Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Air Toxicology and Epidemiology

All OEHHA Acute, 8-hour and Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (chRELs) as on February 2012

Follow the links below to download documentation on the reference exposure levels.

Footnotes:
[1]REL types: A = acute, 8 = 8-hour, C = chronic. Exposure averaging time for acute RELs is 1 hour.  For 8-hour RELs, the exposure averaging time is 8 hours, which may be repeated.  Chronic RELs are designed to address continuous exposures for up to a lifetime: the exposure metric used is the annual average exposure.

[2]Species used in key study for REL development: D = dog; Gb = gerbil; GP = guinea pig: H = human; Ha = hamster; M = mouse; Mk = monkey; R = rat; Rb = rabbit

[3]These peer-reviewed chronic REL values were developed under the Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC) Program mandated by AB1807.

[4]REL based on benchmark dose (BMC) approach.

[5]REL developed using the revised methodology (OEHHA, 2008)].

OEHHA Acute, 8-hour and Chronic Reference Exposure Level (REL) Summary1

Substance

REL type[1]

Inhalation REL
(
ug/m3)

Oral REL
(
ug/kg BW-day)

Hazard Index
Target Organs

Species[2]

Acetaldehyde(75-07-0)

A

470[5]

 

Sensory irritation; bronchi, eyes, nose, throat

H

8

300[4,5]

 

Respiratory system

R

C

140[4,5]

 

Respiratory system

R

Acrolein  (107-02-8)

A

2.5[5]

 

Eyes, respiratory system (Sensory irritation)

H

8

0.7[5]

 

Respiratory system

R

C

0.35[5]

 

Respiratory system

R

Acrylic Acid  (79-10-7)

A

6,000

 

Respiratory system; eyes

R

Acrylonitrile (107-13-1)

C

5[4]

 

Respiratory system

R

Ammonia (7664-41-7)

A

3200[4]

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

200

 

Respiratory system

H

Arsenic (7440-38-2) & inorganic arsenic compounds (including arsine)

A

0.20[5]

 

Development (teratogenicity); cardiovascular system; nervous system

M

8

0.015[5]

 

Development; cardiovascular system; nervous system; lung; skin

H

C

0.015[5]

0.0035[5]

Development; cardiovascular system; nervous system; lung; skin

H

Benzene  (71-43-2)

A

1,300

 

Reproductive/ Developmental

R

C

60

 

Hematologic & nervous systems; development

H

Benzyl Chloride(100-44-7)

A

240

 

Respiratory system; eyes

M, R

Beryllium& compounds
(7440-41-7)

C

0.007

2.0

Respiratory system; immune system

H

Butadiene(106-99-0)

C

20[4]

 

Reproductive system

M

Cadmium & compounds
(7440-43-9)

C

0.02

0.5

Kidney; respiratory system

H

Carbon disulfide(75-15-0)

A

6,200

 

Reproductive/ Developmental; nervous system

R

C

800[4]

 

Nervous system; reproductive system

H

Carbon monoxide
(630-08-0)

A

23,000

 

Cardiovascular system

H

Carbon tetrachloride
(56-23-5)

A

1,900

 

Reproductive/ Developmental; nervous system

R

C

40

 

Alimentary and nervous systems; development

GP

Chlorinated dioxins
(1746-01-6) and
dibenzofurans
  (5120-73-19)

C

0.00004

1 x 10-5

Alimentary (liver) reproductive, endocrine, respiratory, hematopoietic systems; development

R

Chlorine (7782-50-5)

A

210

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

0.2[4]

 

Respiratory system

R

Chlorine dioxide
(10049-04-4)

C

0.6

 

Respiratory system

R

Chlorobenzene(108-90-7)

C

1,000

 

Alimentary system; kidney; reproductive system

R

Chloroform (67-66-3)

A

150

 

Reproductive/ Developmental; respiratory system; nervous system

R

C

300

 

Alimentary system; kidney; development

R

Chloropicrin (76-06-2)

A

29

 

Respiratory system; eyes

M

C

0.4[4]

 

Respiratory system

M

Chromic trioxide
(as chromic acid mist)

C

0.002

20

Respiratory system

H

Chromium hexavalent: soluble except chromic trioxide

C

0.2[4]

20

Respiratory system

R

Copper and compounds

A

100

 

Respiratory system

H

Cresol mixtures (1319-77-3)

