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Chemical Sampling Information |
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| Cresol (All Isomers) |
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General Description
Synonyms: Cresylic acid; ortho-, meta-, or para-Cresol; 2-,3-, or 4-Methyl phenol
OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0760
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Numbers: 1319-77-3 (Cresol); 108-39-4 (m-Cresol); 95-48-7 (o-Cresol); 106-44-5 (p-Cresol)
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: GO5950000, GO6125000, GO6300000, and GO6475000
Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 2076 153
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, m-Cresol, o-Cresol, and p-Cresol: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 5 ppm, 22 mg/m3 TWA; Skin
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 5 ppm, 22 mg/m3 TWA; Skin
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 5 ppm, 22 mg/m3 TWA; Skin
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 5 ppm, 22 mg/m3 TWA; Skin
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 2.3 ppm, 10 mg/m3 TWA
Health Factors
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Group C, possible human carcinogen
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 250 ppm
Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes, sore throat, cough; eye, skin burns; blisters, dermatitis; CNS effects: confusion, depression, respiratory failure; dyspnea, irregular and rapid respiration, pulmonary edema (may be delayed); weak pulse; lung, liver, kidney, pancreas damage. INGES ACUTE: Burning sensation; abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting; sweating, headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, ringing in the ears; pale skin appearance, shock or collapse.
Health Effects: Irritation - Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Marked (HE14) Acute Toxicity-(CNS) (HE4) Cumulative liver, cardiovascular, kidney damage (HE3)
Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, CNS, liver, kidneys, pancreas, cardiovascular system.
Notes:
- Skin is a major route of occupational exposure.
- The potential for o-cresol as a contaminant of phenol-formaldehyde resin to be a skin sensitizer has been reported.
- EPA's oral reference dose (RfD), the daily oral exposure likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime, for both o-cresol and m-cresol is 0.05 mg/kg/day, and EPA's provisional oral RfD for p-cresol is 0.005 mg/kg/day.
- p-Cresol, described as having a cowy/barny flavor, was identified as one of the flavors formed in nonfat dry milk during storage.
- o-Cresol is one of the metabolites of toluene, and its excretion in urine is used as marker for occupational exposure to toluene.
Date Last Revised: 08/12/2005
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: o-Cresol.
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: m-Cresol.
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: p-Cresol.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): o-Cresol.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): m-Cresol.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): p-Cresol.
- EPA Air Toxics Website: Cresol/Cresylic Acid. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network.
- Ana-Lillia, G.Y., Carlos, K., Kazimeirz, W., Elva-Leticia, P.L., Katarzina, W. and Gloria, B.: Occupational exposure to toluene and its possible causative role in renal damage development in shoe workers. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 78: 1-6, 2005.
- Bruze, M. and Zimerson, E.: Contact allergy to o-cresol--a sensitizer in phenol-formaldehyde resin. Am. J. Contact Dermat. 13(4): 198-200, 2002.
- Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Cresols. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 672-675.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
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sampling media: XAD-7 Tube (100/50 mg sections, 15/50 mesh)
analytical solvent: Methanol
maximum volume: 24 Liters maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min
current analytical method: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HPLC/UL33
alternate analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 32)
method classification: Fully Validated
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