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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: 2-Aminoethanol; β-Aminoethyl alcohol; Ethylolamine; 2-Hydroxyethylamine; Monoethanolamine

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1030

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 141-43-5

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: KJ5775000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook [4 MB PDF, 392 pages]: 2491 153

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Ethanolamine: Chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

Exposure Limits and Health Effects

Exposure Limit

Limit Values

HE Codes

Health Factors and Target Organs

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - General Industry
See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1

3 ppm
(6 mg/m3)
TWA

HE7

Central nervous system stimulant (low doses)

HE8

Central nervous system depressant (lethal doses)

HE16

Mild skin and eye irritation

OSHA PEL - Construction Industry
See 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A

3 ppm
(6 mg/m3)
TWA

HE7

Central nervous system stimulant (low doses)

HE8

Central nervous system depressant (lethal doses)

HE16

Mild skin and eye irritation

OSHA PEL - Shipyard Employment
See 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards

3 ppm
(6 mg/m3)
TWA

HE7

Central nervous system stimulant (low doses)

HE8

Central nervous system depressant (lethal doses)

HE16

Mild skin and eye irritation

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

3 ppm
(8 mg/m3)
TWA

6 ppm
(15 mg/m3)
STEL

HE8

Narcosis

HE16

Skin, eye, and respiratory irritation

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (2001)

3 ppm
(8 mg/m3)
TWA

6 ppm
(15 mg/m3)
STEL

HE7

Apathy and poor appetite

HE16

Mild skin and eye irritation

CAL/OSHA PELs

3 ppm
(8 mg/m3) TWA

6 ppm
(15 mg/m3) STEL

HE7

Apathy and poor appetite

HE16

Mild skin and eye irritation

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

EPA Inhalation Reference Concentration (RfC): Not established

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Inhalation Minimal Risk Level (MRL): Not established

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentration: 30 ppm

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

  1. Ethanolamine is combustible and gives off irritating or toxic fumes in a fire (NIOSH/IPCS 2002).
  2. Explosive vapor/air mixtures may form above 85°C (NIOSH/IPCS 2002).
  3. A few cases of allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to ethanolamine in metalworking fluids have been reported (Geier et al. 2004).
  4. Ethanolamine is also a suspected cause of at least one case of asthma and a fatal case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (Kamijo et al. 2004).

Date Last Revised: 9/6/2012

Literature Basis

  • ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Ethanolamine. 2001.
  • Geier, J., Lessmann, H., Schnuch, A. and Uter, W.: Contact sensitizations in metalworkers with occupational dermatitis exposed to water-based metalworking fluids: results of the research project "FaSt". Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 77(8): 543-551, 2004.
  • Kamijo, Y., Soma, K., Inoue, A., Nagai, T. and Kurihara, K.: Acute respiratory distress syndrome following asthma-like symptoms from massive ingestion of a monoethanolamine-containing detergent. Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 46(2): 79-80, 2004.
  • NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline for Ethanolamine. 1978.
  • NIOSH/IPCS: International Chemical Safety Cards - Ethanolamine. October 10, 2002.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

  • sampling media: Coated XAD-2 Tube (80/40 sections, 20/60 mesh); coating is 10% (w/w) 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate (NITC)
    analytical solvent: Dimethylformamide
    maximum volume: 10 Liters   
    maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA)
    maximum volume: 1.5 Liters   
    maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (STEL)
    current analytical method: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HPLC/UV
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2111)
    method classification: Partially Validated

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