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IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE OR HEALTH (IDLH) VALUE PROFILE

BROMINE TRIFLUORIDE

[CAS® NO. 7787-71-5]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
ii IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

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Suggested Citation

NIOSH [2020]. Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) value profile: bromine trifluoride, CAS® No. 7787-71-5. By Niemeier RT. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2020-123.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2020123

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2020-123

July 2020
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride iii

Foreword

Chemicals are a ubiquitous component of the modern workplace. Occupational exposures 

to chemicals have the potential to adversely affect the health and lives of workers. Acute or 

short-term exposures to high concentrations of some airborne chemicals can quickly overwhelm workers, resulting in a spectrum of undesirable health outcomes that may inhibit the 

ability to escape from the exposure environment (e.g., irritation of the eyes and respiratory 

tract or cognitive impairment), cause severe irreversible effects (e.g., damage to the respiratory tract or reproductive toxicity), and in extreme cases, cause death. Airborne concentrations of chemicals capable of causing such adverse health effects or of impeding escape from 

high-risk conditions may arise from a variety of non-routine workplace situations, including 

special work procedures (e.g., in confined spaces), industrial accidents (e.g., chemical spills or 

explosions), and chemical releases into the community (e.g., during transportation incidents 

or other uncontrolled-release scenarios). 

The immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) air concentration values developed by 

the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) characterize these highrisk exposure concentrations and conditions [NIOSH 2013]. IDLH values are based on a 

30-minute exposure duration and have traditionally served as a key component of the decision logic for the selection of respiratory protection devices [NIOSH 2004]. 

Occupational health professionals have employed these values beyond their initial purpose 

as a component of the NIOSH Respirator Selection Logic to assist in developing risk management plans for non-routine work practices governing operations in high-risk environments 

(e.g., confined spaces) and the development of emergency preparedness plans. 

The approach used to derive IDLH values for high priority chemicals is outlined in the NIOSH 

Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 66: Derivation of Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health 

(IDLH) Values [NIOSH 2013]. CIB 66 provides (1) an update on the scientific basis and risk 

assessment methodology used to derive IDLH values, (2) the rationale and derivation process 

for IDLH values, and (3) a demonstration of the derivation of scientifically credible IDLH 

values using available data resources.

This technical report presents the IDLH value for bromine trifluoride (CAS® No. 7787-71-5). 

The scientific basis, toxicologic data, and risk assessment approach used to derive the IDLH 

value are summarized to ensure transparency and scientific credibility. 

John Howard, M.D.

Director

National Institute for Occupational Safety

 and Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
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IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride v

Contents

Foreword ...................................................... iii

Abbreviations ................................................... vi

Glossary ....................................................... viii

Acknowledgments ............................................... xiii

1 Introduction ................................................. 1

1.1 Overview of the IDLH Value for Bromine Trifluoride ................ 1

1.2 Purpose ................................................... 1

1.3 Literature Search Strategy and Data Evaluation ..................... 1

1.4 General Substance Information ................................. 1

2 Human Data .................................................. 4

3 Animal Toxicity Data ........................................... 5

4 Summary ..................................................... 9

5 References .................................................... 10

Appendix A—Literature Search Strategy and Data Evaluation .............. 12
vi IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Abbreviations

ACGIH® American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists 

Acuate RfC Acute reference concentration

AEGLs Acute Exposure Guideline Levels

AIHA® American Industrial Hygiene Association 

BMC benchmark concentration 

BMD benchmark dose

BMR benchmark response

BMCL benchmark concentration lower confidence limit 

BrF3

 Bromine trifluoride

BrF5

 Bromine pentafluoride

°C degrees Celsius

CAS® Chemical Abstracts Service, a division of the American Chemical Society

CIB Current Intelligence Bulletin

ClF3

 Chlorine trifluoride

ClF5

 Chlorine pentafluoride

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ERPGsTM Emergency Response Planning Guidelines 

ET50 Effective time to 50% mortality 

°F degrees Fahrenheit

g/cu cm grams per cubic centimeter

HF Hydrogen fluoride

IDLH immediately dangerous to life or health

LC lethal concentration

LC50 median lethal concentration 

 LC01 lethal concentration 1% 

LCLO lowest concentration that caused death in humans or animals

LD50 lethal dose

 LDLO lowest dose that caused death in humans or animals

LEL lower explosive limit

LOAEL lowest observed adverse effect level

mg/m3

 milligram(s) per cubic meter

min minutes

mmHg millimeter(s) of mercury

MSHA Mine Safety and Health Administration

NAS National Academy of Sciences

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NLM National Library of Medicine

NOAEL no observed adverse effect level 

NRC National Research Council
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride vii

OEL occupational exposure limit

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PEL permissible exposure limit 

POD point of departure

ppm parts per million 

RD50 concentration of a chemical in the air that is estimated to cause a 50%

decrease in the respiratory rate

REL recommended exposure limit 

STEL short-term exposure limit 

TERA Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment

TLV® Threshold Limit Value 

TWA time-weighted average 

UEL upper explosive limit

UF uncertainty factor

WEELs® Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels
viii IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Glossary

Acute exposure: Exposure by the oral, dermal, or inhalation route for 24 hours or less.

