"This report is intended to serve as a chemical odor threshold reference for use by industrial hygienists and other health or safety professionals ..."--P 1

This review provides important reference information for chemicals with occupational exposure values, focusing on the anatomy and physiology of odor, odor perception, odor character, and a literature review of odor threshold methodology. Tables present information on the detection and recognition of odor thresholds, the experimental odor threshold determinations reported by each investigator and different ways to locate specific chemical information.

At the request of the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Research Council has reviewed the relevant scientific literature compiled by an expert panel and established Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for several chemicals. AEGLs represent exposure levels below which adverse health effects are not likely to occur and are useful in responding to emergencies, such as accidental or intentional chemical releases in community, workplace, transportation, and military settings, and for the remediation of contaminated sites. Three AEGLs are approved for each chemical, representing exposure levels that result in: 1) notable but reversible discomfort; 2) long-lasting health effects; and 3) life-threatening health impacts. Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Chemicals: Volume 13 includes AEGLs for boron trifluoride, bromoacetone, chloroacetone, hexafluoroacetone, perchloryl fluoride, piperidine, propargyl alcohol, trimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane, and trimethylbenzenes.