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Dinitrotoluene (mixed isomers)
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 25321–14–6
NIOSH REL: 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]; NIOSH considers dinitrotoluene to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].
Current OSHA PEL: 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
Description of Substance: Orange-yellow crystalline solid with a characteristic odor.
LEL:. . Unknown
Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 mg/m3
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: Because no data on acute inhalation toxicity are available concerning the physiological response to dinitrotoluene, the chosen IDLH has been estimated from the oral cat minimal lethal dose of 27 mg/kg [White and Hay 1901 and Kuhls 1905 cited by Spector 1956].
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,5-isomer Rat |
Rickert et al. 1984 | oral | 216 | —– | 1,512 mg/m3 | 151 mg/m3 |
| 2,4-isomer Mouse Cat |
Rickert et al. 1984 Rickert et al. 1984 |
oral oral |
1,954 —– |
—– 27 |
13,678 mg/m3 189 mg/m3 |
1,368 mg/m3 19 mg/m3 |
Human data: It has been reported that the toxic effects of dinitrotoluene are similar in character to those of other aromatic nitro compounds, such as dinitrobenzene [ACGIH 1991].
| Revised IDLH: 50 mg/m3Basis for revised IDLH: No inhalation toxicity data are available on which to base an IDLH for dinitrotoluene. Therefore, the revised IDLH for dinitrotoluene is 50 mg/m3 based on an analogy with dinitrobenzene [ACGIH 1991]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the “most protective” respirators be worn for dinitrotoluene at concentrations above 1.5 mg/m3.] |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1991]. Dinitrotoluene. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 506-510.
2. Kuhls [1905]. Quantitative experiments on the intake of toxins through the skin (paranitrochlorobenzene, drop oil, dinitrotoluene). Doctoral dissertation (translated). Wurzburg, Germany: Julius Maximillian University, pp. 19-22.
3. Rickert DE, Butterworth BE, Popp JA [1984]. Dinitrotoluene: acute toxicity, oncogenicity, genotoxicity, and metabolism. CRC Crit Rev Toxicol 13(3):217-234.
4. Spector WS, ed. [1956]. Handbook of toxicology. Vol. I. Acute toxicities. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company, pp. 118-119.
5. White RP, Hay J [1901]. Some recent inquiries and researches into the poisonous properties of naphthalene and the aromatic compounds. Lancet 2:582-584.