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Mesityl oxide																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 141–79–7
**NIOSH REL:** 10 ppm (40 mg/m3) TWA
**Current OSHA PEL:** 25 ppm (100 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 15 ppm (60 mg/m3) TWA, 25 ppm (100 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 15 ppm (60 mg/m3) TWA, 25 ppm (100 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of substance:** Oily, colorless to light-yellow liquid with a peppermint- or honey-like odor.
**LEL**: . 1.4% (10% LEL, 1,400 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 5,000 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that 5,000 ppm might be dangerous to life in 30 to 60 minutes [Smyth et al. 1942].
**Short-term exposure guidelines:** None developed
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:**
**Lethal concentration data:**

**Species**
    **Reference**
    **LC50**
    **LCLo**
    **Time**
    **Adjusted 0.5-hr** **LC (CF)**
    **Derived value**Rat RatMouseG. pig
    Carpenter et al. 1949 Izmerov et al. 1982Izmerov et al. 1982Specht et al. 1940
    1,000 mg/m39,000 mg/m310,000 mg/m32,000 mg/m3
    ----- ---------------
    4 hr 4 hr2 hr7 hr
    2,000 ppm (2.0) 18,000 ppm (2.0)16,000 ppm (1.6)4,800 ppm (2.4)
    200 ppm 1,800 ppm1,600 ppm480 ppm**Lethal dose data:**
 
 **Species**
    **Reference**
    **Route**
    **LD50** **(mg/kg)**
    **LDLo** **(mg/kg)**
    **Adjusted LD**
    **Derived value**Rat RabbitMouse
    Hann &Jansen 1974 Hann & Jansen 1974Izmerov et al. 1982
    oral oraloral
    1,120 1,000710
    ----- ----------
    1,922 ppm 1,716 ppm1,218 ppm
    192 ppm 172 ppm122 ppm**Human data:** The probable response to 100 ppm was predicted to be eye and mucous membrane irritation, difficulty breathing, headache, and vertigo [Shell 1957]. It has been stated that 5,000 ppm might be dangerous to life in 30 to 60 minutes [Smyth et al. 1942].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 1,400 ppm [LEL] **Basis for revised IDLH:** Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Smyth et al. 1942], a value of about 4,000 ppm would have been appropriate for mesityl oxide. However, the revised IDLH for mesityl oxide is 1,400 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% of the lower explosive limit of 1.4%).**REFERENCES:**
1. Carpenter CP, Smyth HF Jr, Pozzani UC [1949]. The assay of acute vapor toxicity, and the grading and interpretation of results on 96 chemical compounds. J Ind Hyg Toxicol *31*(6):343-346.
2. Hann W, Jansen PA [1974]. Water quality characteristics of hazardous materials. Vols. 1-4. College Station, TX: Texas A & M University, Civil Engineering Department, Environmental Engineering Division.
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. 80.
4. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1758.
5. Shell [1957]. Mesityl oxide: safety data sheet SC:57-105. New York, NY: Shell Chemical Corporation, pp. 1-3.
6. Smyth HF Jr, Seaton J, Fischer L [1942]. Response of guinea pigs and rats to repeated inhalation of vapors of mesityl oxide and isophorone. J Ind Hyg Toxicol *24*(3):46-50.
7. Specht H, Miller JW, Valaer PJ, Sayers RR [1940]. Acute response of guinea pigs to the inhalation of ketone vapors. NIH Bulletin *176*:1-66.

			
							
								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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