| Agent Name |
Nitric oxide |
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| CAS Number |
10102-43-9 |
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| Formula |
N-O |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Amidogen, oxo-; Bioxyde d'azote [French]; INOmax; Mononitrogen monoxide; Nitric oxide; Nitrogen monoxide; Nitrogen oxide (NO); Oxyde nitrique [French]; Stickmonoxyd [German]; [ChemIDplus] UN1660 |
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| Category |
Oxidizers |
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| Description |
Colorless gas. (Note: Shipped as a nonliquefied compressed gas.) [NIOSH] NO is converted to NO2 spontaneously in air. [ACGIH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in the production of nitric acid; formed in high temperature combustion such as welding and detonation of explosives; it is generated in fires and in the exhaust from internal combustion engines; nitric oxide is present in the toxic gas that causes fatal "silo-fillers' disease" at concentrations reaching 140 ppm; Most exposures to NO include exposure to other nitrogen oxides as well. In oxytorch welding at about 6000 deg C, NO comprises about 95% of the nitrogen oxides. [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Unlike NO2, NO diffuses into the blood without injuring lung tissue. Methemoglobinemia has been reported in workers exposed to concentrations above 10 ppm. [Rom, p. 1476] Methemoglobinemia has been reported in patients who received nitrous oxide contaminated with 1.5% nitric oxide. Listed in the table "Examples of Industrial Chemicals for Which Methemoglobin Formation is NOT the Principal Cause of Toxicity"; [ACGIH] Nitric oxide can induce methemoglobinemia. NO by itself is nonirritating, but it is usually accompanied by NO2 and other irritating nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides in high concentrations cause delayed pulmonary edema. [ATSDR Medical Management] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Nitrogen oxides |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
Methemoglobin in blood = 1.5% of hemoglobin during or at end of shift. [ACGIH] |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TIH |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
25 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
25 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
100 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other animal data: Guinea pigs have survived an exposure at 175 ppm for an unstated period [Bodansky 1951]. . . . Human data: It has been stated that exposures to oxides of nitrogen between 100 and 150 ppm are dangerous for exposures of 30 to 60 minutes [Sax 1975]. |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.29 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
0.97 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 1,068 mg/m3/4H |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Odor thresholds from HSDB; |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
0: will not burn |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
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| Methemoglobinemia |
Methemoglobinemia, Secondary |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: NITRIC OXIDE
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