C

600

 

Nervous system

R

Dichlorobenzene (1,4-)
(106-46-7)

C

800

 

Nervous , respiratory and; alimentary systems; kidney

R

Dichloroethylene (1,1)       (75-35-4)

C

70

 

Alimentary system (liver)

GP

Diesel Exhaust

C

5[4,5]

 

Respiratory system

R

Diethanolamine  (111-42-2)

C

3

 

Respiratory and cardiovascular systems

R

Dimethylformamide (N,N-)   (68-12-2)

C

80

 

Alimentary and respiratory systems

H

Dioxane (1,4-) (123-91-1)

A

3,000

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

3,000

 

Alimentary system; kidney; cardiovascular system

R

Epichlorohydrin
(106-89-8)

A

1,300

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

3

 

Respiratory system; eyes

R

Epoxybutane (1,2-)
(106-88-7)

C

20

 

Respiratory system; cardiovascular system

M

Ethylbenzene(100-41-4)

C

2,000

 

Alimentary system (liver); kidney; endocrine system

M, R

Ethyl chloride (75-00-3)

C

30,000

 

Development; alimentary system

M

Ethylene dibromide
(106-93-4)

C

0.8

 

Reproductive system

H

Ethylene dichloride
(107-06-2)

C

400

 

Alimentary system (liver)

R

Ethylene glycol (107-21-1)

C

400

 

Respiratory system; kidney; development

H

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (111-76-2)

A

14,000

 

Respiratory system

H

Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (110-80-5)

A

370

 

Reproductive/ Developmental

R

C

70

 

Reproductive system; hematopoietic system

Rb

Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate (111-15-9)

A

140

 

Reproductive/ Developmental; nervous system

R

C

300

 

Development

Rb

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether
(109-86-4)

A

93

 

Reproductive/ Developmental

R

C

60

 

Reproductive system

Rb

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (110-49-6)

C

90

 

Reproductive system

Rb

Ethylene oxide (75-21-8)

C

30

 

Nervous system

R

Fluorides (except Hydrogen Fluoride - listed below separately)

C

13[4]

40

Bone and teeth; respiratory system

H

Formaldehyde (50-00-0)

A

55[5]

 

Sensory irritation; eyes

H

8

9[5]

 

Respiratory system

H

C

9[5]

 

Respiratory system

H

Glutaraldehyde (111-30-8)

C

0.08[4]

 

Respiratory system

M

Hexane (n-)(110-54-3)

C

7000

 

Nervous system

H

Hydrazine  (302-01-2)

C

0.2

 

Alimentary system; endocrine system

Ha

Hydrogen chloride
(7647-01-0)

A

2,100

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

9

 

Respiratory system

H

Hydrogen cyanide (74-90-8)

A

340

 

Nervous system

H

C

9

 

Nervous system; endocrine system; cardiovascular system

H

Hydrogen fluoride
(7664-39-3)

A

240

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

14[4]

40

Bone and teeth; respiratory system (See “fluorides” summary)

H

Hydrogen selenide
(7783-07-5)

A

5

 

Respiratory system; eyes

GP

Hydrogen sulfide
(7783-06-4)

A

42

 

Respiratory system

H

C

10

 

Respiratory system

M

Isophorone (78-59-1)

C

2,000

 

Development; liver

R, M

Isopropanol (67-63-0)

A

3,200

 

Eyes; respiratory system

H

C

7,000

 

Kidney; development

R, M

Maleic anhydride
(108-31-6)

C

0.7[4]

 

Respiratory system

R,Ha, Mk

Manganese (7439-96-5) & manganese compounds

8

0.17[4,5]

 

Nervous system

H

C

0.09[4,5]

 

Nervous system

H

Mercury (7439-97-6) & inorganic mercury compounds

A

0.6[5]

 

Nervous system

R

8

0.06[5]

 

Nervous system

H

C

0.03[5]

0.16[5]

Nervous system

H

Methanol (67-56-1)

A

28,000

  Nervous system

H

C

4,000[4]

 

Development

M

Methyl bromide (74-83-9)

A

3900

 

Nervous system

H

C

5

 

Respiratory system; nervous system; development

R

Methyl chloroform
(71-55-6)

A

68,000

 

Nervous system

H

C

1000

 

Nervous system

Gb

Methylene chloride
(75-09-2)

