Biphenyl
Agent Name
Biphenyl
Alternative Name
Diphenyl
CAS Number
92-52-4
Formula
C12-H10
Major Category
Other Classes
Synonyms
Phenylbenzene, 1,1'-Biphenyl; Diphenyl; [CHEMINFO]
Category
Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Description
Colorless to pale-yellow solid with a pleasant, characteristic odor; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used as a heat transfer fluid, intermediate for organic chemicals, and fungicide; [ACGIH] Also used as a dye carrier and a mold retardant in food; Low levels present in creosote and coal tar; [CHEMINFO]
Comments
After one worker died, studies in a Finnish paper mill showed air levels of 4.4 to 128 mg/m3 in 1959 and 0.6 to 123 mg/m3 in 1970. Nine case of poisoning were investigated and summarized as "central and peripheral nerve damage and liver injury." [ACGIH] Causes convulsions and paralysis in high-dose animal studies; [CAMEO]
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
TLV (ACGIH)
0.2 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
0.2 ppm
IDLH (NIOSH)
15.86 ppm
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
Human data: It has been reported that one fatal case of liver necrosis with some areas of cirrhosis occurred in a worker who had been regularly exposed to vapor concentrations of approximately 100 mg/m3 [Hakkinen et al. 1973]. Other workers with repeated exposure to concentrations greater than 5 mg/m3 had gastrointestinal symptoms as well as polyneuritic complaints, with abnormalities of both the electroencephalogram and electromyogram [Hakkinen et al. 1973]. Some workers showed hepatic damage detected by liver function tests and biopsy [Hakkinen et al. 1973]. Workers exposed to concentrations ranging from 4.4 to 128 mg/m3 complained of the strong odor and irritation of the throat and eyes [Hakkinen et al. 1973].
Vapor Pressure
0.00893 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
0.01 ppm
Odor Threshold High
0.05 ppm
Explanatory Notes
Odor threshold from CHEMINFO; Flash point = 235 deg F; [CHEMINFO] IDLH = 100 mg/m3 (15.86 ppm); VP from HSDB;
NFPA
must be preheated
Adverse Effects
Neurotoxin
Other CNS neurotoxin
Hepatotoxin
Occupational hepatotoxin (principal effect)
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: