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Nitroethane
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 79–24–3
NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (310 mg/m3) TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (310 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (307 mg/m3) TWA
Description of substance: Colorless, oily liquid with a mild, fruity odor.
LEL: . 3.4% (10% LEL, 3,400 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 1,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Patty [1963] that exposure to 5,000 ppm for 2 hours was lethal to 1 of 2 rabbits and to 0 of 2 guinea pigs; exposure to the same concentration for 3 hours was fatal to 2 of 2 rabbits and to 0 of 2 guinea pigs [Machle et al. 1940].
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | IMCC 1979 | LC100: 13,000 | —– | 6 hr | 29,900 ppm (2.3) | 2,990 ppm |
| Mouse | Izmerov et al. 1982 | —– | 6,250 | 2 hr | 10,000 ppm (1.6) | 1,000 ppm |
| Rabbit | Machle et al. 1940 | 5,000 | —– | 2 hr | 8,000 ppm (1.6) | 800 ppm |
| Rabbit | Machle et al. 1940 | LC100: 5,000 | —– | 3 hr | 9,000 ppm (1.8) | 900 ppm |
Other animal data: Guinea pigs survived both a 2-hour and a 3-hour exposure to 5,000 ppm [Machle et al. 1940]. Rats exposed to 2,200 ppm for 6 hours had no noticeable difficulty [IMCC 1979].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 1,000 ppm [Unchanged]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Izmerov et al. 1982; Machle et al. 1940], the original IDLH for nitroethane (1,000 ppm) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. IMCC [1979]. Technical data sheet no. 21: nitromethane. Des Plaines, IL: International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, Inc., NP Division.
2. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 93.
3. Machle W, Scott EW, Treon J [1940]. The physiological response of animals to some simple mononitroparaffins and to certain derivatives of these compounds. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 22(8):315-332.
4. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 2077.