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n-Hexane																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 110–54–3
**NIOSH REL:** 50 ppm (180 mg/m3) TWA
**Current OSHA PEL:** 500 ppm (1,800 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 50 ppm (180 mg/m3) TWA
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 50 ppm (176 mg/m3) TWA
**Description of Substance:** Colorless liquid with a gasoline-like odor.
**LEL:**. . 1.1% (10% LEL, 1,100 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 5,000 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that a 10-minute exposure to 5,000 ppm caused dizziness and a sensation of giddiness [Patty and Yant 1929]. Because these symptoms could impede escape, 5,000 ppm is judged to be the IDLH.
**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**Rat
    Kimura et al. 1971
    oral
    28,710
    56,137
    5,614 ppm
    -----
 **Human data:** It has been reported that a 10-minute exposure to 5,000 ppm caused dizziness and a sensation of giddiness [Patty and Yant 1929].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 1,100 ppm [LEL] **Basis for revised IDLH:** Based on health considerations and acute toxicity data in humans [Patty and Yant 1929], a value of about 2,500 ppm would have been appropriate. However, the revised IDLH for n-hexane is 1,100 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% of the lower exposure limit of 1.1%).
**REFERENCES:**
1. Kimura ET, Ebert DM, Dodge PW [1971]. Acute toxicity and limits of solvent residue for sixteen organic solvents. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol *19*:699-704.
2. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1198.
3. Patty FA, Yant WP [1929]. Odor intensity and symptoms produced by commercial propane, butane, pentane, hexane, and heptane vapor. Pittsburgh, PA: Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigations, No. 2979, pp. 1-10.

			
							
								Page last reviewed:  December 4, 2014						Content
							source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH Publications & Products
Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health (IDLH) Values
Table of IDLH Values
Criteria for Determining IDLH Values
Historical Documentation
Original (SCP) Values
Abbreviations for IDLH Documentation
Abbreviations for Journal Titles Follow NIOSH Facebook
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