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs): Threshold exposure limits for the general public, 

applicable to emergency exposure periods ranging from 10 minutes to 8 hours. AEGL-1, 

AEGL-2, and AEGL-3 are developed for five exposure periods (10 and 30 minutes, 1 hour, 

4 hours, and 8 hours) and are distinguished by varying degrees of severity of toxic effects, 

ranging from transient, reversible effects to life-threatening effects [NRC 2001]. AEGLs are 

intended to be guideline levels used during rare events or single once-in-a-lifetime exposure 

to airborne concentrations of acutely toxic, high-priority chemicals [NRC 2001]. The threshold exposure limits are designed to protect the general population, including the elderly, 

children, and other potentially sensitive groups that are generally not considered in the development of workplace exposure recommendations (additional information available at https://

www.epa.gov/oppt/aegl/).

Acute reference concentration (Acute RfC): An estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps 

an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure for an acute duration (24 hours 

or less) of the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without 

an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. It can be derived from a NOAEL, 

LOAEL, or benchmark concentration, with uncertainty factors (UFs) generally applied to 

reflect limitations of the data used. Generally used in EPA noncancer health assessments 

[EPA 2019]. 

Acute toxicity: Any poisonous effect produced within a short period of time following an 

exposure, usually 24 to 96 hours [EPA 2019]. 

Adverse effect: A substance-related biochemical change, functional impairment, or pathologic lesion that affects the performance of an organ or system or alters the ability to respond to 

additional environmental challenges.

Benchmark dose/concentration (BMD/BMC): A dose or concentration that produces a predetermined change in response rate of an effect (called the benchmark response, or BMR) 

compared with background [EPA 2019] (additional information available at https://www.epa.

gov/ncea/bmds/).

Benchmark response (BMR): An adverse effect, used to define a benchmark dose from which 

a reference dose or concentration can be developed. The change in response rate over background of the BMR is usually in the range of 5–10%, which is the limit of responses typically 

observed in well-conducted animal experiments [EPA 2019].

BMCL: A statistical lower confidence limit on the concentration at the BMC [EPA 2019].

Bolus exposure: A single, relatively large dose.

Ceiling value (“C”): Term in occupational exposure indicating the airborne concentration of a 

potentially toxic substance that should never be exceeded in a worker’s breathing zone.

Chronic exposure: Repeated exposure for an extended period of time. Typically, exposures 

are more than approximately 10% of life span for humans and >90 days to 2 years for laboratory species. 
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride ix

Critical study: The study that contributes most significantly to the qualitative and quantitative 

assessment of risk [EPA 2019].

Dose: The amount of a substance available for interactions with metabolic processes or biologically significant receptors after crossing the outer boundary of an organism [EPA 2019].

ECt50: A combination of the effective concentration of a substance in the air and the exposure 

duration that is predicted to cause an effect in 50% of the experimental test subjects. 

Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGsTM): Maximum airborne concentrations 

below which nearly all individuals can be exposed without experiencing health effects for 

1-hour exposure. ERPGs are presented in a tiered fashion, with health effects ranging from 

mild or transient to serious, irreversible, or life threatening (depending on the tier). ERPGs 

are developed by the American Industrial Hygiene Association [AIHA 2016].

Endpoint: An observable or measurable biological event or sign of toxicity, ranging from biomarkers of initial response to gross manifestations of clinical toxicity. 

Exposure: Contact made between a chemical, physical, or biological agent and the outer 

boundary of an organism. Exposure is quantified as the amount of an agent available at the 

exchange boundaries of the organism (e.g., skin, lungs, gut).

Extrapolation: An estimate of the response at a point outside the range of the experimental 

data, generally through the use of a mathematical model, although qualitative extrapolation 

may also be conducted. The model may then be used to extrapolate to response levels that 

cannot be directly observed.

Hazard: A potential source of harm. Hazard is distinguished from risk, which is the probability of harm under specific exposure conditions.

Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) condition: A condition that poses a threat of 

exposure to airborne contaminants when that exposure is likely to cause death or immediate 

or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such an environment 

[NIOSH 2004, 2013].

IDLH value: A maximum (airborne concentration) level above which only a highly reliable 

breathing apparatus providing maximum worker protection is permitted [NIOSH 2004, 

2013]. IDLH values are based on a 30-minute exposure duration.

LC01: The statistically determined concentration of a substance in the air that is estimated to 

cause death in 1% of the test animals.

LC50: The statistically determined concentration of a substance in the air that is estimated to 

cause death in 50% of the test animals; median lethal concentration.

LCLO: The lowest lethal concentration of a substance in the air reported to cause death, usually 

for a small percentage of the test animals.

LD50: The statistically determined lethal dose of a substance that is estimated to cause death 

in 50% of the test animals; median lethal concentration.

LDLO: The lowest dose of a substance that causes death, usually for a small percentage of the 

test animals.
x IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Lethality: Pertaining to or causing death; fatal; referring to the deaths resulting from acute 

toxicity studies. May also be used in lethality threshold to describe the point of sufficient 

substance concentration to begin to cause death.

