Carbon tetrachloride

IDLH Documentation

CAS number: 56­23­5

NIOSH REL: 2 ppm (12.6 mg/m³) 60­minute STEL; NIOSH considers carbon tetrachloride to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: 10 ppm TWA, 25 ppm CEILING,

200 ppm 5­min MAXIMUM PEAK in any 4 hours

1989 OSHA PEL: 2 ppm (12.6 mg/m³) TWA

1993­1994 ACGIH TLV: 5 ppm (31 mg/m³) TWA, 10 ppm (63 mg/m³) STEL [skin], A3

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a characteristic ether­like odor.

LEL: . . Noncombustible Liquid

Original (SCP) IDLH: 300 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: ACGIH [1971] reported that a severe case of human poisoning has been observed after a 3­hour exposure to concentrations ranging from 75 to 600 ppm and averaging about 210 ppm [Barnes and Jones 1967]. AIHA [1961] reported that exposures for 0.5 to 1 hour to 1,000 to 2,000 ppm have caused human fatalities from acute kidney damage [Fassett]. Kirk­Othmer [1964] reported that a 30­minute exposure to about 300 ppm causes symptoms of intoxication. Based on these data, an IDLH of 300 ppm is chosen.

Short­term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 2.8 [ten Berge et al. 1986].

Other human data: A severe case of poisoning was observed after a 3­hour exposure to concentrations ranging from 75 to 600 ppm and averaging about 210 ppm [Barnes and Jones 1967]. It has been reported that exposures to 1,000 to 2,000 ppm for 0.5 to 1 hour have caused human fatalities from acute kidney damage [AIHA 1961]. It has also been reported that a 30­minute exposure to about 300 ppm causes symptoms of intoxication [Kirk-Othmer 1964].

REFERENCES:

1. AAPCO [1966]. Pesticide chemicals official compendium. Topeka, KS: Association of American Pesticide Control Officials, Inc., p. 198.

2. ACGIH [1971]. Carbon tetrachloride. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 43­44.

3. AIHA [1961]. Carbon tetrachloride (revised 1961). In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 22:507­509.

4. Barnes R, Jones RC [1967]. Carbon tetrachloride poisoning. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 29:557­560.

5. Clayton JW Jr [1967]. Fluorocarbon toxicity and biological action. Fluor Chem Rev 1(2):197­252.

6. Fassett DW [?]. Personal communication to AIHA from the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY. [From: AIHA [1961]. Carbon tetrachloride (revised 1961). In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 22:507­509.]

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

8. Gig Tr Prof Zabol [1980]; 24(3):17­20 (in Russian).

9. Kirk­Othmer [1964]. Carbon tetrachloride. In: Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 5:128­139.

10. NPIRI [1974]. Raw materials data handbook, physical and chemical properties, fire hazard and health hazard data. Vol. 1. Organic solvents. Bethlehem, PA: National Printing Ink Research Institute, p. 16.

11. Svirbely JL, Highman B, Alford WC, von Oettingen WF [1947]. The toxicity and narcotic action of mono­chloro­mono­bromo­methane with special reference to inorganic and volatile bromide in blood, urine and brain. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 29:382­389.

12. Tab Biol Per [1933]; 3:231 (in German).

13. ten Berge WF, Zwart A, Appelman LM [1986]. Concentration-time mortality response relationship of irritant and systematically acting vapours and gases. J Haz Mat 13:301­309.

14. von Oettingen WF [1949]. Studies on the relationship between the toxic action of chlorinated methanes and their chemical and physicohemical properties. NIH Bulletin 191:1­85.
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