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

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 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

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