| Agent Name |
Aluminum oxide |
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| Alternative Name |
alpha-Alumina |
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| CAS Number |
1344-28-1 |
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| Formula |
Al2-O3 |
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| Major Category |
Metals |
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| Synonyms |
alpha-Alumina; Alumina; Aluminium oxide; Aluminum oxide (2:3); Aluminum sesquioxide; Aluminum trioxide; [CHEMINFO] |
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| Category |
Metals, Inorganic Compounds |
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| Description |
White, odorless, crystalline powder; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used to produce aluminum; Also used as an abrasive, catalyst, absorbent (petroleum industry), filler for coatings, food additive; Also used in ceramics, glass, refractories, electrical insulators and resistors, fluxes, dental cements, and chromatographic applications; [CHEMINFO] alpha-Alumina is the main component of technical grade alumina. Corundum is natural Al2O3. Emery is an impure crystalline variety of Al2O3. [NIOSH] |
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| Comments |
Alumina is converted into aluminum by electrolytic reduction. Primary aluminum production facilities contain rows of reduction cells or pots located in "potrooms." [Burgess, p. 14] Aluminum oxide is found in nature as bauxite (Al2O3.2H2O). Corundum is manufactured by fusing bauxite in a furnace. Some crystalline silica may be found in bauxite and corundum. Shaver's disease, which occurred in aluminum oxide workers in the past, was caused by the contaminating silica. [CHEMINFO] An irritant of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; [CAMEO] |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
15 mg/m3(total dust), 5 mg/m3(respirable fraction) |
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| MAK |
4 mg/m3, inhalable fraction |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Documentation and TLVs withdrawn; [ACGIH] |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: ALUMINUM OXIDE
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