Nitrobenzene
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 98–95–3
NIOSH REL: 1 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 1 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 1 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Description of substance: Yellow, oily liquid with a pungent odor like paste shoe polish.
LEL(@200°F): 1.8% (10% LEL(@200°), 1,800 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 200 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] and AIHA [1959] that Henderson and Haggard [1943] reported that 200 ppm is the maximum concentration that can be inhaled for 1 hour without serious disturbance.
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 |
| Dog | Flury and Zernik 1935 | oral | ----- | 750 | 1,025 ppm | 103 ppm |
| Rat | Kashkalda &d Kolodub 1988 | oral | 780 | ----- | 1,066 ppm | 107 ppm |
| Rat | Smyth et al. 1969 | oral | 600 | ----- | 820 ppm | 82 ppm |
| Mouse | Vasilenko & Zvezdai 1981 | oral | 590 | ----- | 807 ppm | 81 ppm |
Human data: It has been reported that 200 ppm is the maximum concentration that can be inhaled for 1 hour without serious disturbance [Henderson and Haggard 1943].
| Revised IDLH: 200 ppm [Unchanged] Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943], the original IDLH for nitrobenzene (200 ppm) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Nitrobenzene. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 183.
2. AIHA [1959]. Nitrobenzene. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 20:66-67.
3. Flury F, Zernik F [1935]. Zusammenstellung der toxischen und letalen dosen für die gebräuchlichsten gifte und versuchstiere. Abder Hand Biol Arbeitsmethod 4:1289-1422 (in German).
4. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 228.
5. Kashkalda DA, Kolodub FA [1988]. Effect of para-nitrobenzol and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzol on condition of hydrocarbon-energetic exchange in rats. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 32(2):48-49 (in Russian).
6. Smyth HF Jr, Weil CS, West JS, Carpenter CP [1969]. An exploration of joint toxic action: twenty-seven industrial chemicals intubated in rats in all possible pairs. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 14:340-347.
7. Vasilenko NM, Zvezdai VI [1981]. Mathematical prognosing of toxicity data for nitro and amino compounds having a benzene ring. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 25(8):50-52 (in Russian).