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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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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 of Chemical Substances (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

Carcinogenic Classification:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Group B2, probable human carcinogen

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Group 3, not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans [121 MB PDF, 45 pages]

National Toxicology Program (NTP): Group 2, reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen [136 KB PDF, 2 pages]
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 [78 KB PDF, 13 pages]. 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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