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Nitrotoluene (o-, m-, p-isomers)
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS numbers: 88-72-2 (o-isomer), 99-08-1 (m-isomer), 99-99-0 (p-isomer)
NIOSH REL: 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 5 ppm (30 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Description of substance: Yellow liquids (o-, m-isomers) or a crystalline solid (p-isomer) with weak, aromatic odors.
LEL(o-isomer): 2.2% (10% LEL, 2,200 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on an analogy with nitrobenzene which has an IDLH of 200 ppm.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | AdjustedLD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| o-isomer Rat | Vasilerko et al. 1978 | oral | 891 | —– | 1,094 ppm | 109 ppm |
| o-isomer Mouse | Vasilerko et al. 1978 | oral | 970 | —– | 1,191 ppm | 119 ppm |
| o-isomer Rabbit | Vasilerko et al. 1978 | oral | 1,750 | —– | 2,149 ppm | 215 ppm |
| p-isomer Mouse | Back et al. 1972 | oral | 1,231 | —– | 1,512 ppm | 151 ppm |
| p-isomer Rat | Vasilerko et al. 1978 | oral | 1,960 | —– | 2,407 ppm | 241 ppm |
| p-isomer Rabbit | Vasilerko et al. 1978 | oral | 1,750 | —– | 2,149 ppm | 215 ppm |
Human data: It has been stated that nitrotoluene is only slightly toxic, especially in comparison with nitrobenzene [Linch 1974].
| Revised IDLH: 200 ppm [Unchanged]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute oral toxicity data in animals [Back et al. 1972; Vasilerko et al. 1978] and an analogy to nitrobenzene [Linch 1974] which has an IDLH of 200 ppm, the original IDLH for nitrotoluene (200 ppm) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. Back KC, Thomas AA, MacEwen JD [1972]. Reclassification of materials listed as transportation health hazards. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: 6570th Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Report No. TSA-20-72-3, pp. A-310 to A-311.
2. Linch AL [1974]. Biological monitoring for industrial exposure to cyanogenic aromatic nitro and amino compounds. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 35:426-432.
3. Vasilerko NM, Kovalenko EE, Batuzina TS [1978]. Experimental substantiation of hygienic concentrations of isomers of mononitrotoluenes in the air of the working zone. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 22(7):52 (in Russian).