Dieldrin

CAS number: 60–57–1

NIOSH REL: 0.25 mg/m³ TWA [skin]; NIOSH considers dieldrin to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: 0.25 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.25 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless to light-tan crystals with a mild, chemical odor.

LEL:. . Noncombustible Solid

Original (SCP) IDLH: 450 mg/m³

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base the IDLH for dieldrin. The chosen IDLH, therefore, has been estimated from the statement by Deichmann and Gerarde [1969] that an oral dose of 65 mg/kg is believed to be a reasonable estimate of the lethal dose in man. Thienes and Haley [1972] and Gleason et al. [1969] reported similar estimates of the lethal dose for man [Hodge et al. 1967; Kalushner 1960].

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50	LCLo	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)	Derived value
Cat Rat	Gig Tr Prof Zabol 1964 Izmerov et al. 1982	80 mg/m3 13 mg/m3	----- -----	4 hr 4 hr	160 mg/m3 (2.0) 26 mg/m3 (2.0)	16 mg/m3 2.6 mg/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Rabbit G. pig Mouse Dog Rat	AAPCO 1966 AAPCO 1966 Kenaga and Morgan 1978 Spencer 1973 Treon and Cleveland 1955	oral oral oral oral oral	45 49 38 65 38	----- ----- ----- ----- -----	315 mg/m3 343 mg/m3 266 mg/m3 455 mg/m3 266 mg/m3	32 mg/m3 34 mg/m3 27 mg/m3 46 mg/m3 27 mg/m3

Human data: The lethal oral dose has been estimated to be about 5 grams [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969; Hodge et al. 1967]. [Note: An oral dose of 5 grams is equivalent to a worker being exposed to 3,300 mg/m³ for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]

Revised IDLH: 50 mg/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for dieldrin is 50 mg/m3 based on acute oral toxicity data in humans [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969; Hodge et al. 1967]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for dieldrin at concentrations above 0.25 mg/m3.]

REFERENCES:

1. AAPCO [1966]. Pesticide chemicals official compendium. Topeka, KS: Association of American Pesticide Control Officials, Inc., p. 377.

2. Deichmann WB, Gerarde HW [1969]. Dieldrin. In: Toxicology of drugs and chemicals. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc., pp. 215-216.

3. Gig Tr Prof Zabol [1964]; 8(4):30-34 (in Russian).

4. Gleason MN, Gosselin RE, Hodge HC, Smith RP [1969]. Clinical toxicology of commercial products. 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company, pp. 85-87.

5. Hodge HC, Boyce AM, Deichmann WB, Kraybill HF [1967]. Toxicology and no-effect levels of aldrin and dieldrin. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 10:613-675.

6. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 73.

7. Kalushner A [1960]. Occupational dieldrin poisoning. JAMA 172(18):148-151.

8. Kenaga EE, Morgan RW [1978]. Commercial and experimental organic insecticides. Entomological Society of America Special Publication 78-1:13.

9. Spencer EY [1973]. Guide to the chemicals used in crop protection. 6th ed. London, Ontario, Canada: Research Institute, University of Western Ontario Sub Post Office, p. 13.

10. Thienes CH, Haley TJ [1972]. Clinical toxicology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger, p. 26.

11. Treon JF, Cleveland FP [1955]. Toxicity of certain chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides for laboratory animals. J Agri Food Chem 3:402-403.