tert-Butyl alcohol
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 75–65–0
NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) TWA, 150 ppm (450 mg/m3) STEL
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) TWA, 150 ppm (450 mg/m3) STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (303 mg/m3) TWA
Description of Substance: Colorless solid or liquid (above 77 F) with a camphor-like odor.
LEL: . . 2.4% (10% LEL, 2,400 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 8,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base the IDLH for tert-butyl alcohol, but Patty [1963] reported that the signs of intoxication on the part of animals exposed to its vapors are similar to those induced by the other butyl alcohols [Weese 1928]. For this draft technical standard, therefore, the IDLH is based on an analogy with isobutyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol, which have IDLHs of 8,000 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 |
| Rabbit Rat |
Munch 1972 Schaffarzick and Brown 1952 |
oral oral |
3,559 3,500 |
----- ----- |
8,089 ppm 7,955 ppm |
809 ppm 796 ppm |
Other animal data: It has been reported that inhalation toxicity for tert-butyl alcohol is similar to that induced by the other butyl alcohols [Weese 1928].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 1,600 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for tert-butyl alcohol is 1,600 ppm based on analogies [Weese 1928] to isobutyl alcohol and n-butyl alcohol. |
REFERENCES:
1. Munch JC [1972]. Aliphatic alcohols and alkyl esters: narcotic and lethal potencies to tadpoles and to rabbits. Ind Med Surg 41:31-33.
2. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1447.
3. Schaffarzick RW, Brown BJ [1952]. The anticonvulsant activity and toxicity of methylparafynol (Dormison®) and some other alcohols. Science 116:663-665.
4. Weese H [1928]. Comparative studies of the effect of toxicity of lower aliphatic alcohol vapors (translated). Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 135:121-123.