To determine the disposal options for a waste, The Washington State
Dangerous Waste Regulations requires a generator to determine the toxic
category for each constituent in the waste. One category for toxicity
criteria they list is inhalation rat with this definition:
"Inhalation LC50 means a concentration in milligrams of substance per liter
of air, which, when administered to the respiratory tract for four hours or
less, kills within fourteen days half of a group of ten rats each weighing
between 200 an 300 grams."
I have yet to see an entry in the NIOSH RTECS for inhalation rat LC50 in any
units other than mg/m3/x-Hr. Can mg/m3 be converted to mg/L without
compromising any toxicological value? Chemistry wise, 1 mg/m3 = 1000 mg/L.
Would this be apples and oranges in the toxicology world? Any help is be
greatly appreciated. Thanks
Sherry Laughlin
Health & Environmental Investigator
King County Department of Natural Resources
Hazardous Waste Management Program
130 Nickerson Street, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone (206) 689-3072 Fax (206) 689-3070
sherry.laughlin at metrokc.gov
