Chemical Sampling Information
	alpha-Alumina (Total Dust)
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Alumina; Aluminum oxide; Aluminum oxide (2:3); Aluminum trioxide; Corundum OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0160 IMIS Name History: Aluminum Oxide prior to 9/1/1989 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1344-28-1 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (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) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 15 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 15 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 Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory system; coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, pulmonary fibrosis. Health Effects: Cumulative lung damage (HE10) Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system Notes: Both nonfibrous particles and short fibers (<5 µm in length) containing aluminum have been identified in the lungs of workers in the aluminum industry diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. In one case, these were identified as alpha (not gamma) aluminum oxide. Such particles and fibers appear to be biopersistent, as demonstrated in rats instilled intratracheally with "smelter-grade" alumina (containing 15.2% alpha alumina), which was cleared only about 9% from the lungs during a 19-week period following weekly instillation for 20 weeks. Detailed analysis of particles in the air at aluminum smelters indicated that exposure to aluminum oxide alone does not occur, as the particles also contained significant amounts of cryolite (Na3AlF6). The predominant alumina compound detected was sodium ß-alumina (NaAl11O17). Date Last Revised: 10/14/2005 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: alpha-Alumina. International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Aluminum oxide. Gilks, B. and Churg, A.: Aluminum-induced pulmonary fibrosis: do fibers play a role? Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 136(1): 176-179, 1987. Höflich, B.L.W., et al.: Characterization of individual aerosol particles in workroom air of aluminium smelter potrooms. J. Environ. Monit. 7(5): 419-424, 2005. Musk, A.W., et al.: Respiratory symptoms and lung function in alumina refinery employees. Occup. Environ. Med. 57(40): 279-283, 2000. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Aluminum and Aluminum Oxide. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 453-454. Schlesinger, R.B., Snyder, C.A., Chen, L.C., Gorczynski, J.E. and Ménache, M.: Clearance and translocation of aluminum oxide (alumina) from the lungs. Inhal. Toxicol. 12(10): 927-939, 2000. Voisin, C., et al.: Mineralogical analysis of the respiratory tract in aluminum oxide-exposed workers. Eur. Respir. J. 9(9):1874-1879, 1996. 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 maximum volume: 960 Liters minimum volume: 480 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 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.). Alternative Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 µm maximum volume: 960 Liters minimum volume: 480 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 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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