DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
From: "Ferm, Barret" <000003e16e810599-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Fwd: [DCHAS-L] Formic acid
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2017 13:54:26 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: CAHoE6joNPXo0_RkuxmCaky3xEEqHjskRe-EKBssGCMDEOwOoFw**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com
In-Reply-To
Is it just me, or is the following entry in the Wikipedia entry on formic acid misleading, or even deceptive?
"Safety
Formic acid has low toxicity [emphsis added] (hence its use as a food additive), with an LD50 of 1.8 g/kg (oral, mice). The concentrated acid is corrosive to the skin.[6]"
Farther below in the same section, however, it says the OSHA PEL is 30 ppm. Elsewhere it gives the NFPA hazard codes: H=3, F=2, R=1.
How can they say it is "low toxicity"?
~Barry Ferm
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator
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