Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
					Search
		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate





Ethyl benzene																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 100–41–4
**NIOSH REL:** 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA, 125 ppm (545 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) TWA, 125 ppm (545 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 100 ppm (434 mg/m3) TWA, 125 ppm (543 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of Substance:** Colorless liquid with an aromatic odor.
**LEL:**. . 0.8% (10% LEL, 800 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 2,000 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] and ACGIH [1971] that in an experimental study 2,000 ppm caused dizziness in one man after a brief exposure of 5 minutes [Yant et al. 1930].
**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**Rat
    Smyth et al. 1962
    -----
    4,000
    4 hr
    8,000 ppm (2.0)
    800 ppm
 **Other animal data:** RD50 (mouse): 1,430 ppm [DeCeaurriz et al. 1981;RD50 (mouse): 4,060 ppm [Nielsen and Alarie 1982].
 **Human data:** Dizziness was caused in one volunteer after a 5-minute exposure to 2,000 ppm [Yant et al. 1930].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 800 ppm [LEL] **Basis for revised IDLH:** Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Yant et al. 1930] and animals [DeCeaurriz et al. 1981; Smyth et al. 1962], a value between 800 and 2,000 ppm would have been appropriate. However, the revised IDLH for ethyl benzene is 800 ppm based strictly on safety considerations (i.e., being 10% of the lower explosive limit of 0.8%).
**REFERENCES:**
1. ACGIH [1971]. Ethylbenzene. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 104.
2. DeCeaurriz JC, Micillino JC, Bonnet P, Guenier JP [1981]. Sensory irritation caused by various industrial airborne chemicals. Toxicol Lett *9*(4):137-143.
3. Nielsen GDF, Alarie Y [1982]. Sensory irritation, pulmonary irritation, and respiratory stimulation by airborne benzene and alkylbenzenes, prediction of safe industrial exposure levels and correlation with their thermodynamic properties. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol *65*:459-477.
4. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1232.
5. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC, Striegel JA [1962]. Range-finding toxicity data: list VI. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *23*:95-107.
6. Yant WP, Schrenk HH, Waite CP, Patty FA [1930]. Acute response of guinea pigs to vapors of some new commercial organic compounds. II. Ethyl benzene. Public Health Rep *45*:1241-1250.

			
							
								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
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification/Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
					Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
					You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
					CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue