Ethyleneimine

CAS number: 151–56–4

NIOSH REL: None established; NIOSH considers ethyleneimine to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: Carcinogen

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.5 ppm (0.88 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor.

LEL:. . 3.3% (10% LEL, 3,300 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 100 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: According to Patty [1963], 1 of 6 guinea pigs and 1 of 6 rats died from a 2-hour exposure to 100 ppm; a 2-hour exposure to 50 ppm killed 0 of 6 guinea pigs and 0 of 6 rats [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-hr LC (CF*)	Derived value
G. pig G. pig Rat Rat G. pig Rat Rabbit Mouse Rat Mouse	Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1948 Carpenter et al. 1949 Izmerov et al. 1982 Izmerov et al. 1982 Izmerov et al. 1982 Silver and McGrath 1948	----- LC17: 100 LC17: 100 250 250 62 ----- 223 56 2,236	25 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 56 ----- ----- -----	8 hr 2 hr 2 hr 1 hr 1 hr 4 hr 2 hr 2 hr 2 hr 10 min	310 ppm (12.43) 353 ppm (3.53) 353 ppm (3.53) 470 ppm (1.88) 470 ppm (1.88) 219 ppm (7.27) 197 ppm (3.53) 786 ppm (3.53) 197 ppm (3.53) 824 ppm (0.368)	31 ppm 35 ppm 35 ppm 47 ppm 47 ppm 22 ppm 20 ppm 79 ppm 20 ppm 82 ppm

*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 1.1 [ten Berge et al. 1986].

Other animal data: It has been reported that rats and guinea pigs survived 2-hour exposures to 50 ppm [Carpenter et al. 1949].

Human data: Exposure to concentrations greater than 100 ppm has caused respiratory tract irritation and inflammation, but symptoms may be delayed several hours [Gosselin et al. 1976]. Also, it has been presumed that severe exposures might result in an overwhelming pulmonary edema since ethyleneimine is a powerful lacrimator and emetic [Gosselin et al. 1976].

Revised IDLH: 100 ppm [Unchanged] Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Gosselin et al. 1976], the original IDLH for ethyleneimine (100 ppm) is not being revised at this time. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for ethyleneimine at any detectable concentration. OSHA currently requires in 29 CFR 1919.1012 that workers engaged in handling ethyleneimine be provided with and required to wear and use a supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.]

REFERENCES:

1. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Shaffer CB [1948]. The acute toxicity of ethylene imine to small animals. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30(1):2-6.

2. 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.

3. Gosselin RE, Hodge HC, Smith RP, Gleason MN [1976]. Clinical toxicology of commercial products. 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins Company, p. II-139.

4. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 67.

5. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 2174.

6. Silver SD, McGrath FP [1948]. A comparison of acute toxicities of ethylene imine and ammonia to mice. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30(1):7-9.

7. ten Berge WF, Zwart A, Appelman LM [1986]. Concentration-time mortality response relationship of irritant and systematically acting vapours and gases. J Haz Mat 13:301-309.