Lower explosive limit (LEL): The minimum concentration of a gas or vapor in air, below which 

propagation of a flame does not occur in the presence of an ignition source.

Lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL): The lowest tested dose or concentration of 

a substance that has been reported to cause harmful (adverse) health effects in people or 

animals. 

Mode of action: The sequence of significant events and processes that describes how a substance causes a toxic outcome. By contrast, the term “mechanism of action” implies a more 

detailed understanding on a molecular level. 

No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL): The highest tested dose or concentration of a 

substance that has been reported to cause no harmful (adverse) health effects in people or 

animals. 

Occupational exposure limit (OEL): Workplace exposure recommendations developed by governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations. OELs are intended to represent the 

maximum airborne concentrations of a chemical substance below which workplace exposures 

should not cause adverse health effects. OELs may apply to ceiling limits, STELs, or TWA 

limits. 

Peak concentration: Highest concentration of a substance recorded during a certain period 

of observation.

Permissible exposure limits (PELs): Occupational exposure limits developed by OSHA (29 

CFR 1910.1000) or MSHA (30 CFR 57.5001) for allowable occupational airborne exposure 

concentrations. PELs are legally enforceable and may be designated as ceiling limits, STELs, 

or TWA limits.

Point of departure (POD): The point on the dose–response curve from which dose extrapolation is initiated. This point can be the lower bound on dose for an estimated incidence or a 

change in response level from a concentration-response model (BMC), or it can be a NOAEL 

or LOAEL for an observed effect selected from a dose evaluated in a health effects or toxicology study.

RD50: The statistically determined concentration of a substance in the air that is estimated to 

cause a 50% decrease in the respiratory rate.

Recommended exposure limit (REL): Recommended maximum exposure limit to prevent 

adverse health effects, based on human and animal studies and established for occupational 

(up to 10-hour shift, 40-hour week) inhalation exposure by NIOSH. RELs may be designated 

as ceiling limits, STELs, or TWA limits.

Short-term exposure limit (STEL): A worker’s 15-minute time-weighted average exposure concentration that shall not be exceeded at any time during a work day.

Target organ: Organ in which the toxic injury manifests in terms of dysfunction or overt 

disease.
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride xi

Threshold Limit Values (TLVs®): Recommended guidelines for occupational exposure to airborne contaminants, published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®). TLVs® refer to airborne concentrations of chemical substances and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, 

day after day, over a working lifetime, without adverse effects. TLVs® may be designated as 

ceiling limits, STELs, or 8-hr TWA limits [ACGIH 2019].

Time-weighted average (TWA): A worker’s 8-hour (or up to 10-hour) time-weighted average 

exposure concentration that shall not be exceeded during an 8-hour (or up to 10-hour) work 

shift of a 40-hour week. The average concentration is weighted to take into account the duration of different exposure concentrations.

Toxicity: The degree to which a substance can cause an adverse effect on an exposed organism.

Uncertainty factors (UFs): Mathematical adjustments applied to the point of departure (POD) 

when developing IDLH values. The UFs for IDLH value derivation are determined by considering the study and effect used for the POD, with further modification based on the overall 

database.

Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels (WEELs®): Exposure levels developed by the 

American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA®) that provide guidance for protecting most 

workers from adverse health effects related to occupational chemical exposures, expressed 

as TWA or ceiling limits. 
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IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride xiii

Acknowledgments

This document was developed by the Division of Science Integration, Paul Schulte, Ph.D., director. R. Todd Niemeier, M.S., CIH, was the project officer and lead NIOSH author. The basis 

for this document was a report contracted by NIOSH and prepared by Andrew Maier, Ph.D.; 

Ann Parker; and Lynn Haber, Ph.D. (Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment [TERA]).

The following NIOSH staff are acknowledged for providing technical and editorial review of 

the report:

Division of Science Integration 

Devin Baker, M.Ed. 

G. Scott Dotson, Ph.D. (former NIOSH)

Sherry Fendinger, M.L.I.S.

Charles L. Geraci, Ph.D. 

Thomas J. Lentz, Ph.D. 

Richard W. Niemeier, Ph.D. (retired)

Pranav Rane, M.P.H.

Chris Whittaker, Ph.D. 

