Ammonia is a good example of a chemical with a “useful” odor
threshold. Some individuals can detect ammonia at 5 ppm which is below the average of 17
ppm. It is also 10 times lower than its OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Since the
odor threshold can warn you well before the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) and PEL are
reached, ammonia is said to have adequate warning properties.
Another reference indicates that Methyl Formate has an odor threshold of 2,000 ppm, which
is 20 times higher than its PEL of 100 ppm. Thus, it is dangerous to rely on methyl
formate's odor as a warning property.
| Material |
Odor Threshold (ppm) |
PEL (ppm) |
| Acetone |
62 |
1000 |
| Ammonia |
5 |
50 |
| Hydrazine |
3.7 |
1 |
| 1,1,2 -
Tricholoroethelyene |
82 |
100 |
| Methyl Formate |
2000 |
100 |
| Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) |
0.3 |
10 (ceiling limit) |
|
