What is the estimated TLV® for a mixture of cyclohexane and ethyl benzene in a room?

The correct answer, 16.67 ppm, is derived from the additive nature of Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) when dealing with mixtures of chemicals. TLV is a guideline intended to indicate the maximum concentration of a substance that a worker can be exposed to without adverse health effects.

When assessing mixtures containing two or more hazardous substances, the toxicity of the combined exposure can be evaluated using a specific formula, typically related to each component’s individual TLV. In the case of cyclohexane and ethyl benzene, it is important to first know their individual TLVs. By assessing both substances together, you would take the TLV for cyclohexane and the TLV for ethyl benzene, and apply the formula to find the combined TLV, which results in the realization that the blend leads to a TLV of approximately 16.67 ppm.

This method acknowledges that the health risk reflects the cumulative exposure to multiple agents, making it essential to adhere to this value to ensure safety in environments where these chemicals are present.