1-Butanethiol

Synonyms

1-Mercaptobutane; Bear skunk; Butanethiol; Butyl mercaptan; Butylthiol; Normal butyl thioalcohol; Thiobutyl alcohol; n-Butanethiol; n-Butyl mercaptan; n-Butyl thioalcohol; n-Butylmercaptan; [ChemIDplus] UN2347

Category

Thiols

Description

Colorless liquid with a strong, garlic-, cabbage-, or skunk-like odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as a solvent, an odorant for natural gas, and an intermediate for insecticides and herbicides; [ACGIH]

Comments

In four hour inhalation studies, rats and mice show central nervous system depression. Oral and intraperitoneal doses at near lethal levels injure the liver and kidneys. Workers exposed in an accident to 50-500 ppm for one hour experienced weakness, sweating, headache, and vomiting. One of these workers lost consciousness for 20 minutes. [ACGIH] See "THIOLS."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

0.5 ppm

10 ppm

0.5 ppm

500 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Human data: Accidental exposure for 1 hour to an estimated concentration of 50 to 500 ppm has been reported to cause muscular weakness, malaise, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, and confusion [Gobbato and Terribile 1968].

45.5 mm Hg

0.00073 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.001 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 4,020 ppm/4H

Explanatory Notes

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.001 ppm); Flash point = 2 deg C; Vp from HSDB;

may ignite at ambient temp

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

Yes

Other Poison

Chemical Asphyxiant

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Asphyxiation, chemical