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2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 118–96–7
**NIOSH REL:** 0.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
**Current OSHA PEL:** 1.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 0.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 0.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
**Description of substance:** Colorless to pale-yellow, odorless solid or crushed flakes.
**LEL** :. . Unknown
**Original (SCP) IDLH*:** No Evidence [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 3,000 mg/m3 — see discussion below.]
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** Most of the data reported in the literature about trinitrotoluene (TNT) poisoning concern the effects caused by chronic exposures. The available toxicological data contain no evidence that an acute exposure to a high concentration of TNT would impede escape or cause irreversible health effects within 30 minutes. AIHA [1964] reported that both the short exposure tolerance to TNT and the atmospheric concentration immediately hazardous to life are not important parameters. For this draft technical standard, therefore, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to 2,000  ́ the OSHA PEL of 1.5 mg/m3 (i.e., 3,000 mg/m3; only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 3,000 mg/m3).
**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 MouseRabbitCat
    Dilley et al. 1982 Dilley et al. 1982MRC 1921MRC 1921
    oral oraloraloral
    795 660----------
    ----- -----5001,850
    5,565 mg/m34,620 mg/m33,500 mg/m312,950 mg/m3
    557 mg/m3462 mg/m3350 mg/m31,295 mg/m3**Human data:** The probable lethal dose has been reported to be 2 grams [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969]. [Note: An oral dose of 2 grams is equivalent to a worker being exposed to about 1,300 mg/m3 for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 500 mg/m3**Basis for revised IDLH:** No inhalation toxicity data are available on which to base an IDLH for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. Therefore, the revised IDLH for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene is 500 mg/m3 based on acute oral toxicity data in humans [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969] and animals [Dilley et al. 1982; MRC 1921]**REFERENCES:**
1. AIHA [1964]. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT). In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *25*:516-519.
2. Deichmann WB, Gerarde HW [1969]. Trinitrotoluene (TNT). In: Toxicity of drugs and chemicals. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc., Inc., p. 610.
3. Dilley JV, Tyson CA, Spanggord RJ, Sasmore DP, Newell GW, Dacre JC [1982]. Short-term oral toxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in mice, rats, and dogs. J Toxicol Environ Health *9*:565-585.
4. MRC [1921]. Special report series. Medical Research Council, Special Report Series, *58*:32.

			
							
								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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