Chemical Sampling Information
	Phenanthrene
Quick Links S&H Topics: CTPVs 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: Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles: Phenanthrene; Phenanthrin OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2038 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 85-01-8 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: SF7900000 Chemical Description and Physical Properties: colorless shining crystals with a faint aromatic odor molecular formula: C14H10 molecular weight: 178.23 boiling point: 340°C vapor pressure: 1 mm Hg @ 118.2°C melting point: 100°C Exposure Limits OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- See Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- See Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- See Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles Health Factors International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans [153 KB, PDF] Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Group D, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to human Potential symptoms: Irritation of skin and respiratory tract; cough, sore throat; dermatitis (itching, rash, blisters, burns) with UV light exposure (photosensitization); eye redness, pain; INGES. ACUTE: Abdominal pain. Health Effects: Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16) Affected organs: Skin; multiple tumor sites in animals (e.g., mammary, stomach, lung, skin). Notes: Phenanthrene usually occurs as part of a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in coal tar pitch volatiles and diesel exhaust. End-of-shift urinary levels of unchanged phenanthrene were found to be higher in road pavers (exposed to hot asphalt) than general road construction employees (exposed to diesel exhaust). Comparison of urinary levels of a tetra- hydroxylated metabolite indicated mean concentrations (in pmol/mg creatinine) of 1.51 in non-smokers, 4.58 in smokers, 25.7 in coke oven workers, and 791 in psoriasis patients receiving coal tar therapy. More commonly, other hydroxylated metabolites of phenanthrene in urine are used as markers to monitor occupational exposure to PAHs. Date Last Revised: 10/04/2006 Literature Basis: U.S. EPA Integrated Risk Information System: Phenanthrene (CASRN 85-01-8). Campo, L., et al.: Biological monitoring of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by determination of unmetabolized compounds in urine. Toxicol. Lett. 162(2-3): 132-138, 2006. Elovaara, E., Mikkola, J., Makela, M., Paldanious, B. and Priha, E.: Assessment of soil remediation workers’ exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH): biomonitoring of naphthols, phenanthrols, and 1-hydroxypyrene in urine. Toxicol. Lett. 162(2-3): 158-163, 2006. Hecht, S.S., Chen, M., Yagi, H., Jerina, D.M. and Carmella, S.G.: r-1,t-2,3,c-4-Tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene in human urine: a potential biomarker for assessing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolic activation. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 12(12): 1501-1508, 2003. Jacob, J. and Seidel, A.: Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human urine. J. Chromatogr. B. Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life Sci. 778(1-2): 31-47, 2002. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Phenanthrene. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1817-1818. Popp, W., et al.: DNA single strand breakage, DNA adducts, and sister chromatid exchange in lymphocytes and phenanthrene and pyrene metabolites in urine of coke oven workers. Occup. Environ. Med. 54(3): 176-183, 1997. Rihs, H.P., et al.: Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in German industries: association between exogenous exposure and urinary metabolites and its modulation by enzyme polymorphisms. Toxicol. Lett. 157(3): 241-255, 2005. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Glass Fiber Filter (37 mm) analytical solvent: Benzene maximum volume: 960 Liters   maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min current analytical method: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HPLC/UV/FLU method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 58) method classification: Fully Validated (In conjuction with Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles and Coke Oven Emissions) note: After sampling, filter must be transferred to a glass vial with a Teflon-lined cap. Sample must be protected from direct sunlight. 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.