COMPARISON OF ODOR THRESHOLDS AND PEL'S/TLV'S OF SOME SUBSTANCES
Concentrations expressed in ppm, unless otherwise stated
1. Odor Threshold < 0.5 X PEL or TLV Absence of odor suggests safe concentratio
SUBSTANCE |
ODOR THRESHOLD |
PEL STEL TWA |
TLV STEL TWA |
IDLH |
Acetone |
100 |
1000 750 |
1000 750 |
20,000 |
Ammonia |
0.3-0.5 |
35 - |
35 25 |
500 |
sec Amyl Acetate |
0.002-0.08 |
- 125 |
- 125 |
9,000 |
Carbon Disulfide |
0.001-1 |
12 4 |
- 10 |
500 |
Diphenyl (biphenyl) |
0.01-0.06 |
- 0.2 |
- 0.2 |
60 |
Hydrogen Cyanide |
0.0003-1 |
4.7 - |
10(C) - |
50 |
Hydrogen sulfide |
0.0005-0.2 |
15 10 |
15 10 |
300 |
Sulfur Dioxide |
0.5 |
5 2 |
5 2 |
100 |
Trichloroethylene |
0.2 |
200 50 |
200 50 |
Ca |
Xylene |
0.1-0.3 |
150 100 |
150 100 |
1,000 |
2. Odor Threshold 0.5- 2X PEL or TLV Odor indicates possible hazard
| Substance | Odor Threshold | PEL STEL TWA |
TLV STEL TWA |
IDLH |
| Acetonitrile | 40 | 60 40 | 60 40 | 4,000 |
| Aldrin (mg/m3) | 0.25-0.4 | - 0.25 | - 0.25 | Ca |
| Ethyl bromide | 200 | 250 200 | 250 200 | 3,500 |
| Fluorine | 0.035-3 | - 0.1 | 2 1 | 25 |
| Formaldehyde | 0.8-1 | 2 1 | 2* 1* | Ca |
| Methyl chloroform | 20-500 | 450 350 | 450 350 | 1,000 |
| Nitrogen dioxide | 1-5 | 1 - | 5 3 | 50 |
| Ozone | 0.0005-0.5 | 0.3 0.1 | - 0.1C | 10 |
| Phenol | 0.05-5 | - - | - 5 | 250 |
| Sulfuric acid | 0.6-2.5 | - - | - 1 | 25 |
Key : PEL= OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit TLV= ACGIH Threshold Limit Value STEL= Short Term (15-30 min) Exposure Limit
TWA= 8-hr Time-weighted avg. IDLH= Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Ca, * = Suspect Human Carcinogen C= Ceiling Value
3. Odor Threshold > 2 X PEL or TLV Odor indicates significant hazard
| Substance | Odor Threshold | PEL STEL TWA |
TLV STEL TWA |
IDLH |
| Acrylonitrile | 20 | 10 (C) 2 | - 2* | Ca |
| Arsine | 0.2-0.6 | - 0.05 | - 0.05 | Ca |
| Benzene | 1.5-8.5 | 5 1 | - 10** | Ca |
| Bromoform | 530 | - 0.5 | - 0.5 | NA |
| Carbon tetrachloride | 20-100 | - 2 | - 5* | Ca |
| Lindane (mg/m3) | 4 | - 0.5 | - 0.5 | 1000 |
| Mercury vapor (mg/m3) | None (?) | - 0.05 | - 0.05 | 30 |
| Parathion | 0.5 | - 0.1 | - 0.1 | 20 |
| Phosgene | 0.1-1 | - 0.1 | - 0.1 | 2 |
| Toluene diisocyanate | 0.2-2 | 0.02 0.005 | 0.02 0.005 | 10 |
Key : PEL= OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit TLV= ACGIH Threshold Limit Value STEL= Short Term (15-30 min) Exposure Limit
TWA= 8-hr Time-weighted avg. IDLH= Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Ca, * = Suspect Human Carcinogen C= Ceiling Value