Dinitrotoluene (mixed isomers)

IDLH Documentation

CAS number: 25321­14­6

NIOSH REL: 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]; NIOSH considers dinitrotoluene to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Orange­yellow crystalline solid with a characteristic odor.

LEL:. . Unknown

Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 mg/m3

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: Because no data on acute inhalation toxicity are available concerning the physiological response to dinitrotoluene, the chosen IDLH has been estimated from the oral cat minimal lethal dose of 27 mg/kg [White and Hay 1901 and Kuhls 1905 cited by Spector 1956].

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
3,5-isomer
Rat
Rickert et al. 1984
oral
216
-----
1,512 mg/m3
151 mg/m3
2,4-isomer
Mouse
Cat
Rickert et al. 1984
Rickert et al. 1984
oral
oral
1,954
-----
-----
27
13,678 mg/m3
189 mg/m3
1,368 mg/m3
19 mg/m3


Human data: It has been reported that the toxic effects of dinitrotoluene are similar in character to those of other aromatic nitro compounds, such as dinitrobenzene [ACGIH 1991].

Revised IDLH: 50 mg/m3

Basis for revised IDLH: No inhalation toxicity data are available on which to base an IDLH for dinitrotoluene. Therefore, the revised IDLH for dinitrotoluene is 50 mg/m3 based on an analogy with dinitrobenzene [ACGIH 1991]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for dinitrotoluene at concentrations above 1.5 mg/m3.]


REFERENCES:

1. ACGIH [1991]. Dinitrotoluene. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 506­510.

2. Kuhls [1905]. Quantitative experiments on the intake of toxins through the skin (paranitrochlorobenzene, drop oil, dinitrotoluene). Doctoral dissertation (translated). Wurzburg, Germany: Julius Maximillian University, pp. 19­22.

3. Rickert DE, Butterworth BE, Popp JA [1984]. Dinitrotoluene: acute toxicity, oncogenicity, genotoxicity, and metabolism. CRC Crit Rev Toxicol 13(3):217­234.

4. Spector WS, ed. [1956]. Handbook of toxicology. Vol. I. Acute toxicities. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company, pp. 118­119.

5. White RP, Hay J [1901]. Some recent inquiries and researches into the poisonous properties of naphthalene and the aromatic compounds. Lancet 2:582­584.
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