Tetraethyl lead (as Pb)

Synonyms & Trade Names

Lead tetraethyl, TEL, Tetraethylplumbane

Physical Description

Colorless liquid (unless dyed red, orange, or blue) with a pleasant, sweet odor. [Note: Main usage is in anti-knock additives for gasoline.]

Incompatibilities & Reactivities

Strong oxidizers, sulfuryl chloride, rust, potassium permanganate [Note: Decomposes slowly at room temperature and more rapidly at higher temperatures.]

Symptoms

insomnia, lassitude (weakness, exhaustion), anxiety; tremor, hyper-reflexia, spasticity; bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, pallor, nausea, anorexia, weight loss; confusion, hallucinations, psychosis, mania, convulsions, coma; eye irritation

Respirator Recommendations

NIOSH/OSHA

Up to 0.75 mg/m³:
(APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator

Up to 1.875 mg/m³:
(APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode

Up to 3.75 mg/m³:
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting facepiece and is operated in a continuous-flow mode
(APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece

Up to 40 mg/m³:
(APF = 1000) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode

Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions:
(APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode
(APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus

Escape:
(APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted organic vapor canister
Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus

Important additional information about respirator selection