NIOSH acknowledges the following subject matter experts for their critical technical 

reviews: 

Jeremy Brower, Ph.D., Associate Research Scientist, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM

Mary E. Davis, Ph.D., Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Robert C. Byrd Health 

Sciences Center School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Mary A. Fox, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Co-Director, Risk Sciences and Public Policy 

Institute, Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public 

Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Randal J. Keller, Ph.D., C.I.H, D.A.B.T., Professor, Department of Occupational Safety 

and Health, Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering, and Technology, Murray 

State University, Murray, KY

Mattias U. L. Öberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Institute of Environmental Medicine, 

Division of Work Environment Toxicology, Director of Risk Assessment, Swedish Toxicology Research Center (Swetox), Södertälje, Sweden

Richard B. Schlesinger, Ph.D., Fellow A.T.S., Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research, Professor of Biology, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University, New York, NY

George M. Woodall, Ph.D., toxicologist, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

Research Triangle Park, NC
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IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 1

1 Introduction 

1.1 Overview of the IDLH 

Value for Bromine 

Trifluoride

IDLH Value: 12 ppm (67 mg/m3)

Basis for IDLH Value: Data on bromine trifluoride (BrF3

) were inadequate to directly derive an IDLH value for BrF3

. Data from studies with chlorine trifluoride (ClF3

) were used 

to develop an IDLH value for BrF3

 because 

their chemical structures, reaction mechanisms, and potencies are similar. Therefore, 

deriving an IDLH value based on the toxicity data for ClF3

 is appropriately health-protective. The IDLH value for ClF3

 is based on 

eye irritation in rats at a concentration of 480 

ppm exposed for 5 minutes, which was determined to be escape impairing [Horn and Weir 

1955]. The duration-adjusted 30-minute concentration is 121 ppm. An uncertainty factor 

(UF) of 10 was applied to account for interspecies variability (factor of 3) and human 

variability (factor of 3), resulting in a derived 

IDLH value of 12 ppm. 

1.2 Purpose

This IDLH Value Profile presents (1) a brief 

summary of technical data associated with 

acute inhalation exposures to ClF3

 (a surrogate for BrF3

), and (2) the rationale behind 

the immediately dangerous to life or health 

(IDLH) value for BrF3

, using data from studies with ClF3

 as a surrogate. IDLH values are 

developed based on the scientific rationale 

and logic outlined in the NIOSH Current 

Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 66: Derivation 

of Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health 

(IDLH) Values [NIOSH 2013].

1.3 Literature Search 

Strategy and Data 

Evaluation

As described in CIB 66, NIOSH performed 

in-depth literature searches to ensure that all 

relevant data from human and animal studies 

with acute exposures to the substance were 

identified. See Appendix A for further information about the literature search strategy 

and data evaluation methods. 

1.4 General Substance Information 

Chemical: Bromine trifluoride

CAS No: 7787-71-5

Synonyms: Bromine fluoride (BrF3

)*

Chemical category: Not available 

Reference: *

NRC [2014] 

Structural formula*

:

Reference: *NLM [2019]
2 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Table 1 highlights selected physiochemical 

properties of BrF3 relevant to IDLH conditions. Table 2 provides alternative exposure 

guidelines for BrF3. Table 3 summarizes the 

acute exposure guideline level (AEGL) values for BrF3

.

Table 1. Physiochemical Properties of Bromine Trifluoride (BrF3)

Property Value*

Molecular weight 136.91

Chemical formula BrF3

Description Colorless to pale yellow liquid

Odor Not available

Odor threshold Not available

UEL Not applicable (nonflammable) 

LEL Not applicable (nonflammable) 

Vapor pressure 2.803 g/cu cm at 25°C (77°F)

Flash point Not applicable (nonflammable) 

Ignition temperature Not applicable (nonflammable) 

Solubility Reacts with water

Reference: *NRC [2014]

Table 2. Alternative Exposure Values for Bromine Trifluoride (BrF3)

Organization Value

NIOSH (1994) IDLH value* None

NIOSH REL† None

OSHA PEL‡ None

ACGIH® TLV®§ None

AIHA® ERPGsTM¶ None

AIHA® WEELs®** None

References: 

*NIOSH [1994]; †NIOSH [2005]; ‡OSHA [2019]; §ACGIH [2019]; ¶AIHA [2016]; **TERA [2014]
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 3

Table 3. AEGL Values for Bromine Trifluoride (BrF3) 

Classification 10-min 30-min 1-hour 4-hour 8-hour

End point 

(Reference)

AEGL-1

(Nondisabling)

0.12 ppm

0.67 mg/m3

0.12 ppm

0.67 mg/m3

0.12 ppm

0.67 mg/m3

0.12 ppm

0.67 mg/m3

0.12 ppm

0.67 mg/m3

Set equal to AEGL-1 values for chlorine trifluoride [NRC 2007]

AEGL-2(Disabling)

8.1 ppm45 mg/m3

3.5 ppm20 mg/m3

2 ppm11 mg/m3

0.7 ppm3.9 mg/m3

0.41 ppm2.3 mg/m3

Set equal to AEGL-2 values for chlorine trifluoride [NRC 2007]

AEGL-3(Lethal)

84.0 ppm470 mg/m3

36 ppm200 mg/m3

21 ppm120 mg/m3

7.3 ppm41 mg/m3

7.3 ppm41 mg/m3

Set equal to AEGL-3 values for chlorine trifluoride [NRC 2007]

Reference: NRC [2014]
4 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

2 Human Data 

No toxicity studies of sufficient quality were 

available for BrF3

 (see NIOSH 2013, section 

3.4.1 for criteria to determine studies of sufficient quality). Human toxicity information 

is limited to a statement that concentrations 

of 50 ppm or more may be fatal in 30 minutes to 2 hours [Braker and Mossman 1980] 

but insufficient details were available to use 

this as the basis for an IDLH value. However, based on the chemical and physical properties, as well as data from animal studies 

(Section 3.0), BrF3 is likely irritating and corrosive to skin, eyes, mucous membranes and 

respiratory tract. Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is 

the principal hydrolysis product of both BrF3

and chlorine trifluoride (ClF3) (3 moles of 

HF formed per mole of BrF3/ClF3). Braker 

and Mossman [1980] reported that the toxic effects of BrF3 are comparable to those of 

ClF3 because the toxicity of halogen fluorides 

is consistent with their relative reactivity. 

Limited data indicate that bromine pentafluoride (BrF5) is less toxic than chlorine pentafluoride (ClF5) (consistent with their relative 

reactivity); BrF3 is similarly predicted to be 

less toxic than ClF3 [Braker and Mossman 

1980; NIOSH 2016a,b]. The National Research Council (NRC) used a similar strategy for development of the AEGL values for 

BrF3

 [NRC 2014]. In this case, the AEGL-1, 

AEGL-2, and AEGL-3 values for BrF3

 were 

based on the data for ClF3, due to their similarities in structural activity with halogen 

fluorides. In addition, NRC chose to set the 

AEGL values for BrF3 to the more toxic analogue, ClF3

, and did not apply any modifying factors even though BrF3 was considered 

less toxic [NRC 2007, 2014]. NRC indicated that the use of the ClF3 AEGL values for 

BrF3 would be “reasonably protective” [NRC 

2014]. Without human and animal data for 

BrF3, ClF3 data were used to derive an IDLH 

value for BrF3.

Human toxicity studies of sufficient quality 

for ClF3

 were limited. With moist-air, or in 

the respiratory tract, ClF3 disintegrates rapidly 

into HF, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and other 

highly reactive compounds [Dost et al. 1974]. 

Consequently, the chemical is a potent irritant 

of mucous membranes, eyes, and skin [Teitelbaum 2001]. Studies of sufficient quality for 

acutely toxic concentration values or an odor 

threshold for humans were not identified, although Reed et al. [1966] and Deichmann 

and Gerarde [1969] reported without further 

detail that exposures of 50 ppm were lethal to 

humans within 30 minutes to 2 hours. 

Cloyd and Murphy [1965] reported that 

“odorously detectable concentrations” of ClF3

cause gasping, ocular irritation with lacrimation, cloudiness of the cornea, severe salivation, 

coughing and dyspnea, skin burns, and convulsions after a few minutes of exposure. Fatigue 

may last some time beyond the end of exposure, the corneal damage may be permanent, 

and skin damage may heal poorly [Cloyd 

and Murphy 1965]. Cloyd and Murphy [1965] 

also reported that concentrations of 50 ppm 

or more may be fatal in 15–30 minutes but 

did not provide further details for the basis 

of this reported lethal concentration. The 

NRC cited an incident report in which one 

worker was exposed for 1–2 minutes to an 

unknown concentration of ClF3 [Longley et 

al. 1965 (as cited in NRC 1984)]. The worker complained of headache, abdominal pain, 

and breathing difficulty that lasted approximately 2 hours; however, no local or systemic 

effects were observed. The report indicated 

that the worker reported to work the day 

following exposure “with no apparent aftereffects except fatigue” [Longley et al. 1965 

(as cited in NRC 1984)]. The acute symptoms 

of ClF3 poisoning resemble those caused by 

HF [Darmer et al. 1972; MacEwen and Vernot 1970]. Also similar to HF, more severe 

respiratory effects (e.g., lung congestion, edema, emphysema, and diffuse hemorrhagic 

changes) of ClF3 exposure may develop in a 

delayed fashion [HSDB 2019; MacEwen and 

Vernot 1970].
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 5

3 Animal Toxicity Data 

BrF3 is irritating and corrosive to the skin, 

eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory 

tract. Because of the absence of empirical 

data for BrF3, this assessment uses ClF3

 as a 

surrogate because their chemical structures, 

reaction mechanisms, and potencies are similar [Braker and Mossman 1980; NRC 2014]. 

Multiple animal studies of sufficient quality were identified for consideration for the 

derivation of an IDLH value for ClF3. This 

included lethality studies [Darmer et al. 

1972; Dost et al. 1967, 1974; Horn and Weir 

1955; MacEwen and Vernot 1970; Vernot et 

al. 1977], and two nonlethal concentration 

studies [Horn and Weir 1955; MacEwen and 

Vernot 1970]. Some of the limited data on 

nonlethal effects of ClF3 were from clinical 

observations of irritative effects in the lethality studies at concentrations or time periods 

less than the LC50 or ET50 derived values. 

Twenty rats exposed to 5.15 ppm ClF3 for 6 

hours appeared unaffected [Horn and Weir 

1955]. Two of 2 dogs exposed to this concentration for 6 hours exhibited salivation, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, and blinking of the eyes 

[Horn and Weir 1955]. The severity of the 

effects seen in dogs was not reported, so a determination of whether they were escape-impairing could not be made. In the same study, 

a group of 20 rats and 2 dogs were exposed 

to 21 ppm ClF3 for 6 hours per day for 2 consecutive days [Horn and Weir 1955]. Rats 

experienced rhinorrhea and began preening 

shortly after a 10-minute period of exposure. The authors reported that rhinorrhea 

and lacrimation occurred after the first exposure period; however, no information was 

provided as to the severity of these effects. 

It was also reported that both dogs began 

experiencing rhinorrhea and lacrimation 

within 10 minutes of the exposure starting. 

Additionally, it was reported that the dogs 

“blinked continuously at first and later kept 

their eyes tightly closed”; however, the time 

that these symptoms began was not noted 

[Horn and Weir 1955]. Additional data from 

two studies on irritative effects observed in 

monkeys, dogs, rats, and mice during lethal 

concentration studies were also identified 

[Horn and Weir 1955; MacEwen and Vernot 

1970]. Twenty rats exposed to 480 ppm for 

5 minutes experienced “considerable” lacrimation and had their eyelids closed. Some 

animals were observed to have swollen and 

raw eyelids, while other animals had considerable crusting of their eyelids [Horn and 

Weir 1955]. In a group of 20 rats exposed to 

96 ppm for 65 minutes, one rat was in acute 

distress with marked gasping respiration; the 

other 19 rats were observed to be lying on 

the floor with their eyes tightly closed [Horn 

and Weir 1955]. In the same study, at 120 

minutes, the rats were observed to have considerable exudate around the eyes, swollen 

and raw eyelids, crusting around the mouth 

and nose, and bubbling rhinorrhea [Horn and 

Weir 1955]. Eight rats exposed to 200 ppm 

for 60 minutes and 15 mice exposed to 125 

ppm for 60 minutes were observed to have 

lacrimation, salivation, dyspnea, and rhinorrhea during the exposures [MacEwen and 

Vernot 1970]. Four monkeys exposed to 127 

ppm for 60 minutes were observed to have 

signs of bronchotracheal/gastrointestinal irritation, which included sneezing, coughing, 

and a gagging reflex [MacEwen and Vernot 

1970]. Table 4 summarizes nonlethal data 

reported in animal studies with 30-minute 

equivalent derived values for ClF3. Information in these tables includes species of test animals, toxicological metrics (i.e., LC, BMCL, 

NOAEL, LOAEL), and adjusted 30-minute 

concentration. 

The weight of evidence suggests that irritative and toxic effects occur with human 

exposure to ClF3

; however, quantitative 

data to derive a POD for derivation of an 

IDLH value on human data were not identified.
6 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Median lethal concentration (LC50) and the 

effective median lethal time to 50% of the 

animal (ET50) values for ClF3 were evaluated in several animal species. MacEwen and 

Vernot [1970] exposed mice, rats, and monkeys to ClF3 for 60 minutes and observed 

lacrimation, salivation, rhinorrhea, and dyspnea that, within a few hours after exposure, 

turned into bloody discharges if the animals 

survived. Monkeys also showed signs typical 

of bronchial and gastrointestinal irritation. 

Death occurred with delays as long as 36 

hours after exposure. Upon death, massive 

alveolar and interstitial hemorrhage were 

noted. Near-fatal concentrations resulted in 

concentration-dependent pulmonary congestion, edema, emphysema, and hemorrhage. 

The 60-minute LC50 values were 178 ppm for 

mice, 299 ppm for rats, and 230 ppm for monkeys (also reported in Darmer et al. [1972]). 

Horn and Weir [1955] exposed rats to two 

concentrations of ClF3 and determined the 

ET50. In rats, the ET50 at 480 ppm was 40 minutes (all dead within 70 minutes), at 96 ppm 

it was 3.7 hours (observation time after the 

end of the 4.5-hour exposure to 96 ppm was 

not stated). Clinical signs appeared within 

minutes of exposure and included increased 

activity, nasal flow and salivation, respiratory 

difficulty, eye irritation, and convulsions and 

coma shortly before death. Dost et al. [1967, 

1974] reported that ClF3 caused severe inflammation in all exposed tissues, lacrimation, and shallow breathing in male rats. High 

concentrations made hair appear “singed,” 

caused skin burns, and produced corneal ulceration. These authors also observed that 

rats surviving ClF3 exposure for 4 hours did 

not eat for several days thereafter. Time to 

death was tested in the presence of 400 and 

800 ppm ClF3

; all animals died within 45–90 

minutes of exposure to 800 ppm for 15 minutes; at longer exposure times, up to 30 minutes, the earliest deaths occurred within 20 

minutes, but some animals survived as long 

as 160 minutes. At 400 ppm, death occurred 

after 55–140 minutes with ≥30 minutes exposure, but no deaths were observed at ≤25 

minutes exposure. NRC [2007, 2014] provided an estimated 1-hour LC50 value of 222 

ppm based on these data but indicated that 

this value may be an underestimate because 

post-exposure observations were not completed [NRC 2007, 2014]. Table 5 summarizes the LC data identified in animal studies 

and provides 30-minute equivalent derived 

values for ClF3. Information in this table includes species of test animals, toxicological 

metrics (i.e., LC, BMCL, NOAEL, LOAEL), 

and adjusted 30-minute concentration. 

