Tetraethyl lead (as Pb)

IDLH Documentation
CAS number: 78­00­2

NIOSH REL: 0.075 mg/m3 TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 0.075 mg/m3 TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993­1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.1 mg/m3 TWA [skin]

Description of substance: Colorless liquid (unless dyed red, orange, or blue) with a pleasant, sweet odor.

LEL: . . 1.8% (10% LEL, 1,800 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 40 mg Pb/m3

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the rat LC50 of 6 ppm (approximately 80 mg/m3) [Saglik Dergisi 1963 cited by NIOSH 1974]. However, because of the unreliability of tetraethyl lead analytical methods utilized prior to 1968, 40 mg Pb/m3, which is approximately 50% of the LC50, has been utilized as the IDLH.

Short­term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species
Reference
LC50
LCLo
Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)
Derived value
MouseAkatsuka 1973
-----
650 mg/m3
7 hr
999 mg Pb/m3 (2.4)
100 mg Pb/m3
RatCremer & Calloway 1961
850 mg/m3
-----
1 hr
680 mg Pb/m3 (1.25)
68 mg Pb/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species
Reference
Route
LD50

(mg/kg)
LDLo

(mg/kg)
Adjusted LD
Derived value
Rabbit

Rat

Rat

Rat

Rat

Akatsuka 1973

Magistretti et al. 1963

Schepers 1964

Schroeder et al. 1972

Springman et al. 1963

oral

oral

oral

oral

oral
-----

35

17

12.3

-----
30

-----

-----

-----

24
135 mg Pb/m3

157 mg Pb/m3

76 mg Pb/m3

55 mg Pb/m3

108 mg Pb/m3
14 mg Pb/m3

16 mg Pb/m3

7.6 mg Pb/m3

5.5 mg Pb/m3

11 mg Pb/m3

Human data: It has been stated that 100 mg Pb/m3 for 1 hour may produce illness [Fleming 1963].

Revised IDLH: 40 mg Pb/m3 [Unchanged]

Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Fleming 1963] and animals [Akatsuka 1973; Cremer and Calloway 1961], a value of about 100 mg Pb/m3 would have been appropriate for tetraethyl lead. However, the original IDLH for tetraethyl lead (40 mg Pb/m3) is not being revised at this time.

REFERENCES:

1. Akatsuka K [1973]. Tetraalkyl lead poisoning. Sangyo Igaku (Japanese Journal of Industrial Health) 15:3­66.

2. Cremer JE, Calloway S [1961]. Further studies on the toxicity of some tetra and trialkyl lead compounds. Brit J Ind Med 18:277­282.

3. Fleming AJ [1963]. Lead Symposium, Kettering Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, February 25­27, 1963.

4. Magistretti M, Zurlo N, Scollo F, Pacillo D [1963]. Tossicita comparata del piombo tetra­etile e del piombo tetra­metile. Med Lav 54:486­495 (in Italian).

5. NIOSH [1974]. TP45500. Plumbane, tetraethyl­. In: The toxic substances list, 1974 ed. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 74­134, p. 634.

6. Saglik Dergisi [1963]; 38:653.

7. Schepers GWH [1964]. Tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead comparative experimental pathology: Part I. Lead absorption and pathology. Arch Environ Health 8:277­295.

8. Schroeder T, Avery DD, Cross HA [1972]. Tetraethyl lead dose response curve for mortality in laboratory rats. Experientia 28:923­924.

9. Springman E, Bingham E, Stemmer KL [1963]. The acute effects of lead alkyls. Arch Environ Health 6:469. Go back to the Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)