| Agent Name | Tetraethyl lead |
|---|---|
| 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: |
Agent Name
Tetraethyl lead
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
Toxicity Information
Chemical Information
Biomedical References
Related Information in HazMap
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: