Nitrotoluene (o-, m-, p­isomers)

IDLH Documentation
CAS numbers: 88­72­2 (o­isomer), 99­08­1 (m­isomer), 99­99­0 (p­isomer)

NIOSH REL: 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 5 ppm (30 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

Description of substance: Yellow liquids (o-, m­isomers) or a crystalline solid (p­isomer) with weak, aromatic odors.

LEL(o­isomer): 2.2% (10% LEL, 2,200 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on an analogy with nitrobenzene which has an IDLH of 200 ppm.

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
o-isomer RatVasilerko et al. 1978
oral
891
-----
1,094 ppm
109 ppm
o-isomer MouseVasilerko et al. 1978
oral
970
-----
1,191 ppm
119 ppm
o-isomer RabbitVasilerko et al. 1978
oral
1,750
-----
2,149 ppm
215 ppm
p-isomer MouseBack et al. 1972
oral
1,231
-----
1,512 ppm
151 ppm
p-isomer RatVasilerko et al. 1978
oral
1,960
-----
2,407 ppm
241 ppm
p-isomer RabbitVasilerko et al. 1978
oral
1,750
-----
2,149 ppm
215 ppm

Human data: It has been stated that nitrotoluene is only slightly toxic, especially in comparison with nitrobenzene [Linch 1974].

Revised IDLH: 200 ppm [Unchanged]

Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute oral toxicity data in animals [Back et al. 1972; Vasilerko et al. 1978] and an analogy to nitrobenzene [Linch 1974] which has an IDLH of 200 ppm, the original IDLH for nitrotoluene (200 ppm) is not being revised at this time.

REFERENCES:

1. Back KC, Thomas AA, MacEwen JD [1972]. Reclassification of materials listed as transportation health hazards. Wright­Patterson Air Force Base, OH: 6570th Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Report No. TSA­20­72­3, pp. A­310 to A­311.

2. Linch AL [1974]. Biological monitoring for industrial exposure to cyanogenic aromatic nitro and amino compounds. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 35:426­432.

3. Vasilerko NM, Kovalenko EE, Batuzina TS [1978]. Experimental substantiation of hygienic concentrations of isomers of mononitrotoluenes in the air of the working zone. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 22(7):52 (in Russian). Go back to the Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)