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n-Propyl alcohol																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 71-23-8
NIOSH REL: 200 ppm (500 mg/m3) TWA, 250 ppm (625 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 200 ppm (500 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 200 ppm (500 mg/m3) TWA, 250 ppm (625 mg/m3) STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 200 ppm (492 mg/m3) TWA, 250 ppm (614 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
Description of substance: Colorless liquid with a mild, alcohol-like odor.
LEL: . . 2.2% (10% LEL, 2,200 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 4,000 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that 2 of 6 rats died following a 4-hour exposure to 4,000 ppm [Smyth et al. 1954]. In addition, Patty [1963] reported that deep narcosis was produced in 2 mice exposed to 4,100 ppm for 4 hours [Starrek 1938].
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. 1954
    LC33: 4,000
    -----
    4 hr
    8,000 ppm (2.0)
    800 ppmLethal dose data:
 
 **Species**
    **Reference**
    **Route**
    **LD50** **(mg/kg)**
    **LDLo** **(mg/kg)**
    **Adjusted LD**
    **Derived value**Rabbit
    Munch & Schwartze 1925
    oral
    2,800
    -----
    7,840 ppm
    784 ppmMouse
    Savini 1968
    oral
    6,800
    -----
    19,040 ppm
    1,904 ppmRat
    Smyth et al. 1954
    oral
    1,870
    -----
    5,236 ppm
    524 ppm**Other animal data:** RD50 (mouse), 12,704 ppm [Alarie 1981]. It has been reported that deep narcosis was produced in 2 mice exposed to 4,100 ppm for 4 hours [Starrek 1938].
 **Human data:** Mild irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat have been reported at 400 ppm [Nelson et al. 1943]. It has been reported that 5,700 mg/kg is the lethal oral dose [Durwald and Degen 1956]. [Note: An oral dose of 5,700 mg/kg is equivalent to a 70-kg worker being exposed to about 94,000 ppm for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 800 ppm **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for n-propyl alcohol is 800 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Nelson et al. 1943] and animals [Smyth et al. 1954]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations above 400 ppm.**REFERENCES:**
1. Alarie Y [1981]. Dose-response analysis in animal studies: prediction of human responses. Environ Health Perspect *42*:9-13.
2. Durwald W, Degen W [1956]. Eine todliche vergiftung mit n-propyl alkohol. Arch Toxikol *16*:85 (in German). [From ACGIH [1991]. n-Propyl alcohol. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 1301-1302.]
3. Munch JC, Schwartze EW [1925]. Narcotic and toxic potency of aliphatic alcohols upon rabbits. J Lab Clin Med *10*:985-996.
4. Nelson KW, Ege JF, Ross M, Woodman LE, Silverman L [1943]. Sensory response to certain industrial solvent vapors. J Ind Hyg Toxicol *25*(7):282-285.
5. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., pp. 1434-1435.
6. Savini EC [1968]. Estimation of the LD50 in mol/kg. Proc Eur Soc St Drug Tox *9*:276-278.
7. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC [1954]. Range-finding toxicity data: list V. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med *10*:61-68.
8. Starrek E [1938]. The effect of some alcohols, glycols, and esters. Doctoral dissertation (translated). Wurzburg, Germany: Julius Maximillian University.

			
							
								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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