TOLUENE | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

TOLUENE†

Chemical Identification
CAS #	108-88-3
Formula	C₇H₈
Synonyms	methylbenzene; methyl benzol; phenyl methane; toluol

Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent, benzene-like odor.
Boiling point	232°F	Molecular weight	92.1
Freezing point/melting point	-139°F	Vapor pressure	21 mmHg
Flash point	40°F	Vapor density	3.14
Specific gravity	0.87	Ionization potential	8.82 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL)	1.1%	Upper explosive limit (UEL)	7.1%
NFPA health rating	2	NFPA fire rating	3
NFPA reactivity rating	0	NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.)	2460	2460
Sampling group	OVSG-1
Sampler/Sampling media	CSC tube (100/50 mg) [SKC 226-01]	SKC 575-002 Passive Sampler [SKC 575-002]
Sampling time^*	240 min (1-5 min Peak; 5-10 min C)
Sampling volume (TWA)^*	12 L	≤240 min TWA; ≥ 10 min STEL or C
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*	0.05 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*	0.05 L (Peak); 0.25 L (C)
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*	0.05 L/min
Analytical method instruments	GC-FID
Method reference	OSHA 5000 (fully validated)	OSHA 111 (fully validated)
Notes		To obtain sampling and analytical error similar to that available with active sampling, knowledge of the atmospheric pressure and temperature are required, and these should be obtained using NIST-traceable devices. If that is not possible, temperature is assumed to be 22.2 °C, and the atmospheric pressure is estimated based on the elevation of the sampling location. When estimates are used in place of traceable measurements the sampling and analytical error associated with passive sampling is substantially increased, and this makes it more difficult to demonstrate overexposures after considering the 95% lower confidence limit.
Special requirements

^* All sampling instructions above are recommended guidelines for OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), please see the corresponding OSHA method reference for complete details.

Bulk/Wipe Method
Wipe Sampler/Sampling media
Bulk Method

On-Site Screening Techniques
Device	Detector tube	Detector tube	CMS Chip
Model/Type	Gastec 122	Matheson-Kitagawa 8014-124SA	Toluene, 10-300 ppm range
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)	0.5 to 2 strokes, 5-690 ppm range, uncertainty 16% for 10-100 ppm, 8% for 200-300 ppm	1 stroke, 5-500 ppm range

**Exposure Limits**
OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak		NIOSH REL Up to 10-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		ACGIH TLV© 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		CAL/OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak
PEL-TWA	200 ppm	REL-TWA	100 ppm (375 mg/m³)	TLV-TWA	20 ppm [2006]	PEL-TWA	10 ppm (37 mg/m³)
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL	150 ppm (560 mg/m³)	TLV-STEL		PEL-STEL	150 ppm (560 mg/m³)
PEL-C	300 ppm; 500 ppm (Peak) [10 min maximum in an 8 hr shift]	REL-C		TLV-C		PEL-C	500 ppm
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	Y
Notes: See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-2. OSHA Construction and Maritime Industries PEL is 200 ppm (750 mg/m³). See 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1 and 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards.		Notes:		Notes: BEI®		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	500 ppm
Carcinogenic classifications: IARC-3, TLV-A4, EPA-II		Notes:
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3: 50 ppm/300 ppm/1000 ppm

Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Toluene

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Toluene

Literature References

ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Toluene. See annual publication for most recent information.
EPA: Hazard Summary - Toluene.
Donald, J. M., K. Hooper, et al. Reproductive and developmental toxicity of toluene: a review. Environ Health Perspect 94: 237-244, 1991.
Hobara, T., Okuda, M., Gotoh, M. Oki, K., Segawa, H. and Kunitsugo, I: Estimation of the lethal toluene concentration from the accidental death of painting workers. Ind. Health 38(2): 228-231, 2000.
Manikantan, P., Balachanadar, V., Sasikala, K., Mohanadevi, S., Arun, M., Kumar, A.K., Khan Mustaq Ahamed, S.A., Krishnan, B.B., and Kumar, S.S. Cytogenetic methods for assessing human exposure to toluene in Coimbatore, South India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 11(6):1687-93, 2010.
McDonald, J.C., Lavoie J., Côté R., and McDonald A.D.: Chemical exposures at work in early pregnancy and congenital defect: a case-referent study. Br J Ind Med. 44(8): 527-533, August 1987.
NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline for Toluene. 1978.
Türkoğlu, C., Aliyev, F., Celiker, C., Uzunhasan, I., and Kocaş, C.: Slow heart-slow brain - consequence of short-term occupational exposure to toluene in a young woman: what is the real mechanism? Clin Cardiol. 33(2):E68-71, 2010.
Zavalic M, Mandic Z, Turk R et al.: Quantitative assessment of color vision impairment in workers exposed to toluene. Am J Ind Med 33(3):297-304, 1998.

Last Updated Date : 06/03/2022

Group Sampling Information
Sampling Media	Sampling Time (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)	TWA Sampling Volume (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)	TWA Flow Rate (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)
CSC Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh), [SKC 226-01]	240 min	12 L	0.05 L/min

Analytes Sampling Information
Analytes	IMIS Code	Wipe Sampling
Isobutyl Acetate	1534	No
n-Butyl Acetate	0440	No
sec-Butyl Acetate	0441	No
tert-Butyl Acetate	0442	No
Toluene**	2460	No
Ethyl Benzene	1080	No
Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene)**	2020	No
Trichloroethylene**	2490	No
Xylene	2590	No
Trimethylbenzene	2505	No
Benzene***	0320	No
Ethyl Acetate****	1040	No
n-Propyl Acetate‡	2180	No
Pentane‡‡	1990	No
Cyclohexane‡‡‡	0810	No
Heptane*	1371	No
n-Hexane‡‡‡‡	1380	No
Nonane*	N807	No
Octane*	1957	No

Notes

Request any (up to three (3)) of these analytes together.

Alternatively request IMIS Code Q115 and SLTC will report any significant amounts of these analytes.

Results for unrequested analytes in this group will be reported if significant amount are found.

Toluene, sec-Butyl Acetate, Benzene and Isobutyl Alcohol all have/are known interferences. Please indicate on the 91A which of these compounds are known to be present.

There is no need to contact SLTC before sampling.

*80 min (4L)

**Peak sampling 1 min (0.05 L) and Ceiling sampling 5 min (0.25 L)

***STEL sampling 15 min (0.75 L)

****120 min (6 L)

‡200 min (10 L)

‡‡45 min (2.25 L)

‡‡‡190 min (9.5 L)

‡‡‡‡98 min (4.9 L)

TOLUENE†

Chemical Identification

Physical Properties

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA

Bulk/Wipe Method

On-Site Screening Techniques

Exposure Limits

Additional Resources and Literature References