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Amitrole Chemical Sampling Information
Amitrole

General Description
    Synonyms: Aminotriazole; 3-Aminotriazole; 2-Amino-1,3,4-triazole; 3-Amino-s-Triazole; 3-Amino-1,2,4-Triazole; 3-Amino-1H-1,2,4-Triazole

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: A176
    IMIS Name History: 3-Amino-s-Triazole prior to 9/1/89

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 61-82-5

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: XZ3850000

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Amitrole: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
    American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.2 mg/m3 TWA; Appendix A3 - Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Ca 0.2 mg/m3 TWA; Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens
Health Factors
    National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Group 2, Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 3, Not Classifiable as to Carcinogenicity to Humans

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Group B2, Probable Human Carcinogen

    Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin; dyspnea, muscle spasms, ataxia, anorexia, salivation, increased body temperature; lassitude (weakness, exhaustion), skin dryness, depression (suppression of thyroid function).

    Health Effects: Hypothyroidism, goiter (HE3); Potential occupational carcinogen (HE2)

    Affected organs: Eyes, skin, thyroid

    Notes: 1) Although OSHA does not have a PEL for amitrole, it is an OSHA Select carcinogen. 2) Carcinogenesis studies in rats and mice indicated the occurrence of thyroid, liver, and pituitary tumors. 3) Amitrole binds covalently to and inhibits the activity of catalase, an enzyme thought to be involved in ethanol metabolism, inflammation, aging and cancer.

    Date Last Revised: 05/05/2005

    Literature Basis:
    • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Amitrole.
    • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Amitrole.
    • Environmental Protection Agency: R.E.D. Facts: Amitrole. Publication No. EPA-738-F-96-002 (August) 1996, 13 pp.
    • Hurley, P.M.: Mode of carcinogenic action of pesticides inducing thyroid follicular cell tumors in rodents. Environ. Health Perspect. 106(8): 437-445, 1998.
    • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): 3-Amino-1,2,4-Triazole. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 143-144.
    • Putnam, C.D., Arvai, A.S., Bourne, Y. and Tainer, J.A.: Active and inhibited human catalase structures: ligand and NADPH binding and catalytic mechanism. J. Mol. Biol. 296(1): 295-309, 2000.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • sampling media: Midget Impinger containing 10 mL Distilled Water
      maximum volume: 60 Liters   maximum flow rate: 1.0 L/min
      current analytical method: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HPLC/UV
      method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2006)
      method classification: Partially Validated
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Page last updated: 06/22/2006

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