Biological effects of short, high-level exposure to gases: nitrogen oxides. Phase report, May 1979-May 1980

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5818486

Morton, J D

This report presents an analysis of the available literature describing the health and performance effects of exposure to nitrogen oxides (NOx). The US Army's concern is with high-level, short-term exposures that may exceed present threshold limit values of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists: 5 ppm (9 mg/cum) as a TWA; intended changes are a TWA of 3 ppm (5.4 mg/cum) with a short term exposure limit of 5 ppm (9 mg/cum) for 15 minutes. Dose-response relationships were developed for intensities of exposure from the highest (fatal) level to thresholds of minimal response. It is concluded that NOx can in general be equated to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) because this is much more toxic than the only other oxide of importance, nitric oxide (NO), which oxidizes to NO2 in air. If NO is present in equal or greater concentration, an allowance for its effect is recommended. NO2 exhibits mainly two sets of toxicological characteristics: immediate irritancy and delayed reactions.

• Research Organization: Enviro Control, Inc., Rockville, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5818486
• Report Number(s): AD-A-094502
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
NITROGEN OXIDES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
ACUTE EXPOSURE
DAMAGE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GASES
LUNGS
MAN
RESPIRATION
TOXIC MATERIALS
ANIMALS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
FLUIDS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
VERTEBRATES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)