Silica, amorphous

CAS number: 7631–86–9

NIOSH REL: 6 mg/m³ TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 20 mppcf TWA; 80 mg/m³/%SiO₂ TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: 6 mg/m³ TWA

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/m³ TWA

Description of substance: Transparent to gray, odorless powder.

LEL: . . Noncombustible Solid

Original (SCP) IDLH*: No Evidence [*Note: "Effective" IDLH = 500 times the OSHA PEL -- see discussion below.]

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The available toxicological data contain no evidence that an acute exposure to a high concentration of amorphous silica would impede escape or cause any irreversible health effects within 30 minutes. For this draft technical standard, therefore, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device. However, for some particulate substances for which no evidence of an IDLH exists, the determination of allowable respiratory protection based on protection factors may result in the assignment of respirators for concentrations that are not likely to be encountered in the occupational environment. Therefore, for all such particulate substances it has been arbitrarily determined that only the "most protective" respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 500 ´ the OSHA PEL.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Animal or human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

Revised IDLH: 3,000 mg/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The available toxicological data contain no evidence that an acute exposure to a high concentration of amorphous silica would impede escape or cause any irreversible health effects within 30 minutes. However, the revised IDLH for amorphous silica is 3,000 mg/m3 based on being 500 times the NIOSH REL of 6 mg/m3 (500 is an assigned protection factor for respirators and was used arbitrarily during the Standards Completion Program for deciding when the "most protective" respirators should be used for particulates).