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Magnesium Oxide Fume (Total Particulate) Chemical Sampling Information
Magnesium Oxide Fume (Total Particulate)

General Description
    Synonyms: Magnesia fume; Maglite; Magox

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1610
    IMIS Name History: Magnesium Oxide Fume prior to 9/1/89

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 1309-48-4

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: OM3850000

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Magnesium Oxide Fume: 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 -- 15 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 15 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 15 mg/m3 TWA

    American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 mg/m3 TWA - Inhalable fraction; see Appendix C, paragraph A; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen (TLV listed under Magnesium oxide)

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Appendix D - Substances With No Established RELs
Health Factors
    NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 750 mg/m3

    Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, nose; metal fume fever (4-12 hours after exposure): headache, nausea, sweating, cough, chest pain, flu-like fever; INGES.: Diarrhea

    Health Effects: Lung effect (Fume fever) (HE11)

    Affected organs: Eyes, respiratory system

    Notes:
    1. Inhalational exposure of human volunteers to respirable magnesium oxide fume at concentrations of 110-123 mg/m3 for 45 minutes (n=3), 210 mg/m3 for 20 min. (n=1), or 230 mg/m3 for 15 min. (n=1) did not elicit symptoms of metal fume fever, affect lung function, or affect proinflammatory cytokine or cell levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
    2. Magnesium oxide is affirmed by the FDA as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) direct food substance (21 CFR 184.1431).

    Date Last Revised: 07/21/2006

    Literature Basis:
    • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Magnesium Oxide Fume.
    • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Magnesium oxide.
    • Kuschner, W.G., Wong, H., D'Alessandro, A., Quinlan, P. and Blanc, P.D.: Human pulmonary responses to experimental inhalation of high concentration fine and ultrafine magnesium oxide particles. Environ. Health Perspect. 105(11): 1234-1237, 1997.
    • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Magnesium Oxide (Fume). In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1426-1428.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • sampling media: tared 37-mm diameter low-ash polyvinyl chloride filter
      maximum volume: 960 Liters   minimum volume: 480 Liters   maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min
      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.
      current elemental analysis method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS
      method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-121)
      method classification: Validated
      note: An elemental analysis is performed for total calcium and reported as the compound.
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  Chemical Sampling Information:
  Magnesium Oxide Fume (Total Particulate)
  General Description
  Exposure Limits
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  Monitoring
     
 
 
Page last updated: 08/07/2006
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