SUCROSE

OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.

CAS: 57-50-1; Chemical Formula: C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁

The former OSHA 8-hour TWA limit for sucrose was 15 mg/m³ as total particulate, the Agency’s generic limit for all particulates. The ACGIH includes sucrose in its grouping of particulates that “do not produce significant organic disease or toxic effect when exposures are kept under reasonable control” (ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3) and has a TLV-TWA limit of 10 mg/m³ for sucrose as total particulate containing no asbestos and less than 1 percent quartz; this is also the limit OSHA proposed for this substance. The final rule, however, retains the 15-mg/m³ total particulate and the 5-mg/m³ respirable fraction TWA limits for sucrose, which is found in the form of white crystals.

Exposure to excess levels of sucrose dust can cause skin and eye irritation, interference with vision, and distraction from the task at hand.

OSHA is retaining the 8-hour total particulate TWA of 15 mg/m³ for sucrose and is also retaining the 5-mg/m³ respirable fraction limit. The Agency concludes that these limits protect exposed workers against the significant risk of physical irritation.