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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Aluminum Oxide (2:3); alpha-Aluminum Oxide; beta-Aluminum Oxide; gamma-Aluminum Oxide; Aluminum Sesquioxide

OSHA IMIS Code Number: A201
IMIS Name History: alpha-Alumina (Total Dust) from 7/17 to 9/1/89

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1344-28-1

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: BD1200000

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, alpha-Alumina: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

Exposure Limits

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 5 mg/m3 TWA

Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 5 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 1 mg/m3 TWA; Respirable fraction; see Appendix C, paragraph C; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen (Listed under Aluminum metal and Insoluble compounds)

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Appendix D - Substances With No Established RELs

Health Factors


Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

Federal OSHA and OSHA State Plan personnel submitting samples to OSHA SLTC Laboratory for alpha-alumina analysis must use the tared gravimetric sampling media described immediately below.
  • sampling media: tared 37-mm diameter low-ash polyvinyl chloride filter preceded by 10 mm Nylon Cyclone
    maximum volume: 816 Liters
    minimum volume: 408 Liters
    flow rate: 1.7 L/min
    current analytical method: Gravimetric
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2121)
    method classification: Partially Validated
    note: OSHA personnel can obtain tared sampling media from SLTC.
    note: If the net weight of the sample yields a concentration below the standard for the substance, SLTC will perform no further work on that sample. If the net weight corresponds to an amount greater than the standard, the sample may be analyzed for the appropriate element and the result reported as the substance.
    note: Refer to Chemical Sampling Information for "Aluminum (as Al) Metal" when sampling workplaces that have aluminum metal exposures (grinding, etc.).
    current elemental analysis method: Lithium Borate Fusion/AAS or Microwave Digestion/AAS
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-109SG or OSHA ID-198SG)
    method classification: Partially Validated
    alternate analytical method: Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma; ICP/AES, ICP/MS
    note: Submit as a separate sample. When analysis of a compound is requested, an elemental analysis is performed and reported as the compound. The analytical method does not distinguish between dust and fume. The method does not distinguish between aluminum oxide and other aluminum compounds (e.g. aluminum phosphate, aluminum metal, etc.).
On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:
  • sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 µm preceded by 10 mm Nylon Cyclone
    maximum volume: 816 Liters
    minimum volume: 408 Liters
    flow rate: 1.7 L/min
    note: Refer to Chemical Sampling Information for "Aluminum (as Al) Metal" when sampling workplaces that have aluminum metal exposures (grinding, etc.).
    current elemental analysis method: Lithium Borate Fusion/AAS or Microwave Digestion/AAS
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-109SG or OSHA ID-198SG)
    method classification: Partially Validated
    alternate analytical method: Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma; ICP/AES, ICP/MS
    note: Submit as a separate sample. When analysis of a compound is requested, an elemental analysis is performed and reported as the compound. The analytical method does not distinguish between dust and fume. The method also does not distinguish between aluminum oxide and other aluminum compounds (e.g. aluminum phosphate, aluminum metal, etc.).

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Page last updated: 01/26/2009