Chemical Sampling Information
	Nitrous oxide
Quick Links S&H Topics: Waste Anesthetic Gases General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Dinitrogen monoxide; Hyponitrous acid anhydride; Laughing gas; Nitrogen oxide OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1953 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 10024-97-2 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: QX1350000 Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1070 122 [27 KB, PDF]; 2201 122 [27 KB, PDF] (refrigerated liquid) NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Nitrous oxide: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more Exposure Limits OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- Simple asphyxiants. The limiting factor is the available oxygen which shall be at least 19.5% and be within the requirements addressing explosion in part 1926. OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- Simple asphyxiants. The limiting factor is the available oxygen which shall be at least 18 percent and be within the requirements addressing explosion in subpart B of part 1915. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 50 ppm, 90 mg/m3 TWA; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 25 ppm, 46 mg/m3 TWA over the time exposed. [Note: REL for exposure to waste anesthetic gas.] Health Factors International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Anaesthetics, volatile – Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans [1 MB, PDF] Potential symptoms: Dyspnea; euphoria, drowsiness; headache; asphyxia; reproductive effects; frostbite (from contact with liquid), lowering of consciousness. Health Effects: Reproductive Hazard (Male and Female) (HE5); CNS effects (HE7); Asphyxiant (HE17); Bone marrow depression (HE12). Affected organs: Respiratory system, CNS, peripheral nervous system, reproductive system Notes: OSHA does not have a PEL for nitrous oxide. [See also Waste Anesthetic Gases.] Occupational exposure to nitrous oxide is primarily via its use in anesthesia and analgesia by health care personnel. Nitrous oxide is a drug of abuse by inhalation and has caused a number of deaths from asphyxia. Long-term exposure to nitrous oxide can result in some symptoms of pernicious anemia: megaloblastic bone-marrow depression or peripheral and central neuropathy (tingling, numbness, impairment of equilibrium, difficulty in thinking clearly). These symptoms result from the inhibition of methionine synthase by the nitrous oxide-induced inactivation of the reduced form of vitamin B12. Date Last Revised: 05/30/2007 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Nitrous oxide. International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Nitrous oxide. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Nitrous Oxide. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1748-1749. Rowland, A.S., Baird, D.D., Shore, D.L., Weinberg, C.R., Savitz, D.A. and Wilcox, A.J.: Nitrous oxide and spontaneous abortion in female dental assistants. Am. J. Epidemiol. 141(6): 531-538, 1995. Suruda, A.J. and McGlothlin, J.D.: Fatal abuse of nitrous oxide in the workplace. J. Occup. Med. 32(8): 682-684, 1990. Weimann, J.: Toxicity of nitrous oxide. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Anaesthesiol. 17(1): 47-61, 2003. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Methods: sampling media: VAPOR-TRAK Nitrous Oxide Monitor maximum time: 16 Hours   minimum time: 15 Minutes current analytical method: Infrared; IL33 method reference: Follow Manufacturer's Instruction Sheet. SLTC has not evaluated this product. method classification: Not Validated note: Analysis performed by manufacturer of badge. Badges are sent to the OSHA Technical Center. SLTC has not evaluated this product. CSHO's should consult OSHA instruction CPL 2-2.60 prior to taking any samples where exposure to bloodborne pathogens could occur. sampling media: Five Layer Aluminized Gas Sampling Bag (5 liter) maximum volume: 5 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min current analytical method: Infrared; IL52 method reference: OSHA In-House File method classification: Not Validated Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL) Method: sampling media: Evacuated Cans - Back Filled with Nitrogen (Hold button down for a full 10 seconds) maximum volume: 120 mLiters current analytical method: Mass Spectrometry; GC/MS method reference: WOHL In-House File method classification: Not Validated note: Call Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL) for instructions and evacuated cans. All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.