Nitrobenzene

CAS number: 98–95–3

NIOSH REL: 1 ppm (5 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 1 ppm (5 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 1 ppm (5 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Description of substance: Yellow, oily liquid with a pungent odor like paste shoe polish.

LEL(@200°F): 1.8% (10% LEL(@200°), 1,800 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] and AIHA [1959] that Henderson and Haggard [1943] reported that 200 ppm is the maximum concentration that can be inhaled for 1 hour without serious disturbance.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Dog	Flury and Zernik 1935	oral	-----	750	1,025 ppm	103 ppm
Rat	Kashkalda &d Kolodub 1988	oral	780	-----	1,066 ppm	107 ppm
Rat	Smyth et al. 1969	oral	600	-----	820 ppm	82 ppm
Mouse	Vasilenko & Zvezdai 1981	oral	590	-----	807 ppm	81 ppm

Human data: It has been reported that 200 ppm is the maximum concentration that can be inhaled for 1 hour without serious disturbance [Henderson and Haggard 1943].

Revised IDLH: 200 ppm [Unchanged] Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943], the original IDLH for nitrobenzene (200 ppm) is not being revised at this time.

REFERENCES:

1. ACGIH [1971]. Nitrobenzene. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 183.

2. AIHA [1959]. Nitrobenzene. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 20:66-67.

3. Flury F, Zernik F [1935]. Zusammenstellung der toxischen und letalen dosen für die gebräuchlichsten gifte und versuchstiere. Abder Hand Biol Arbeitsmethod 4:1289-1422 (in German).

4. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 228.

5. Kashkalda DA, Kolodub FA [1988]. Effect of para-nitrobenzol and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzol on condition of hydrocarbon-energetic exchange in rats. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 32(2):48-49 (in Russian).

6. Smyth HF Jr, Weil CS, West JS, Carpenter CP [1969]. An exploration of joint toxic action: twenty-seven industrial chemicals intubated in rats in all possible pairs. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 14:340-347.

7. Vasilenko NM, Zvezdai VI [1981]. Mathematical prognosing of toxicity data for nitro and amino compounds having a benzene ring. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 25(8):50-52 (in Russian).