Endrin

CAS number: 72–20–8

NIOSH REL: 0.1 mg/m³ [skin] TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 0.1 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.1 mg/m³ TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless to tan, crystalline solid with a mild, chemical odor.

LEL:. . Noncombustible Solid

Original (SCP) IDLH*: 2,000 mg/m³ [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 200 mg/m³ — see discussion below.]

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: Based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that 3 of 10 rats were reported to have died following a 1-hour exposure at about 2,000 mg/m³ [Anderson et al. 1953; Hine et al. 1954], an IDLH of 2,000 mg/m³ was chosen. Because of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device, however, 2,000 × the OSHA PEL of 0.1 mg/m³ (i.e., 200 mg/m³) is the concentration above which only the “most protective” respirators are permitted.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50	LCLo	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)	Derived value
Rat	ACGIH 1971	LC30: 2,000 mg/m3	-----	1 hr	2,500 mg/m3 (1.25)	250 mg/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Monkey G. pig Hamster Rat Cat Rabbit Mouse	AAPCO 1966 AAPCO 1966 Ottolenghi et al. 1974 Sanderson and Noakes 1970 Treon et al. 1955 Treon et al. 1955 Webb et al. 1973	oral oral oral oral oral oral oral	3 16 10 3 ----- 7 1.4	----- ----- ----- ----- 5 ----- -----	21 mg/m3 112 mg/m3 70 mg/m3 21 mg/m3 35 mg/m3 49 mg/m3 10 mg/m3	2.1 mg/m3 11 mg/m3 7.0 mg/m3 2.1 mg/m3 3.5 mg/m3 4.9 mg/m3 1.0 mg/m3

Human data: An oral dose of 171 mg/kg has been reported to be lethal [Runhaar et al. 1985]. It has also been reported that the approximate oral dose producing convulsions is about 0.2 mg/kg [Hayes 1982]. [Note: Oral doses of 171 mg/kg or 0.2 mg/kg are equivalent to a 70-kg worker being exposed to about 8,000 mg/m³ or 9 mg/m³, respectively, for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]

Revised IDLH: 2 mg/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for endrin is 2 mg/m3 based on acute oral toxicity data in humans [Hayes 1982] and animals [AAPCO 1966; Sanderson and Noakes 1970; Treon et al. 1955; Webb et al. 1973]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute inhalation toxicity data for workers.

 

REFERENCES:

1. AAPCO [1966]. Pesticide chemicals official compendium. Association of the American Pesticide Control Officials, Inc., p. 475.

2. ACGIH [1971]. Endrin. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 98.

3. Anderson HH, et al. [1953]. Berkeley, CA: University of California, Report No. 213. [From ACGIH [1971]. Endrin. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 98.]

4. Hayes WH Jr [1982]. Pesticides studied in man. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company, pp. 247-251.

5. Hine CH, et al. [1954]. Berkeley, CA: University of California, Report No. 233. [From ACGIH [1971]. Endrin. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 98.]

6. Ottolenghi AD, Haseman JK, Suggs F [1974]. Teratogenic effects of aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin in hamsters and mice. Teratology 9:11-16.

7. Runhaar EA, Sangster B, Greve PA, Voortman M [1985]. A case of fatal endrin poisoning. Hum Toxicol 4:241-247.

8. Sanderson DM, Noakes DN [1970]. Acute toxicity data for pesticides (1970). World Review of Pesticide Control 9:119-127.

9. Treon JF, Cleveland FP, Cappel J [1955]. Toxicity of endrin for laboratory animals. J Agri Food Chem 3:842-848.

10. Webb RE, Hartgrove RW, Randolph WC, Petrella VJ, Horsfall F Jr [1973]. Toxicity studies in endrin-susceptible and resistant strains of pine mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 25:42-47.