Air Contaminants - Exposure Limits

Exposure limits for various air contaminants. Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) are 8-hour time weighted averages per OSHA standards.

PollutantPermissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
Acetaldehyde200 ppm
Acetic Acid10 ppm
Acetone1000 ppm
Ammonia50 ppm
Asbestos0.1 fiber/cubic centimeter
Benzene1 ppm
Bromine0.1 ppm
Cadmium5 μg/m³
Carbon dioxide5000 ppm
Carbon disulfide200 ppm
Carbon monoxide50 ppm
Carbon tetrachloride10 ppm
Chlorine1 ppm
Chloroform50 ppm
Cresol5 ppm
Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol)1000 ppm
Ethyl chloride1000 ppm
Fluorine0.1 ppm
Formaldehyde0.75 ppm
Gasoline300 ppm
Hydrogen cyanide10 ppm
Iodine0.1 ppm
Iron oxide (fume)10 mg/m³
Isopropyl alcohol400 ppm
Lead50 μg/m³
Manganese compounds5 mg/m³
Mercury1 mg/10 m³
Methanol (Methyl alcohol)200 ppm
Nitric oxide25 ppm
Nitrogen dioxide5 ppm
Ozone0.05 ppm
Particles50 μg/m³ (1 year)
Propane1000 ppm
Selenium compounds0.2 mg/m³
Sulfur dioxide5 ppm
Sulfur acid1 mg/m³
Tellurium compounds0.1 mg/m³
Tetraethyl lead0.075 mg/m³
Toluene200 ppm
Turpentine100 ppm
Vinyl chloride1 ppm
Zinc oxide, fume5 mg/m³
Zinc oxide, dust15 mg/m³

Notes

  • PEL: Permissible Exposure Limit - 8-hour time weighted averages per OSHA standards
  • Human carcinogens (confirmed): Asbestos, Benzene, Vinyl chloride
  • Human carcinogens (suspected): Cadmium, Carbon tetrachloride, Formaldehyde
  • Acceptable ceiling concentrations: Chlorine, Chloroform, Iodine, Mercury, Nitrogen dioxide
  • Simple asphyxiant: Propane
  • ppm: Parts per million
  • μg/m³: Micrograms per cubic meter
  • mg/m³: Milligrams per cubic meter