May 1994
Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)
n-Butyl alcohol
CAS number: 71–36–3
NIOSH REL: 50 ppm (150 mg/m3) CEILING [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 50 ppm (150 mg/m3) CEILING [skin]
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 50 ppm (152 mg/m3) CEILING [skin]
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a strong, characteristic, mildly alcoholic odor.
LEL: . . 1.4% (10% LEL, 1,400 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 8,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is conservative, but the only data available on which to base the IDLH is the statement by Patty [1963] that Smyth [1956] found rats survived when exposed for 4 hours to 8,000 ppm. The IDLH for isobutyl alcohol is also 8,000 ppm.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
Species | Reference | LC5o (ppm) | LCLo (ppm) | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF) | Derived Value |
| Mammal Rat | Esin and Vigdergauz 1986 NPIRI 1974 | 9,221 8,000 | ----- ----- | ? 4 hr | ? 16,000 ppm (2.0) | ? 1,600 ppm |
Lethal dose data:
Species | Reference | Route | LD50 (mg/kg) | LDLo (mg/kg) | Adjusted LD |
Derived value |
| Rabbit Rat Dog | Munch 1972 Purchase 1969 Wurtz 1975 | oral oral oral | ----- ----- ----- | 3,484 790 1,700 | 7,918 ppm 1,795 ppm 4,000 ppm | 792 ppm 180 ppm 400 ppm |
Other animal data: RD50 (mouse), 4,784 ppm
[Alarie 1981].
Human data: It has been reported that corneal irritation was occasionally observed in workers exposed to 200 ppm [Sterner et al. 1949].
| Revised IDLH: 1,400 ppm [LEL]
Basis for revised IDLH: Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [NPIRI 1974], a value of about 1,600 ppm would have been appropriate for n-butyl alcohol. However, the revised IDLH for n-butyl alcohol is 1,400 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% if the lower explosive limit of 1.4%). |
REFERENCES:
1. Alarie Y [1981]. Dose-response analysis in animal studies: prediction of human responses. Environ Health Perspect 42:9-13.
2. Esin MS, Vigdergauz MS [1986]. Correlation between toxicity indexes and chromatographic characteristics of chemical substances. Gig Sanit 51(5):61-62 (in Russian).
3. Munch JC [1972]. Aliphatic alcohols and alkyl esters: narcotic and lethal potencies to tadpoles and to rabbits. Ind Med Surg 41:31-33.
4. 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. 10.
5. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1443.
6. Purchase IFH [1969]. Studies in kaffircorn malting and brewing. XXII. The acute toxicity of some fusel oils found in Bantu beer. S Afr Med J 43:795-798.
7. Smyth HF Jr [1956]. Improved communication: hygienic standards for daily inhalation. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 17(2):129-185.
8. Sterner JH, Crouch HC, Brockmyre HF, Cusack M [1949]. A ten-year study of butyl alcohol exposure. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 10:53-59.
9. Wurtz M [1975]. Sur les proprietes toxiques des alcools par
fermentation. Comp Rend Hebdom 81:192-194 (in French).
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