Agent Name | Tetraethyl lead |
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CAS Number | 78-00-2 |
Formula | C8-H20-Pb |
Major Category | Metals |
Synonyms | Lead tetraethy;, TEL; Tetraethylplumbane; [NIOSH] |
Category | Metals, Organic Compounds |
Description | Colorless liquid (unless dyed red, orange, or blue) with a pleasant, sweet odor. [Note: Main usage is in anti-knock additives for gasoline.] [NIOSH] Flammable, but not pyrophoric and does not react with water; [Sullivan, p. 979] |
Sources/Uses | Tetraethyl and tetramethyl lead (CAS # 78-00-2 & 75-74-1), also called alkyl lead, are used as anti-knock agents in gasoline. [ATSDR Case Studies # 1] |
Comments | The presenting symptoms of acute alkyl lead intoxication are neurologic: anorexia, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, headache, depression, and irritability. [ATSDR Case Studies # 1] Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. Overexposure may cause disturbed vision, tremors, seizures, and brain damage. Monitor workers with urinary lead measurements. [ACGIH] CNS effects are seen within hours to days (usually 1-5 days or as long as 14 days after exposure; [HSDB] "Lead compounds, organic" are not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans. [IARC] See "ORGANOMETALS." See "Lead" and linked occupational diseases. |
Restricted | Organic lead was added to gasoline in the US until January 1996. [ATSDR Case Studies, Lead Toxicity] |
Exposure Assessment | |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) | Yes |
Bioaccumulates | Yes |
TLV (ACGIH) | 0.1 mg/m3, as Pb |
PEL (OSHA) | 0.07 mg/m3, as Pb |
MAK | 0.05 mg/m3, as Pb |
IDLH (NIOSH) | 40 mg/m3, as Pb |
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs | Human data: It has been stated that 100 mg Pb/m3 for 1 hour may produce illness [Fleming 1963]. |
Vapor Pressure | 0.2 mm Hg |
Lethal Concentration | LC50 (rat) = 850 mg/m3/1H |
Flammability (NFPA) | |
Adverse Effects | |
Anemia | Anemia, Hemolytic |
Neurotoxin | Other CNS Neurotoxin |
Hepatotoxin | Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
Nephrotoxin | Yes |
Reproductive Toxin | Yes |
IARC Carcinogen | Not Classifiable |
ACGIH Carcinogen | Not Classifiable |
Links to Other NLM Databases | |
Health Studies | Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: |
Toxicity Information | |
Chemical Information | |
Biomedical References | |
Related Information in HazMap | |
Diseases | Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: |