The weight of evidence suggests that ClF3 

irritates the respiratory and ocular systems 

in the four animal species tested, and the 

effects occurred at concentrations as low as 

5.15 ppm. Lethal concentrations were also 

available for three animal species but were 

higher than the irritative effects and were 

excluded from consideration as a POD for 

the IDLH value. The most sensitive species 

appears to be rats, in which irritative ocular 

effects, determined to be escape-impairing, 

began to occur at 480 ppm at a 5-minute 

exposure period, resulting in a 30-minute 

time-adjusted concentration of 121 ppm 

[Horn and Weir 1955]. This endpoint was 

selected as the POD for the derivation of the 

IDLH value. Similar irritative effects were 

observed at similar 30-minute time-adjusted 

concentrations in multiple animal species and 

ranged from 142–341 ppm. One study identified irritative effects at a lower concentration 

than the chosen POD [Horn and Weir 1955]. 

In this study, dogs exposed at concentrations 

of 5.15 ppm over a 360-minute exposure period experienced irritation, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, coughing and sneezing; however, the 

severity of these effects was not provided. The 

authors concluded that at the end of the first 

exposure period the dogs were not markedly affected. This concentration was not considered to be escape-impairing, so it was not 

considered as the POD for the derivation of 

the IDLH value. See Section 4 for information regarding the derivation of the IDLH 

for ClF3, including additional information 

on the study selected as the POD and the 

uncertainty factors (UFs) applied to derive a 

final IDLH value for ClF3, as the surrogate 

for BrF3. 
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 7

Table 4. Nonlethal Concentration Data for Chlorine Trifluoride (ClF3)*

Reference Species Critical nonlethal effect 

Number of 

animals

Dose 

(ppm)

Time

(min)

Adjusted 

30-min Concentration†

(ppm)

Horn and Weir [1955]

Dog Salivation, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, severe coughing, 

sneezing.

2 5.15 360‡ 35

Rhinorrhea, lacrimation, continuous eye blinking, kept eyes closed tightly

2 21 360§ 142

Horn and Weir [1955]

Rat None reported 20 5.15 360‡ 35

Rhinorrhea and lacrimation 20 21 360§ 142

Considerable lacrimation and eye lids closed, some animals had swollen and raw eye lids, some animals had considerable crusting of eyelids

20 480 5¶ 121

1 of 20 rats in acute distress with marked gasping respiration, lacrimation, salivation, and rhinorrhea. 19 of 20 rats lying on cage floor with eyes tightly closed

20 96 65** 174

Considerable exudate around eyes with swollen and raw eyelids, crusting around mouth and nose, bubbling rhinorrhea

20 96 120** 279

MacEwen and Vernot [1970]

Monkey Bronchotracheal/gastrointestinal irritation (sneezing, coughing, and gagging reflex) 4 127 60†† 217

MacEwen and Vernot [1970]

Rat Lacrimation, salivation, dyspnea,

rhinorrhea during exposures. 

8 200 60†† 341

MacEwen and Vernot [1970]

Mouse Lacrimation, salivation, dyspnea,

rhinorrhea during exposures. 

15 125 60†† 213

*Studies of sufficient quality were not identified for bromine trifluoride. Data for chlorine trifluoride were used as a read-across to derive an IDLH value for bromine trifluoride.†For exposures other than 30 minutes, the ten Berge et al. [1986] relationship is used for duration adjustment (Cn × t = k), where C = concentration, t = time, k = constant, 

n = time scaling value; NRC [2007] provided an empirically estimated n of 1.3 for all time-scaling. Additional information on the calculation of duration-adjusted concentrations can be found in NIOSH [2013].

‡The exposure time and symptoms noted were from the first daily exposure of a 6 week, 6-hour-per-day, 5-day-per-week inhalation study.§The exposure time and symptoms noted were from the first daily exposure of a 2 day, 6-hour-per-day inhalation study.¶The exposure time and symptoms noted were from an ET50 acute inhalation study at a concentration of 480 ppm.**The exposure time and symptoms noted were from an ET50 acute inhalation study at a concentration of 96 ppm.††The exposure time and symptoms noted were from an LC50 acute inhalation study.
8 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Table 5. Lethal Concentration Data for Chlorine Trifluoride (ClF3)*

Reference Species

Number 

of 

animals

Dose(s) 

(ppm)

LC50

(ppm)

ET50

(ppm)

Time 

(min)

Adjusted 

30-min Concentration†

(ppm)

Darmer et al. [1972]; MacEwen and Vernot [1970]

Monkey 5/dose 127, 150, 

200, 300, 400 

230 – 60 392

Darmer et al. [1972]; MacEwen and Vernot [1970]; Vernot et al. [1977]

Rat 8/dose 200, 400 299 – 60 510

Darmer et al. [1972]; MacEwen and Vernot [1970]; Vernot et al. [1977]

