NIOSH Publication No. 2005-151:

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

September 2005

Cotton dust (raw)

CAS
GN2275000


RTECS
Synonyms & Trade Names

Raw cotton dust
DOT ID & Guide
1365 / 133 (cotton)

Exposure
Limits

NIOSH REL: TWA <0.200 mg/m3 See Appendix C
OSHA PEL: [Z-1-A & 1910.1043] TWA 1 mg/m3 (waste processing during waste recycling [sorting, blending, cleaning & willowing] & garnetting) TWA 0.200 mg/m3 (textile yarn manufacturing) TWA 0.750 mg/m3 (textile slashing & weaving) TWA 0.500 mg/m3 (all other operations) See Appendix C
IDLH
100 mg/m3 See: cotdust
Conversion
Physical Description
Colorless, odorless solid.
MW: ?
BP: Decomposes
MLT: Decomposes
Sol: Insoluble
VP: 0 mmHg (approx)
IP: NA

Sp.Gr: ?
Fl.P: NA
UEL: NA
LEL: NA

Combustible Solid
Incompatibilities & Reactivities

Strong oxidizers
Measurement Methods
OSHA [1910.1043]
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Personal Protection & Sanitation
(See protection)
Skin: No recommendation
Eyes: No recommendation
Wash skin: No recommendation
Remove: No recommendation
Change: No recommendation

First Aid
(See procedures)


Breathing: Fresh air

Respirator Recommendations
(See Appendix E) NIOSH
Up to 1 mg/m3:
(APF = 5) Any quarter-mask respirator. Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.
Up to 2 mg/m3:
(APF = 10) Any particulate respirator equipped with an N95, R95, or P95 filter (including N95, R95, and P95 filtering facepieces) except quarter-mask respirators. The following filters may also be used: N99, R99, P99, N100, R100, P100. Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.
(APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator
Up to 5 mg/m3:
(APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode
(APF = 25) Any powered air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter.
Up to 10 mg/m3:
(APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with an N100, R100, or P100 filter. Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters.
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting facepiece and is operated in a continuous-flow mode
(APF = 50) Any powered, air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece and a high-efficiency particulate filter
(APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece
Up to 100 mg/m3:
(APF = 1000) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode
Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions:
(APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode
(APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus
Escape:
(APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with an N100, R100, or P100 filter. Click here for information on selection of N, R, or P filters./Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus
Important additional information about respirator selection
Exposure Routes
inhalation
Symptoms
Byssinosis: chest tightness, cough, wheezing, dyspnea (breathing difficulty); decreased forced expiratory volume; bronchitis; malaise (vague feeling of discomfort); fever, chills, upper respiratory symptoms after initial exposure
Target Organs
cardiovascular system, respiratory system
See also: INTRODUCTION   See MEDICAL TESTS: 0058