# NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Cotton dust (raw) | CAS
| RTECS GN2275000
Synonyms & Trade Names Raw cotton dust | DOT ID & Guide
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 | 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]
Personal Protection & Sanitation 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 NIOSH Up to 1 mg/m3: (APF = 5) Any dust respirator Up to 2 mg/m3: (APF = 10) Any dust respirator except single-use and quarter-mask respirators/(APF = 10) Any air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter/(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 dust filter Up to 10 mg/m3: (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter/(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 a high-efficiency particulate filter/Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus
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