A

14,000

 

Nervous system

H

C

400

 

Cardiovascular system; nervous system

H

Methylene dianiline (4,4’-) (101-77-9)

C

20

 

Eyes; alimentary system (liver)

GP

Methylene diphenyl isocyanate (101-68-8)

C

0.7[4]

 

Respiratory system

R

Methyl ethyl ketone
(78-93-3)

A

13,000

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

Methyl isocyanate
(624-83-9)

C

1

 

Respiratory system; reproductive system

R

Methyl t-butyl ether
(1634-04-4)

C

8,000

 

Kidney; eyes; alimentary system (liver)

R

Naphthalene (91-20-3)

C

9

  Respiratory system

H

Nickel & compounds (except nickel oxide for chronic inhalation exposures) (Inhalation concentrations as µg Ni/m3: oral dose as µg Ni/kg-day)

A

0.2[5]

 

Immune system

M

8

0.06[5]

  Respiratory, immune systems

R

C

0.014[5]

11[5]

Inhalation: Respiratory system; hematopoietic system
Oral: Development

R

Nickel oxide (1313-99-1) (Inhalation concentration as µg Ni/m3: oral dose as µg Ni/kg-day)

C

0.02[5]

11[5]

Inhalation: Respiratory system
Oral: Development

M

R

Nitric acid  (7697-37-2)

A

86

 

Respiratory system

H

Nitrogen dioxide
(10102-44-0)

A

470

 

Respiratory system

H

Ozone (10028-15-6)

A

180

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

Perchloroethylene
(127-18-4)
(syn. Tetrachloroethylene)[3]

A

20,000

 

CNS; respiratory system; eyes

H

C

35

 

Kidney; alimentary system (liver)

M

Phenol  (108-95-2)

A

5,800

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

C

200

 

Alimentary system; cardiovascular system; kidney; nervous system

R

Phosgene (75-44-5)

A

4

 

Respiratory system

R

Phosphine (7803-51-2)

C

0.8

 

Respiratory system; alimentary system; nervous system; kidney; hematopoietic system

M

Phosphoric acid (7664-38-2)

C

7[4]

 

Respiratory system

R

Phthalic anhydride
(85-44-9)

C

20

 

Respiratory system

H

Propylene(115-07-1)

C

3,000

 

Respiratory system

R

Propylene glycol mono-methyl ether (107-98-2)

C

7,000

 

Alimentary system (liver)

R

Propylene oxide (75-56-9)

A

3,100

 

Respiratory system; eyes; reproductive/development

H

C

30

 

Respiratory system

R

Selenium and selenium compounds (other than hydrogen selenide)

C

20

5

Alimentary system; cardiovascular system; nervous system

H

Silica (crystalline, respirable)

C

3[4]

 

Respiratory system

H

Sodium hydroxide
(1310-93-2)

A

8

 

Respiratory system; eyes; skin

H

Styrene (100-42-5)

A

21,000

 

Respiratory system; eyes; reproductive/development

H

C

900[4]

 

Nervous system

H

Sulfates

A

120

 

Respiratory system

H

Sulfur dioxide (7446-09-5)

A

660

 

Respiratory system

H

Sulfuric acid (7664-93-9) [& oleum, acute only]

A

120

 

Respiratory system

H

C

1

 

Respiratory system

Mk

Toluene (108-88-3)

A

37,000

 

Respiratory, nervous systems

H

C

300

 

Nervous system; respiratory system; development

R

Toluene diisocyanates (2,4- & 2,6-)

C

0.07

 

Respiratory system

H

Trichloroethylene (79-01-6)

C

600

 

Nervous system; eyes

H

Triethylamine  (121-44-8)

A

2,800

 

Nervous system; eyes

H

C

200

 

Eyes

R

Vanadium pentoxide
(1314-62-1)

A

30

 

Respiratory system; eyes

H

Vinyl acetate(108-05-4)

C

200

 

Respiratory system

R, M

Vinyl chloride(75-01-4)

A

180,000

 

CNS; respiratory system; eyes

H

Xylenes (1330-20-7): technical mixture of o-xylene (95-47-6), m-xylene (108-38-3) and p-xylene (106-42-3).

A

22000

 

Nervous & respiratory systems; eyes

H

C

700

 

Nervous & respiratory systems; eyes

H

 

 
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