Setting Occupational Exposure Limits for Irritant Organic Acids and Bases Based on Their Equilibrium Dissociation Constants

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Abstract
The most common adverse effect of exposure to chemicals in the workplace is irritation. Although there is a great diversity among irritants, a large number of them are organic acids and bases. This study showed that there is an association between the equilibrium proton dissociation constant and the occupational exposure limits (OELs) of organic acids and bases that produce irritation as the primary adverse effect. On the basis of this relationship, preliminary occupational exposure limits for other similar compounds with no existing Threshold Limit Values or workplace Environmental Exposure Limits can be estimated.