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).