Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


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)








ALUMINUM METAL DUST										Related Pages
										*OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.*
**CAS:** 7429-90-5; **Chemical Formula:** Al
OSHA formerly had no specific permissible exposure limit for aluminum metal dust, although the Agency’s generic 15 mg/m3 TWA limit for total particulate applied. The ACGIH has an 8-hour TWA limit of 10 mg/m3 as total dust for this substance. OSHA proposed a PEL of 10 mg/m3 (total particulate) and 5 mg/m3 (respirable fraction) for aluminum metal dust; however, in the final rule, OSHA is retaining its former 15-mg/m3 total particulate limit for this substance. In its elemental form, aluminum is a white, malleable, ductile metal.
Aluminum metal dust has been shown to present a minimal health hazard, according to results from the McIntyre Foundation’s 27-year study of aluminum oxide dust (discussed in Stokinger 1981a, in Patty’s Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 3rd rev. ed., Vol. 2A, pp. 1500-1503). No deleterious lung or systemic effects were observed as a result of exposure to aluminum metal dust having a particle size of 1.2 um at calculated concentrations equivalent to 2 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workshift. Even much higher concentrations (not further specified) over 10- or 20-minute periods produced no adverse effects (ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 22). A comment submitted by the Reynolds Aluminum Company endorses OSHA’s classification of aluminum metal dust under the general dust and particulate heading (Ex. 3-135). NIOSH (Ex. 8-47, Table N4) did not conduct an in-depth review of the health evidence for this substance. OSHA has concluded that aluminum metal dusts are appropriately controlled by retaining the Agency’s PELs of 15 mg/m3 TWA, as total particulate, and 5 mg/m3, as the respirable fraction. OSHA has determined that these limits will provide protection against the significant risk of physical irritation.
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  September 28, 2011						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate NIOSH
1988 OSHA PEL Project Documentation
Index of Chemical Names
Index of CAS Numbers 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