Tetraethyl lead

Synonyms

Lead tetraethy;, TEL; Tetraethylplumbane; [NIOSH]

Category

Metals, Organic Compounds

Description

Colorless liquid (unless dyed red, orange, or blue) with a pleasant, sweet odor. [Note: Main usage is in anti-knock additives for gasoline.] [NIOSH] Flammable, but not pyrophoric and does not react with water; [Sullivan, p. 979]

Sources/Uses

Tetraethyl and tetramethyl lead (CAS # 78-00-2 & 75-74-1), also called alkyl lead, are used as anti-knock agents in gasoline. [ATSDR Case Studies # 1]

Comments

The presenting symptoms of acute alkyl lead intoxication are neurologic: anorexia, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, headache, depression, and irritability. [ATSDR Case Studies # 1] Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. Overexposure may cause disturbed vision, tremors, seizures, and brain damage. Monitor workers with urinary lead measurements. [ACGIH] CNS effects are seen within hours to days (usually 1-5 days or as long as 14 days after exposure; [HSDB] "Lead compounds, organic" are not classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans. [IARC] See "ORGANOMETALS." See "Lead" and linked occupational diseases.

Organic lead was added to gasoline in the US until January 1996. [ATSDR Case Studies, Lead Toxicity]

Biomedical References

Yes

Yes

0.1 mg/m3, as Pb

0.075 mg/m3, as Pb

0.004 mg/m3, as Pb

40 mg/m3, as Pb

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Human data: It has been stated that 100 mg Pb/m3 for 1 hour may produce illness [Fleming 1963].

0.26 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 850 mg/m3/1H

Explanatory Notes

VP from HSDB;

high ambient temp required

Hemolytic anemia

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Yes

Not classifiable

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, acute toxic
• Lead, subacute toxic effect