Ask X3What does 49 CFR 173.132 (Class 6, Division 6.1—Definitions) require?
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As a motor-carrier owner, according to 49 CFR 173.132, a poisonous material (Division 6.1) is defined as a non-gas material known to be toxic enough to humans to pose a health hazard during transport.
If human toxicity data is not available, the regulation requires the material to be presumed toxic if it meets specific laboratory animal testing thresholds (using chemical literature or animal tests when possible):
* Oral Toxicity: A liquid or solid with an acute oral $\text{LD}_{50}$ of not more than 300 mg/kg (tested on young adult albino rats).
* Dermal Toxicity: A material with an acute dermal $\text{LD}_{50}$ of not more than 1000 mg/kg (tested via continuous contact with albino rabbits for 24 hours).
* Inhalation Toxicity:
* A dust or mist with an acute inhalation $\text{LC}_{50}$ of not more than 4 mg/L.
* A vapor with an acute inhalation $\text{LC}_{50}$ of not more than 5,000 mL/m³ (parts per million), provided its saturated vapor concentration in air at 20 °C (68 °F) is greater than or equal to one-fifth of that $\text{LC}_{50}$.
* Irritating Materials: Materials with properties similar to tear gas that cause extreme irritation, especially in confined spaces.
Additionally, 49 CFR 173.132 outlines specific methods for testing mixtures, converting 4-hour inhalation data to 1-hour equivalents, and notes that these categories do not apply if the Associate Administrator determines the material will not cause serious sickness or death based on its physical characteristics or documented experience.