BENZO[A]PYRENE | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Chemical Identification
CAS #	50-32-8
Formula	C₂₀H₁₂
Synonyms	BaP, 1,2-benzpyrene; 3,4-BP; 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene; 4,5-benzpyrene; 6,7-benzopyrene; benzo(d,e,f)chrysene; B(a)P). Synonyms vary depending upon the specific compound (e.g., pyrene, phenanthrene, acridine, chrysene, anthracene)

Physical Properties
Physical description	Odorless, silver-gray to black solid.
Boiling point	5612°F	Molecular weight	252.32
Freezing point/melting point	3497-3515°F	Vapor pressure	depends upon the specific compound
Flash point		Vapor density	8.7
Specific gravity	>1	Ionization potential
Lower explosive limit (LEL)		Upper explosive limit (UEL)	2719°F
NFPA health rating	0	NFPA fire rating	1
NFPA reactivity rating	0	NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.)	0726
Sampling group
Sampler/Sampling media	Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles (CTPV) Sampling Filters and Cassette [SLTC109]
Sampling time^*	480 min
Sampling volume (TWA)^*	960 L
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*	2 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Analytical method instruments	HPLC-UV
Method reference	OSHA 58 (fully validated)
Notes	OSHA 58 is validated in conjunction with Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles and Coke Oven Emissions. OSHA personnel can obtain pre-cleaned filters, vials, and teflon-lined caps from the SLTC.
Special requirements	These media are prepared by SLTC as needed and are not available for immediate shipment. Please allow time for SLTC to prepare these media prior to sampling. After sampling, filter must be transferred to a vial with a teflon-lined cap. Sample must be protected from direct sunlight.

Bulk/Wipe Method
Wipe Sampler/Sampling media
Bulk Method

On-Site Screening Techniques
Device
Model/Type
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)

**Exposure Limits**
OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak		NIOSH REL Up to 10-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		ACGIH TLV© 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		CAL/OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak
PEL-TWA	0.2 mg/m³ as Coal tar pitch volatiles (benzene soluble fraction)	REL-TWA	0.1 mg/m³ as Coal tar pitch volatiles (cyclohexane extractable fraction)	TLV-TWA		PEL-TWA	0.2 mg/m³ as Coal tar pitch volatiles
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL		TLV-STEL		PEL-STEL
PEL-C		REL-C		TLV-C		PEL-C
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N
Notes: See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1.		Notes: CARCINOGEN (Ca); COAL TAR PITCH VOLATILE, CYCLOHEXANE-EXTRACTABLE FRACTION. See Appendix A, NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens and Appendix C, Supplementary Exposure Limits.		Notes: Visit the ACGIH TLV site for specific data BEI®		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	80 mg/m³
Carcinogenic classifications: EPA-B2, IARC-1, NIOSH-Ca, NTP-R, TLV-A2		Notes: Ca
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3:

Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Benzo[a]pyrene

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Coal tar pitch volatiles

Literature References

ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Benzo[a]pyrene. See annual publication for most recent information.
Burstyn I, Kromhout H, Partanen T, Svane O, Langård S, Ahrens W, Kauppinen T, Stücker I, Shaham J, Heederik D, Ferro G, Heikkilä P, Hooiveld M, Johansen C, Randem BG, Boffetta P.: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fatal ischemic heart disease. Epidemiology 16(6):744-50, November 2005.
IARC: Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Some Non-heterocyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Some Related Industrial Exposures , v 92. 2005.
Friesen MC, Demers PA, Spinelli JJ, Lorenzi MF, Le ND: Comparison of two indices of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a retrospective aluminium smelter cohort. Occup Environ Med. 64(4):273-8, April 2007.
Gibbs GW and Sevigny M: Mortality and cancer experience of Quebec aluminum reduction plant workers, part 4: cancer incidence. J Occup Environ Med. 49(12):1351-66, December 2007.
Li D, Day RS, Bondy ML, Sinha R, Nguyen NT, Evans DB, Abbruzzese JL, Hassan MM: Dietary mutagen exposure and risk of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 16(4):655-61, April 2007.
Niu Q, Zhang H, Li X, Li M. Benzo[a]pyrene-induced neurobehavioral function and neurotransmitter alterations in coke oven workers. Occup Environ Med. 67(7):444-8, July 2010.
Spinelli JJ, Demers PA, Le ND, Friesen MD, Lorenzi MF, Fang R, Gallagher RP. Cancer risk in aluminum reduction plant workers (Canada). Cancer Causes Control. 17(7):939-48, September 2006.

BENZO[A]PYRENE†

Chemical Identification

Physical Properties

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA

Bulk/Wipe Method

On-Site Screening Techniques

Exposure Limits

Additional Resources and Literature References