Magnesium oxide

RTECS #

OM3850000

CAS #

1309-48-4
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

September 2013

Molecular Weight

40.31

Molecular Formula

MgO

Synonyms

Akro-mag
Animag
Calcined brucite
Calcined magnesia
Calcined magnesite
Granmag
Magcal
Magchem 100
Maglite
Magnesia
Magnesia USTA
Magnesium oxide fume
Magnesium oxide fume (ACGIH:OSHA)
Magnezu tlenek (Polish)
Magox
Magox 85
Magox 90
Magox 95
Magox 98
Magox OP
Marmag
Oxymag
Periclase
Seawater magnesia

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
intratracheal/hamster	lowest published toxic dose: 480 mg/kg/30W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria Olfaction: Tumors Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	CNREA8 33,2209,1973

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 400 mg/m³		38MKAJ 2A,1745,1981
inhalation/mammal (species unspecified)	lowest published toxic concentration: 4 mg/m³/12M	Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Body temperature increase	VCVN1* -,104,1988

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 1120 µg/m³/24H/29D- continuous	Brain and Coverings: Recordings from specific areas of CNS Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol) Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: True cholinesterase	GISAAA 49(11),82,1984
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 1000 mg/m³/4H/50D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Blood: Other hemolysis with or without anemia	VCVN1* -,105,1988

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (inhal)	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-Not classifiable as a human carcinogen	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		NBREV* 5,1,1981

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (fume)	DTLVS* 3,147,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypt	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (fume), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 10 mg/m³;KZW 20 mg/m³, inhal, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 5 mg/m³;KZW 10 mg/m³, resp, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 5 mg/m³;KZW 20 mg/m³, smoke, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (fume), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 6 mg(Mg)/m³, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 10 mg/m³ (fume), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 1.5 mg/m³, resp., 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 4 mg/m³, inhal, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 6 mg/m³ (resp), short term exposure limit 24 mg/m³ (resp), SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 6 mg(Mg)/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 10 mg(Mg)/m³ (fume), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³ (fume), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) dust 10 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) fume 5 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	short term exposure limit 4 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 3 mg/m³, fume, resp, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 10 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEY	time-weighted average 15 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 10 mg(Mg)/m³ (inhal. dust), OCT2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 4 mg(Mg)/m³ (fume, resp. dust), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 15 ppm, total particulate	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 15 mg/m³	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 15 mg/m³, total particulate	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 15 ppm, total particulate	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 80298; Number of Industries 258; Total Number of Facilities 42587; Number of Occupations 177; Total Number of Employees Exposed 765812; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 149523
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 80298; Number of Industries 201; Total Number of Facilities 28931; Number of Occupations 134; Total Number of Employees Exposed 354380

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Elements by ICP, 7300
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID-125G

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health