| Agent Name |
Kaolin |
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| CAS Number |
1332-58-7 |
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| Major Category |
Mineral Dusts |
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| Synonyms |
China clay; Clay; Hydrated aluminum silicate; Hydrite; Porcelain clay [Note: Main constituent of Kaolin is Kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4).]; [NIOSH] |
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| Category |
Other Mineral Dusts |
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| Description |
White, yellow, or grayish powder; Darkens & develops clay-like odor when moistened; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used to manufacture refractory bricks and fibers; Used as an absorbent and as a filler in paints, plastics, and pharmaceuticals; [Rosenstock, p. 511] Also used to produce paper pulp, paper, rubber, wall tiles, and sanitary ware; [Rom, p. 531] Crystalline silica not bound to other minerals is "free" silica. Silicates are minerals in which silicon and oxygen are combined with other elements. [Rom, p. 364] |
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| Comments |
Kaolin ores may contain mica and silica. Kaolin workers may develop a simple or complicated pneumconiosis with lung opacities and restrictive or mixed pattern on spirometry. [Sullivan, p. 544] Kaolin pneumoconiosis has been reported in miners, millers, and end users. [Rosenstock, p. 411] The highest exposures have been found in workers who process the clay (dry, mill, or load) rather than in end users. A study published in 1988 of 2000 U.S. kaolin workers found a prevalence for simple and complicated pneumoconiosis of 3.2% and 0.63%, respectively. [Rom, p. 531-2] |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
2 mg/m3, respirable fraction |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
15 mg/m3(total dust), 5 mg/m3(respirable fraction) |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: KAOLIN
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