ppm (1.75) |
3,200 ppm2,091 ppm
2,800 ppm |
Other animal data: The limited acute toxicity data indicate that sec-butyl alcohol is less toxic than n-butyl alcohol [ACGIH 1991].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 2,000 ppmBasis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for sec-butyl alcohol is 2,000 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Weese 1928]. This value also approximates 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of 1.7% (which was determined at 212 F) and the revised IDLH for n-butyl alcohol. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1991]. sec-Butyl alcohol. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 172-173.
2. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1447.
3. Shell [1985]. Material safety data sheet S280-4: secondary butyl alcohol. Houston, TX: Shell Chemical Company, pp. 1-4.
4. Starrek E [1938]. The effect of some alcohols, glycols, and esters. Doctoral dissertation (translated). Wurzburg, Germany: Julius Maximillian University.
5. Weese H [1928]. Comparative studies of the effect and toxicity of the vapors of lower aliphatic alcohols. Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 135:118-130 (translated).