Chemical Sampling Information
	Isoamyl alcohol
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Fermentation amyl alcohol; Isobutylcarbinol; Isopentyl alcohol; 2-Methyl-4-butanol; 3-Methyl-1-butanol OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1532 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 123-51-3 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: EL5425000 Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1105 129 [27 KB, PDF] NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Isoamyl alcohol (primary): 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 -- 100 ppm, 360 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 100 ppm, 360 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 100 ppm, 360 mg/m3 TWA American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 100 ppm, 361 mg/m3 TWA; 125 ppm, 452 mg/m3 STEL National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 100 ppm, 360 mg/m3 TWA; 125 ppm, 450 mg/m3 STEL Health Factors NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 500 ppm Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, nose, throat; headache; dizziness; sore throat; cough, dyspnea; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; skin cracking; in animals: narcosis; INGES. ACUTE: Abdominal pain, burning sensation; weakness, unconsciousness. Health Effects: Irritation-Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16) Narcosis (HE8) Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, CNS Notes: Explosive vapor/air mixtures of isoamyl alcohol may be formed above 45°C. Isoamyl alcohol is listed among FDA’s “food additives permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption” (21 CFR 172.515). Studies of the inhalational toxicity of isoamyl alcohol in pregnant rats and rabbits reported a NOAEL of 2.5 mg/liter (~700 ppm). No embryotoxicity or fetotoxicity was reported for the highest concentration tested, 10 mg/liter. Date Last Revised: 11/15/2006 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Isoamyl alcohol. International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Isoamyl alcohol. Klimisch, H.-J. and Hellwig, J.: Studies on the prenatal toxicity of 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol in rats and rabbits following inhalation exposure. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 27(1): 77-89, 1995. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Isoamyl Alcohol. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1320-1322. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh) analytical solvent: (95:5) Carbon Disulfide:Isopropanol alternate analytical solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide maximum volume: 10 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (TWA) maximum volume: 3 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (STEL) current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 1402) [25 KB, PDF] method classification: Partially Validated All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.