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Nitromethane																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 75–52–5
**NIOSH REL:** The 1989 OSHA PEL may not be protective to workers.
**Current OSHA PEL:** 100 ppm (250 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** Same as current PEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 100 ppm (250 mg/m3) TWA
**Description of substance:** Colorless, oily liquid with a disagreeable odor.
**LEL**:. . 7.3% (10% LEL, 7,300 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 1,000 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Browning [1965] that with concentrations above 1,000 ppm, if the product of this and the time of exposure was greater than 1 (e.g., 1,000 ppm for 3 hours) some of the animals, including 1 monkey, died. Also, AIHA [1961] reported severe eye irritation at 500 ppm [Machle et al. 1940]. [Note: The statement by Browning [1965] regarding the product of the concentration and the time of exposure is apparently in error; the value “greater than 1” should probably be “greater than 1,000”.]
**Short-term exposure guidelines:** None developed
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:**
**Lethal concentration data:**

**Species**
    **Reference**
    **LC50 (ppm)**
    **LCLo (ppm)**
    **Time**
    **Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)**
    **Derived value**Mouse MonkeyRabbitRabbit
    Izmerov et al. 1982 Skinner 1947Weatherby 1955Weatherby 1955
    ----- ---------------
    7,087 1,0002,5005,000
    2 hr ?12 hr6 hr
    11,339 ppm (1.6) ?7,250 ppm (2.9)11,500 ppm (2.3)
    1,134 ppm ?725 ppm1,150 ppm**Lethal dose data:**
 
 **Species**
    **Reference**
    **Route**
    **LD50 (mg/kg)**
    **LDLo (mg/kg)**
    **Adjusted LD**
    **Derived value**Rabbit RatMouseDog
    Machle et al. 1940 Subbotin 1967Subbotin 1967Weatherby 1955
    oral oraloraloral
    ----- 940950-----
    750 ----------125
    2,067 ppm 2,590 ppm2,618 ppm344 ppm
    207 ppm 259 ppm262 ppm34 ppm**Human data:** None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 750 ppm **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for nitromethane is 750 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Weathery 1955].**REFERENCES:**
1. AIHA [1961]. Nitromethane. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *22*:518-520.
2. Browning E [1965]. Toxicity and metabolism of industrial solvents. New York, NY: Elsevier Publishing Company, p. 282.
3. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 93.
4. Machle W, Scott EW, Treon J [1940]. The physiological response of animals to some simple mononitroparaffins and to certain derivatives of these compounds. J Ind Hyg Toxicol *22*(8):315-332.
5. Skinner JB [1947]. The toxicity of 2-nitropropane. Ind Med *16*:441-443.
6. Subbotin VG [1967]. Hygienic assessment of nitromethane and ether nitroparaffins in connection with sanitary protection of water bodies. Gig Sanit *32*(9):9-13 (in Russian).
7. Weatherby JH [1955]. Observations on the toxicity of nitromethane. AMA Arch Ind Health *11*:102-106.

			
							
								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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