Mesitylene

RTECS #

OX6825000

CAS #

108-67-8
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

September 2018

Molecular Weight

120.21

Molecular Formula

C₉H₁₂

Synonyms

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
3,5-Dimethyltoluene
Benzene, 1,3,5-trimethyl-
Fleet-X
sym-Trimethylbenzene
Trimethylbenzol

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	500 mg/24H	mild	85JCAE -,34,1986
skin /rabbit	20 mg/24H	moderate	85JCAE -,34,1986

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
sister chromatid exchange	intraperitoneal/mouse	1800 mg/kg	MUREAV 412,299,1998

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 10 ppm	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Sensory change involving peripheral nerve Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi	ZUBEAQ 49,265,1956
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 15000 mg/m³	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity)	VCVGH* -,175,1990
inhalation/rat	Lowest published lethal concentration: 12000 mg/m³/24H		VCVGH* -,175,1990
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 24000 mg/m³/4H		VCVGH* -,175,1990
intraperitoneal/guinea pig	lowest published lethal dose: 1303 mg/kg		AMIHBC 9,227,1954
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 7000 mg/kg		VCVGH* -,175,1990
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 5000 mg/kg		VCVGH* -,175,1990
oral/rat	lethal dose (10 percent kill): 5 mL/kg		VCVGH* -,175,1990
subcutaneous/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 12 mL/kg	Blood: Changes in leukocyte (WBC) count	VCVGH* -,175,1990

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 20 mg/m³/24H/17W- intermittent	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes in urine composition Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Catalases	GISAAA 44(5),15,1979
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppm/6H/20D- intermittent	Behavioral: Change in motor activity (specific assay) Behavioral: Analgesia Behavioral: Alteration of operant conditioning	NRTXDN 22,79,2001
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 20 mg/m³/16W- continuous	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes in urine composition	VCVGH* -,176,1990
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 54000 mg/kg/90D- intermittent	Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: P	RTOPDW 69,143,2014
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 2100 mg/kg/14D- continuous	Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)	NTIS** OTS0558836
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 54 gm/kg/90D- continuous	Liver: Changes in liver weight Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: P	NTIS** OTS0558838
subcutaneous/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 0.3 mL/kg/3D- intermittent	Blood: Changes in leukocyte (WBC) count	VCVGH* -,176,1990

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-EC	time-weighted average 100 mg/m³ (20 ppm), JUN2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VLE 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 100 mg/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	Occupational Exposure Limit 25 ppm (120 mg/m³), MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 25 ppm (125 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 35 ppm (170 mg/m³), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 30 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 25 ppm (120 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 35 ppm (170 mg/m³), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 20 ppm (100 mg/m³), KZG-week 40 ppm (200 mg/m³), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 100 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 25 ppm (125 mg/m³), OCT2007

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code T1998; Number of Industries 4; Total Number of Facilities 495; Number of Occupations 6; Total Number of Employees Exposed 12997; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 231

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health