© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Product Name: Tetraethyllead
Chemical Formula: Pb(C2H5)4
CAS Number: 78-00-2
Synonyms: Lead tetraethyl, TEL, 4-ethylplumbane
Manufacturer: Standard chemical suppliers; always check label for source.
Recommended Use: Additive for gasoline to improve octane rating; legacy use in aviation fuel.
Emergency Phone: Refer to local regulatory resources or supplied labels.
Classification: Dangerous; acute toxic by inhalation, oral, and dermal routes; environmental hazard.
Label Elements: Toxic, hazardous to aquatic life, flammable liquid.
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Harmful if swallowed; may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure; toxic to aquatic organisms.
Main Routes of Entry: Skin contact, ingestion, inhalation.
Possible Effects: Headache, dizziness, confusion, abdominal pain, convulsions, nausea, CNS depression, risk of fatality with severe exposure.
Pictograms: Skull and Crossbones, Health Hazard, Environment.
Chemical Name: Tetraethyllead
CAS Number: 78-00-2
Content: 98–100% by weight
Other Components: May contain traces of ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride (present as scavengers in formulated fuels).
Molecular Weight: 323 g/mol.
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air immediately, keep warm; oxygen may be given if breathing is difficult; seek medical attention.
Skin Contact: Immediately wash affected area with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing and shoes; consult doctor.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, lift eyelids occasionally; seek urgent medical evaluation.
Ingestion: Seek medical attention right away; induce vomiting only if instructed by poison control or doctor.
Symptoms: Nausea, headache, tissue irritation, neurological symptoms, vomiting.
Other Notes: Medical professionals may use Dimercaprol as a chelating agent in severe poisoning.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, foam; use water spray only to cool surrounding containers.
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Direct water stream (spreads material).
Hazards from Combustion: Forms toxic fumes including lead oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethyl and lead-containing vapors.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full protective gear and positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area; keep unauthorized personnel away; approach only upwind or from safe distance.
Personal Protection: Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves, safety goggles, positive-pressure respirator.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spill from entering drains, waterways, soil.
Methods for Clean-up: Absorb spill with inert material (vermiculite, sand), scoop into tight container for disposal; ventilate area; wash contaminated surfaces with detergent solution.
Decontamination: Decontaminate tools and area thoroughly, avoid runoff into sewer.
Handling: Use only in well-ventilated chemical fume hoods or suitable local exhaust ventilation systems; avoid all skin or eye contact; protect against fires and static discharge.
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly sealed containers, protected from light, in cool, well-ventilated, secure storage designed for flammable chemicals; store away from oxidizing agents, acids, and incompatible substances.
Packing Materials: Use lead, glass, steel, or other chemically resistant materials for containers.
Other Recommendations: Clearly label storage area and restrict access.
Occupational Exposure Limits: US OSHA PEL: 0.075 mg/m³ (as lead), ACGIH TLV: 0.01 mg/m³ (as lead).
Personal Protection: Full chemical-resistant suit, gloves, safety goggles, proper respiratory protection (supplied-air respirator or equivalent for high-risk settings).
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands before eating, drinking, or smoking; avoid bringing contaminated clothing home.
Engineering Controls: Closed systems, local exhaust, and non-sparking equipment strongly advised in workplace environments.
Appearance: Clear, colorless to pale yellow oily liquid.
Odor: Slightly sweet, disagreeable.
Melting Point: −136 °C
Boiling Point: 200 °C
Vapor Pressure: 1.9 mm Hg at 25 °C
Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in organic solvents (benzene, ethanol, ether).
Density: 1.653 g/cm³
Flash Point: 40 °C (closed cup)
Auto-Ignition Temperature: 224 °C
Explosive Limits: Lower 0.8%, upper 6.0% (estimated).
Chemical Stability: Stable in sealed containers; sensitive to light, air, and heat.
Hazardous Reactions: May react violently with oxidizers (e.g. nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide), acids, halogens.
Decomposition Products: Ethyl radicals, lead oxide fumes, carbon monoxide, other toxic gases.
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizing agents, acids, halogens, ammonia.
Polymerization: Does not undergo hazardous polymerization.
Acute Toxicity: Highly toxic; median lethal dose (oral-rat) ~10 mg/kg, inhalation-rat (LC50): 0.05 mg/L/4h.
Chronic Toxicity: Long-term exposure damages the nervous system, kidneys, liver, and reproductive health; lead accumulates in bone, causing persistent toxicity.
Carcinogenicity: Classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2A).
Symptoms of Exposure: Irritation to eyes, nose, throat; muscle weakness, fatigue, tremors, neuropsychiatric effects, gastrointestinal distress; severe poisonings can result in convulsions and death.
Medical Data: Blood lead levels over reference value indicate exposure; chelation therapy under strict medical supervision.
Ecotoxicity: Extreme hazard to aquatic organisms; persistent in environment; readily accumulates in plants and animals.
Mobility: Adsorbs to soil particles; risk of runoff to waterways; bioaccumulation in fish and wildlife is severe.
Persistence and Degradability: Breaks down slowly; lead persists in soil and water for decades.
Bioaccumulative Potential: High; enters food chain, magnifies in predators.
Other Environmental Effects: Contributes to long-term soil and water contamination, especially near roads, fuel storage, airports.
Disposal Method: Return unused or unwanted material to licensed hazardous waste treatment processor.
Incineration: Prohibited without proper toxic metal emission controls.
Contaminated Packaging: Handle as hazardous waste.
Special Instructions: Follow federal, national, and local hazardous waste regulations; never empty into drains or environment.
UN Number: UN 1649
Proper Shipping Name: Tetraethyllead
Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic Substances)
Packing Group: I
Labels: Poison (Skull & Crossbones), Environmentally Hazardous
Marine Pollutant: Yes
Special Transport Requirements: Secure in upright position, segregate from acids/oxidizers, emergency response procedures in place.
Regulation: Listed as a hazardous air pollutant under US Clean Air Act; subject to strict handling and reporting regulations under OSHA, EPA, European REACH, and numerous international agreements.
Restrictions: Banned or severely restricted in most countries for use as motor fuel additive; small-scale use persists in aviation fuel.
Exposure Reporting: Mandatory health monitoring, exposure reporting, detailed record-keeping (industrial use).
Import/Export: Subject to international controls such as Rotterdam Convention.
Environmental Release: Reportable under US CERCLA (Superfund) and similar laws elsewhere.
