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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Dust (total); "Inert" dusts; Nuisance dusts; PNOR (Note: includes all inert or nuisance dusts, whether mineral, inorganic, not listed specifically in 1910.1000)

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 9135
(IMIS Name History: Dust [total] prior to 9/1/89)

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated: Physical description, chemical 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 (PNOR) and 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-3 (Inert or Nuisance Dust)

15 mg/m3
(50 mppcf*) TWA

HE10

Lung disease

OSHA PEL - Construction Industry
See 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A

15 mg/m3
TWA

HE10

Lung disease

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

15 mg/m3
TWA

HE10

Lung disease

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

Not established

 

 

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Guideline

10 mg/m3
TWA (inhalable particles)

HE16

Eye, skin, and respiratory irritation

CAL/OSHA PELs

10 mg/m3
TWA

HE16

Eye, skin, and respiratory irritation
*mppcf = Millions of particles per cubic foot of air

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: Not established

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

  1. Exposure to dusts may decrease pulmonary function (Shieh et al. 2012).
  2. The EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter 10 microns and below (a slightly smaller size fraction than total dust sampled by OSHA's method) is 150 μg/m3 averaged over a 24-hour period. (EPA 2006).

Date Last Revised: 12/11/2012

Literature Basis

  • ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Particulates (Insoluble) Not Otherwise Specified (PNOS). 2001.
  • EPA Particle Pollution, 2006.
  • EPA Integrated Science Assessment Particulate Matter, 2009.
  • Shieh, T.S., Chung, J.J., Wang, C.J., Tsai, P.J., Kuo, Y.C., and Guo, H.R.: Pulmonary function, respiratory symptoms, and dust exposure among workers engaged in early manufacturing processes of tea: a cohort study. BMC Public Health. 12:121, Febuary 13, 2012.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

  • sampling media: tared 37-mm diameter low-ash polyvinyl chloride filter
    maximum volume: 960 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min--DO NOT USE A CYCLONE--
    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 filter is not overloaded, samples can be collected up to an 8-hour period.

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