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Dust entry

Carbon black dust

Airborne carbon black particulate generated during manufacture, handling, and use of carbon black products.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

cougheye irritationrespiratory irritationpotential occupational cancer risk when PAHs are presentlymphatic cancer concern when PAHs are present

Evidence

NIOSH identifies cough and eye irritation as symptoms of carbon black exposure, and qualifies potential occupational carcinogenicity and lymphatic cancer site to situations where polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are present.

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Exposure Routes; Symptoms; Target Organs; Cancer Site · 1
Exposure Routes inhalation, skin and/or eye contact. Symptoms Cough; irritation eyes; in presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: [potential occupational carcinogen]. Target Organs respiratory system, eyes. Cancer Site [lymphatic cancer (in presence of PAHs)].
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Title · 1
Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Carbon Black

The NIOSH Pocket Guide lists a REL of 3.5 mg/m³ and a separate 0.1 mg PAHs/m³ limit when carbon black is present with PAHs; the OSHA PEL is 3.5 mg/m³.

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NIOSH REL; OSHA PEL · 1
NIOSH REL TWA 3.5 mg/m³ Ca TWA 0.1 mg PAHs/m³ [Carbon black in presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)]. OSHA PEL TWA 3.5 mg/m³

The Government of Canada assessment associates inhaled carbon black with pulmonary effects and reports respiratory symptoms and lung-function changes in exposed workers at mean inhalable dust concentrations as low as 0.57 mg/m³.

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Health Effects Assessment · 2
Inhalation exposure to carbon black is clearly associated with pulmonary effects ... workers with mean exposure to inhalable dust concentrations of carbon black of as little as 0.57 mg/m³.

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