ß-Chloroprene
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 126–99–8
NIOSH REL: 1 ppm (3.6 mg/m3) 15-minute CEILING; NIOSH considers ß-chloroprene to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].
Current OSHA PEL: 25 ppm (90 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: 10 ppm (35 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (36 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a pungent, ether-like odor.
LEL: . . 4.0% (10% LEL, 4,000 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 400 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that no mice died from a 1-hour exposure to 277 ppm, but all mice died from a 1-hour exposure to 829.2 ppm [von Oettingen et al. 1936].
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
Species |
Reference |
LC50 (ppm) |
LCLo (ppm) |
Time |
Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF) |
Derived value |
| Rat Mouse Rabbit Cat |
Izmerov et al. 1982 von Oettingen et al. 1936 von Oettingen et al. 1936 von Oettingen et al. 1936 |
3,207 LC100: 829 ----- ----- |
----- ----- 1,052 350 |
4 hr 1 hr 8 hr 8 hr |
6,414 ppm (2.0) 1,036 ppm (1.25) 2,629 ppm (2.5) 876 ppm (2.5) |
641 ppm 104 ppm 263 ppm 88 ppm |
Human data: Exposure to 973 ppm has resulted in nausea and giddiness in volunteers in 10 to 15 minutes [Nystrom 1948]. Extreme fatigue and unbearable chest pain has occurred following a month of exposure to concentrations ranging from 56 to 334 ppm [Nystrom 1948].
| Revised IDLH: 300 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ß-chloroprene is 300 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Nystrom 1948]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for ß-chloroprene at concentrations above 1 ppm.] |
REFERENCES:
1. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 38.
2. Nystrom AE [1948]. Health hazards in the chloroprene rubber industry and their prevention. A clinical and experimental study, with special reference to chloroprene and its oxidation and polymerization products. Acta Med Scand 123 (Suppl 219):5-125.
3. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1320.
4. von Oettingen WF, Hueper WC, Deichmann-Grubler W, Wiley FH [1936]. 2-Chlorobutadiene (chloroprene): its toxicity and pathology and the mechanism of its action. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 18 (4):247-249.