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Acetic acid																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 64-19-7
**NIOSH REL:** 10 ppm (25 mg/m3) TWA, 15 ppm (37 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 10 ppm (25 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** Same as current PEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 10 ppm (25 mg/m3) TWA, 15 ppm (37 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of substance:** Colorless liquid or crystals with a sour, vinegar-like odor.
**LEL:** 4.0% (10% LEL, 4,000 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 1,000 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that Ghiringhelli and DiFabio [1957] determined a 1-hour LC50 of about 5,000 ppm for guinea pigs and mice. AIHA [1972] reported that 1 of 6 rats died following a 4-hour exposure to 16,000 ppm [Smyth et al. 1951]. However, the Standards Completion Program Respirator Committee felt that a worker might have difficulty escaping from 5,000 ppm due to the irritation effects, and reduced the IDLH to 1,000 ppm to allow escape without injury. According to AIHA [1972], workers have repeatedly sustained exposures up to about 200 ppm.
**Short-term exposure guidelines:** None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
**Lethal concentration data:**
AdjustedLC50
    LCLo
    
    0.5-hr
    DerivedSpecies
    Reference
    (ppm)
    (ppm)
    Time
    LC (CF)
    ValueMouse
    Ghiringhelli and DiFabio 1957
    5,620
    -----
    1 hr
    7,025 ppm (1.25)
    703 ppmRat
    Smyth 1956
    16,000
    -----
    4 hr
    32,000 ppm (2.0)
    3,200 ppm**Other animal data:** RD50 (mouse), 163 ppm [DeCeaurriz et al. 1981].
 **Human data:** Marked irritation of the eyes, nose, and upper respiratory tract which could not be tolerated for more than 3 minutes was noted at 816 to 1,226 ppm [von Oettingen 1960]. It has been reported that 50 ppm or more is intolerable to most persons due to intense lacrimation and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat [AIHA]. It has also been stated that repeated exposures to high concentrations may produce respiratory tract irritation with pharyngeal edema and chronic bronchitis [AIHA 1972].
 **Revised IDLH:** 50 ppm**Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for acetic acid is 50 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [AIHA 1972].References:
AIHA [1972]. Acetic acid. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *33*:624-627.
DeCeaurriz JC, Micillino JC, Bonnet P, Guenier JP [1981]. Sensory irritation caused by various industrial airborne chemicals. Toxicol Lett *9*(2):137-143.
Ghiringhelli L, DiFabio A [1957]. Pathology due to acetic acid: observations on experimental animals and man. Med Lav *48*(10):560-561 (in Italian).
Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1779.
Smyth HF Jr [1956]. Improved communication: hygienic standards for daily inhalation. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q *17*:129-185.
Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS [1951]. Range-finding toxicity data: list IV. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med *4*:119-122.
von Oettingen WF [1960]. The aliphatic acids and their esters: toxicity and potential dangers. AMA Arch Ind Health *21*:40/28-77/65.

			
							
								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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