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Propylene imine

May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

CAS number: 75–55–8

NIOSH REL: 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]; NIOSH considers propylene imine to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 2 ppm (4.7 mg/m3) TWA [skin], A2

Description of substance: Colorless, oily liquid with an ammonia-like odor.

LEL: . Unknown

Original (SCP) IDLH: 500 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Patty [1963] that 5 of 6 rats died from a 4-hour exposure to 500 ppm and 3 of 5 guinea pigs died from a 2-hour exposure to 500 ppm; at 500 ppm, rats survived a 2-hour exposure, and guinea pigs survived a 30-minute exposure [Carpenter et al. 1948].

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
RatG. pig

G. pig

G. pig

Rat

Carpenter et al. 1949Carpenter et al. 1948

Carpenter et al. 1948

Carpenter et al. 1948

Carpenter et al. 1948

—–LC17 : 500

LC60 : 500

LC100: 500

LC83 : 500

500—–

—–

—–

—–

4 hr1 hr

2 hr

4 hr

4 hr

1,000 ppm (2.0)625 ppm (1.25)

800 ppm (1.6)

1,000 ppm (2.0)

1,000 ppm (2.0)

100 ppm63 ppm

80 ppm

100 ppm

100 ppm

Other animal data: It has been reported that rats survived a 2-hour exposure to 500 ppm and guinea pigs survived a 30-minute exposure to 500 ppm [Carpenter et al. 1948].

Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

REFERENCES:

1. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Pozzani UC [1949]. The assay of acute vapor toxicity, and the grading and interpretation of results on 96 chemical compounds. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 31:343-346.

2. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Shaffer CB [1948]. The acute toxicity of ethylene imine to small animals. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30:2-6.

3. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 2175.