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Chemical Sampling Information |
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| Zinc Oxide Fume |
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General Description
Synonyms: Zinc peroxide
OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2610
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1314-13-2
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: ZH4810000
Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1516 143
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Zinc Oxide: 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): 2 mg/m3 TWA; 10 mg/m3 STEL - Respirable fraction; see Appendix C, paragraph C
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 5 mg/m3 TWA; 10 mg/m3 STEL
Health Factors
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 500 mg/m3
Potential symptoms: Metal fume fever: chills, muscle ache, fever; dry throat, cough; lassitude (weakness, exhaustion); metallic taste; headache; blurred vision; low back pain; vomiting; malaise (vague feeling of discomfort); chest tightness; dyspnea (breathing difficulty), rales, decreased pulmonary function.
Health Effects: Acute systemic toxicity (Metal fume fever) (HE4) Mutagen (HE2)
Affected organ: Respiratory system
Notes:
- The inhalation of zinc oxide at the PEL concentration for 2 hours by naïve subjects was reported to trigger an inflammatory response involving the release of cytokines thought to mediate the symptoms of metal fume fever (elevated body temperature, myalgia, cough, fatigue) that peaked about 9 hours after exposure. Prior zinc oxide exposure resulted in the development of some tolerance (desensitization) to these effects.
- As an essential element, zinc is a cofactor for over 200 biologically important enzymes and has a recommended daily adult allowance of 15 mg.
- Zinc oxide is listed by the FDA as a generally recognized as safe nutrient when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice (21 CFR 182.8991)
Date Last Revised: 04/21/2006
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Zinc Oxide.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Zinc oxide.
- Fine, J.M., Gordon, T., Chen, L.C., Kinney, P., Falcone, G. and Beckett, W.S.: Metal fume fever: characterization of clinical and plasma IL-6 responses in controlled human exposures to zinc oxide fume at and below the threshold limit value. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 39(8): 722-726, 1997.
- Fine, J.M., et al.: Characterization of clinical tolerance to inhaled zinc oxide in naïve subjects and sheet metal workers. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 42(11): 1085-1091, 2000.
- Kuschner, W.G., D’Alessandro, A., Wong, H. and Blanc, P.D.: Early pulmonary cytokine responses to zinc oxide fume inhalation. Environ. Res. 75(1): 7-11, 1997.
- Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Zinc Oxide. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 2358-2360.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
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sampling media: Tared Low Ash Polyvinyl Chloride (LAPVC) filter 5 microns
maximum volume: 960 Liters minimum volume: 480 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min (TWA)
maximum volume: 30 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min (STEL)
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.
alternate elemental analytical method: Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma; ICP/DCP-AES
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-125G & OSHA ID-206)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: Analytical methods do not distinguish between dust and fume.
alternate elemental analytical method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-121)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: Analytical method does not distinguish between dust and fume.
alternate analytical method: X-ray diffraction; XRD
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-143)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: Submit as a separate sample, XRD analysis specific for ZnO. Analytical method does not distinguish between dust and fume
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