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Chemical Sampling Information |
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| Zinc Stearate (Respirable Fraction) |
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General Description
Synonyms: Dibasic zinc stearate, Zinc salt of stearic acid, Zinc distearate
OSHA IMIS Code Number: Z104
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 557-05-1
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: ZH5200000
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Zinc Stearate: 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 -- 5 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 5 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 5 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 mg/m3 TWA; Does not include stearates of toxic metals; Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens (TLV listed under Stearates)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 5 mg/m3 TWA
Health Factors
Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; cough
Health Effects: Nuisance particulate-accumulation in lungs (HE19)
Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
Notes:
- Finely dispersed particles of zinc stearate in air may be explosive.
- Zinc stearate is listed by the FDA as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) nutrient when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice (21 CFR 182.8994).
- Studies of a single intratracheal administration of zinc stearate (1-10 mg) in rats reported no histological evidence of fibrosis or severe pneumonia nine months later, although there was evidence of zinc retention in the lungs in a dose-related manner at nine months after the exposure.
- In another study, 50 mg of zinc stearate administered intratracheally caused pulmonary edema and death in 50% of the rats, whereas a 10-mg dose was “tolerated.”
- Among 27 employees in a rubber factory who were diagnosed with irritant contact dermatitis, only one case was attributed to zinc stearate exposure.
Date Last Revised: 02/02/2007
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Zinc Stearate.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Zinc stearate.
- Kilpikari, I.: Occupational contact dermatitis among rubber workers. Contact Dermatitis 8(6): 359-362, 1982.
- Shabaline, L.P. and Spiridonova, V.S.: Toxicity and character of the effect of some zinc compounds. J. Hyg. Epidemiol. Microbiol. Immunol. 32(4): 397-405, 1988.
- Ueda, A., Harada, K., Ueda, T. and Nomura, S.: Experimental study on the pathological changes in lung tissue caused by zinc stearate dust. Ind. Health 22(4): 243-253, 1984.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
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sampling media: tared 37-mm diameter low-ash polyvinyl chloride filter
maximum volume: 480 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min
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 net weight of the sample yields a concentration below the standard for the substance, SLTC will perform no further work on that sample. If the net weight corresponds to an amount greater than the standard, the sample may be analyzed for the appropriate element and the result reported as the substance.
current elemental analysis method: Atomic Absorbtion Spectroscopy; AAS
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-121)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: An elemental analysis is performed for total zinc and reported as the compound.
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