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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Aluminum oxide, Aluminum trioxide, Corundum, Impure corundum, Natural aluminum oxide [Note: Emery is an impure variety of Al2O3 which may contain small impurities of iron, magnesium & silica. Corundum is natural Al2O]

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1016

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 12415-34-8; 1302-74-5 (corundum)

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: GN0231000

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Emery: 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 -- 15 mg/m3 TWA

Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 15 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 mg/m3 TWA; The value is for particulate matter containing no asbestos and <1% crystalline silica

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

Health Effects: Nuisance particulates (HE19)

Affected Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system

Notes:
  1. Elemental analysis of area and personal total emery dust samples at a Mexican manufacturing facility found large amounts of aluminum, magnesium and silicon, and lower amounts of manganese, iron, zinc, nickel, vanadium, chromium and bromine.
  2. Powdered silicon carbide (CAS No. 409-21-2) may also be called "emery" by its manufacturers.
Date Last Revised: 09/26/2005

Literature Basis:
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Emery.
  • Granados-Correa, F., Garcia-Sosa, I. and Iturbe-Garcia, J.L.: Exposure to total and respirable minerals in an abrasive manufacturing facility. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 57(8): 753-755, 1996.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

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Page last updated: 04/06/2006