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Ketene																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 463–51–4
**NIOSH REL:** 0.5 ppm (0.9 mg/m3) TWA, 1.5 ppm (3 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 0.5 ppm (0.9 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 0.5 ppm (0.9 mg/m3) TWA, 1.5 ppm (3 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 0.5 ppm (0.86 mg/m3) TWA, 1.5 ppm (2.6 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of substance:** Colorless gas with a penetrating odor.
**LEL:** . . Unknown
**Original (SCP) IDLH*:** Unknown [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 25 ppm — see discussion below.]
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** No data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base an IDLH for ketene. For this draft technical standard, therefore, the respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to 50  ́ the OSHA PEL of 0.5 ppm (i.e., 25 ppm); only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 25 ppm.
**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
    Mendenhall & Stokinger 1959
    17
    -----
    10 min
    12 ppm (0.69)
    1.2 ppmMouse
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    23
    30 min
    23 ppm (1.0)
    2.3 ppmRabbit
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    53
    2 hr
    85 ppm (1.6)
    8.5 ppmG. pig
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    53
    2 hr
    85 ppm (1.6)
    8.5 ppmCat
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    750
    10 min
    518 ppm (0.69)
    52 ppmMonkey
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    200
    10 min
    138 ppm (0.69)
    14 ppmMouse
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    50
    10 min
    35 ppm (0.69)
    3.5 ppmRabbit
    Treon et al. 1949
    -----
    1,000
    10 min
    690 ppm (0.69)
    69 ppm**Human data:** It has been stated that 5 ppm is the lowest concentration productive of a clinically relevant physiologic response [Stokinger 1960].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 5 ppm **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for ketene is 5 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Stokinger 1960] and animals [Treon et al. 1949]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations above 5 ppm.**REFERENCES:**
1. Mendenhall RM, Stokinger HE [1959]. Tolerance and cross-tolerance development to atmospheric pollutants ketene and ozone. J Appl Physiol *14*:923-926.
2. Stokinger HE [1960]. Toxicologic interactions of mixtures of air pollutants. Review of recent developments. Int J Air Pollut *2*:313-326.
3. Treon JF, Sigmon H, Kitzmiller KV, Heyroth FF, Younker WJ, Cholak J [1949]. Physiologic response of animals exposed to airborne ketene. J Ind Hyg Toxicol *31*:209-219.

			
							
								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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