Propionic acid

RTECS #

UE5950000

CAS #

79-09-4
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

December 2016

Molecular Weight

74.09

Molecular Formula

C₃H₆O₂

Synonyms

Acide propionique (French)
Carboxyethane
Ethanecarboxylic acid
Ethylformic acid
Kyselina propionova (Czech)
Luprosil
Metacetonic acid
Methyl acetic acid
Propanoic acid
Propionic acid (ACGIH)
Propionic acid grain preserver
Prozoin
Pseudoacetic acid
Sentry grain preserver
Tenox P grain preservative

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	990 µg	severe	UCDS** 3/24/1970
skin /rabbit	495 mg open irritation test	severe	UCDS** 3/24/1970

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
sister chromatid exchange	lymphocyte/human	2500 µmol/L	MUREAV 279,75,1992

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, liver tumor	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 45 mmol/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell protein synthesis	TIVIEQ 3,189,1989
In Vitro/Human, skin	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 0.08 mL/well/3M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 28,616,2014
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 5 ppm/4H	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Behavioral: Change in psychophysiological tests	NRTXDN 30,1223,2009
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): >4900 mg/m³/4H		HPV287 -,-,2002
intravenous/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 625 mg/kg	Behavioral: Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold	APTOA6 18,141,1961
intravenous/rabbit	lowest published lethal dose: 1320 mg/kg		FAONAU 53A,110,1974
oral/mammal (species unspecified)	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1640 mg/kg		GISAAA 39(4),86,1974
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2600 mg/kg		HPV287 -,-,2002
parenteral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 3500 mg/kg		DEVEAA 26,5,1972
skin/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 500 mg/kg		HPV287 -,-,2002
skin/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 500 µL/kg		AIHAAP 23,95,1962
unreported route/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1370 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Behavioral: Excitement Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GISAAA 35(3),96,1970
unreported route/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1900 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Behavioral: Excitement Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GISAAA 35(3),96,1970
unreported route/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1510 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Behavioral: Excitement Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GISAAA 35(3),96,1970

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 23 mg/m³/24H/30D- continuous	Brain and Coverings: Recordings from specific areas of CNS Blood: Changes in erythrocyte (RBC) count Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: True cholinesterase	GISAAA 47(4),10,1982
oral/Dog	lowest published toxic dose: 185940 mg/kg/90D- continuous	Behavioral: Food intake (animal) Gastrointestinal: Changes in structure or function of esophagus Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes in urine composition	FEREAC 68,1575,2003
oral/hamster	lowest published toxic dose: 42 gm/kg/7D- continuous	Gastrointestinal: Other changes	FCTOD7 29,367,1991
oral/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 33600 mg/kg/7D- continuous	Gastrointestinal: Other changes	FCTOD7 29,367,1991
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 14 gm/kg/7D- continuous	Gastrointestinal: Other changes	FCTOD7 29,367,1991
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 550 gm/kg/110D- continuous	Gastrointestinal: Ulceration or bleeding from stomach	FEREAC 68,1575,2003
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 1752 gm/kg/2Y- continuous	Gastrointestinal: Ulceration or bleeding from stomach	FEREAC 68,1575,2003
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 750 mg/kg/3D- intermittent		NETOX* 49,121,2015
unreported route/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 4598 mg/kg/9W- intermittent	Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol) Blood: Other changes	GISAAA 35(3),96,1970

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 10 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AMIHAB 21,100,1960

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1988 PESTICIDE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATION		FEREAC 54,7740,1989
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 10 ppm (30 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 10 ppm (31 mg/m³);KZW 20 ppm (62 mg/m³), 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 10 ppm (31 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 20 ppm (62 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 10 ppm (30 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-EC	time-weighted average 31 mg/m³ (10 ppm);short term exposure limit 62 mg/m³ (20 ppm), JUN2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 10 ppm (31 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 20 ppm (61 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 10 ppm (31 mg/m³), VLE 20 ppm (62 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 10 ppm (31 mg/m³), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 31 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 62 mg/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 10 ppm (31 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 20 ppm (62 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 10 ppm (30 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 15 ppm (60 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 10 ppm (30 mg/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 10 ppm (30 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 20 ppm (60 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	short term exposure limit 20 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 10 ppm (30 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 15 ppm (45 mg/m³), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 10 ppm (30 mg/m³), KZG-week 20 ppm (60 mg/m³), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 31 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 10 ppm (31 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 15 ppm (46 mg/m³), OCT2007

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO PROPIONIC ACID-air	10H time-weighted average 10 ppm;short term exposure limit 15 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 62460; Number of Industries 30; Total Number of Facilities 1411; Number of Occupations 42; Total Number of Employees Exposed 31092; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 8489
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 62460; Number of Industries 9; Total Number of Facilities 429; Number of Occupations 19; Total Number of Employees Exposed 8081

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA Section 8(e) Risk Notification, 8EHQ-0892-9234
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
On EPA IRIS database

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health