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Calcium hydroxide (Total Dust)
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General Description
    Synonyms: Calcium hydrate; Caustic lime; Hydrated lime; Slaked lime

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0515
    IMIS Name History: Calcium hydroxide prior to 10/1/09

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1305-62-0

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: EW2800000

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Calcium hydroxide: 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): 5 mg/m3 TWA

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 5 mg/m3 TWA
Health Factors
    Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; eye, skin burns; skin vesiculation; cough, bronchitis, pneumonitis.

    Health Effects: Irritation-Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Marked (HE14)

    Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system

    Notes:
    1. Calcium hydroxide is affirmed by the FDA as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) direct food substance (21 CFR 184.1205).
    2. Prolonged contact with wet cement, which is alkaline due to the reaction of water with calcium oxide to form calcium hydroxide, can result in full-thickness skin burns that may require surgical treatment.

    Date Last Revised: 06/04/2007

    Literature Basis:
    • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Calcium hydroxide.
    • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Calcium hydroxide.
    • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Calcium Hydroxide. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 464-465.
    • Sherman S.C. and Larkin, K.: Cement burns. J. Emerg. Med. 29(1): 97-99, 2005.
    • Spoo, J. and Elsner, P.: Cement burns: a review 1960-2000. Contact Dermatitis 45(2): 68-71, 2001.
    • Winder, C. and Carmody, M.: The dermal toxicity of cement. Toxicol. Ind. Health 18(7): 321-331, 2002.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • 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.
      current elemental analysis method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS
      method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 121)
      method classification: Fully Validated
      note: Submit as a separate sample. When analysis of a compound is requested, an elemental analysis is performed and reported as the compound.

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