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Sodium Hydroxide Safety and Health Topics:
Sodium Hydroxide

General Description
    Synonyms: Caustic soda; Soda; Lye

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2260

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1310-73-2

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: WB4900000

    Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1823 154 (dry, solid); 1824 154 (solution)

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Sodium Hydroxide: 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 -- 2 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 2 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 2 mg/m3 TWA

    American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 2 mg/m3 Ceiling

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 2 mg/m3 Ceiling (15 Minutes)
Health Factors
    NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 10 mg/m3

    Potential symptoms: Eye, skin mucous membrane irritation; sore throat, cough, labored breathing, shortness of breath; pulmonary edema, pneumonitis; eye, skin burns; redness, pain, blisters; blurred vision, blindness (from contact with liquid); temporary loss of hair; INGES ACUTE: Burning sensation; nausea, vomiting; abdominal pain, diarrhea; swelling of the larynx to the point of suffocation; shock or collapse.

    Health Effects: Irritation-Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Marked (HE14); Respiratory effects (HE11); Acute high risk toxicity by ingestion or immersion (HE4).

    Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system

    Notes: 1) Lowest published human lethal oral dose, 1.57 mg/kg of body weight. 2) Listed among FDA's "direct food substances affirmed as generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) when used in foods at levels not to exceed current good manufacturing practice (21 CFR 184.1763).

    Date Last Revised: 03/09/2004

    Literature Basis:
    • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Sodium Hydroxide.
    • NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances: Sodium hydroxide (RTECS # WB4900000).
    • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Sodium Hydroxide.
    • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Sodium Hydroxide. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 2076-2078.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • sampling media: Mixed Cellulose Ester Filter (MCEF) 0.8 microns
      analytical solvent: Water extraction
      maximum volume: 960 Liters   maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min (TWA)
      maximum volume: 30 Liters   minimum time: 15 Minutes   maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min (Ceiling)
      current analytical method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS
      method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-121
      method classification: Fully Validated
      note: Submit as a separate sample. If the filter is not overloaded, samples may be collected up to an 8-hour period. When analysis of a compound is requested, an elemental analysis is performed and reported as the compound.

    Wipe sampling: Whatman smear tab; Solvent: Deionized water.
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  Exposure Limits
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  Page last updated: 08/02/2004