Mouse 15/dose 125, 150, 

175, 200, 400

178 – 60 303

Horn and Weir [1955] Rat 20/dose 480 – 480 40 599

96 – 96 222 448

Dost et al. [1967, 1974] Rat 34 400 222‡ 20–40 378

46 800 10–30

*Studies of sufficient quality were not identified for bromine trifluoride. Data for chlorine trifluoride were used as a read-across to derive an IDLH value for bromine trifluoride.†For exposures other than 30 minutes, the ten Berge et al. [1986] relationship is used for duration adjustment (Cn × t = k), where C = concentration, t = time, k = constant, 

n = time scaling value; NRC [2007] provided an empirically estimated n of 1.3 for all time-scaling. Additional information on the calculation of duration adjusted concentrations can be found in NIOSH [2013].

‡Estimated value based on NRC [2007] extrapolation of Dost et al. [1974] data.
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 9

4 Summary

Inadequate toxicity data for BrF3 were available to directly derive an IDLH for BrF3

. The 

data on ClF3

 were used to derive an IDLH for 

BrF3

 because their structures, reaction mechanisms, and potencies are similar. Additionally, 

BrF3

 shares a common hydrolysis product (HF) 

with ClF3

. HF is known to be highly corrosive 

and irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory 

tract. Therefore, deriving an IDLH value based 

on the toxicity data for ClF3

 is appropriately 

health-protective [NIOSH 2019]. Braker and 

Mossman [1980] reported that the toxic effects of BrF3

 are comparable to those of ClF3, 

because the toxicity of halogen fluorides is consistent with their relative reactivity. In the absence of such data for BrF3, ClF3

 was used as 

a surrogate to derive an IDLH value for BrF3

. 

The NRC used a similar strategy for development of the AEGL values for BrF3

 [NRC 2014].

Several acute toxicity studies with exposure 

to ClF3 were identified. After adjustment to a 

30-minute exposure duration, nonlethal concentrations corresponding to escape-impairing 

health effects ranged from 121 to 341 ppm. 

These concentrations were time-concentration adjusted to 30-minute exposure durations using the ten Berge methodology with n 

= 1.3 [ten Berge et al. 1986; NRC 2007]. It 

was determined appropriate to use a time-concentration factor for the irritative endpoint 

because these tissue damage effects caused by 

a direct-contact irritant appeared to be along 

a continuum [NRC 2007]. In one lower concentration (30-minute equivalent of 35 ppm), 

irritative symptoms were observed in dogs 

but insufficient information was presented on 

the severity of the effects, so a determination 

whether that concentration was escape-impairing could not be made [Horn and Weir 1955]. 

Some of the exposure and symptom data were 

collected during lethal concentration studies; 

however, the symptoms reported were useful 

in identifying irritative effects that may be escape impairing. LC50 values in experimental 

animals range from 303 to 599 ppm [Darmer 

et al. 1972; MacEwen and Vernot 1970; Horn 

and Weir 1955; Dost et al. 1974, 1967]. Because 

these values were higher than the irritative effects, their use would require the application of 

additional UFs, and thus they were excluded 

from consideration as a POD for the IDLH value. Additionally, because the irritative effects 

for ClF3

 appear at lower concentrations in the 

cascade of adverse effects, the irritation endpoint was chosen as the POD. However, if the 

lethality endpoint was chosen as the POD, the 

final IDLH values would have been within a 

factor of 4 after applying appropriate UFs (UF 

= 30–100). The most sensitive endpoint identified was in 20 rats exposed to 480 ppm as 

part of a lethal concentration study. As part of 

this study, it was observed that after 5 minutes 

of exposure, the rats experienced considerable 

lacrimation; kept their eyelids closed; and had 

swollen, raw, and crusting eyelids [Horn and 

Weir 1955]. These effects were determined 

by NIOSH to be severe ocular irritation that 

would be escape-impairing and thus this was 

used as the POD for the IDLH derivation. An 

adjusted 30-minute concentration was calculated from 5 minutes of exposure with a final 

POD of 121 ppm. A composite UF of 10 was 

applied to account for extrapolation from interspecies variability (animal to human), characterized by a factor of 3; and human variability, characterized by a factor of 3, resulting in a 

POD of 121 ppm divided by an UF of 10 or an 

IDLH value of 12 ppm. The justification for the 

underlying component UFs is as follows:

• Interspecies UF (=3)

This value was selected because rats were the 

most sensitive animal species tested when comparing the 30-minute time-adjusted concentrations, and interspecies differences are not as 

pronounced for direct-acting irritative effects 

as with other endpoints.

• Intraspecies UF (=3)

This value was selected because the difference 

in sensitivity to irritants among workers is typically less than other endpoints.
10 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

5 References

ACGIH® (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) [2019]. Annual 

TLVs® (threshold limit values) and BEIs® (biological exposure indices) booklet. Cincinnati, 

OH: ACGIH Signature Publications.

ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) [2020]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological 

exposure indices, 7th edition – 2020 supplement. 

Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, https://www.

acgih.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/documentation-of-the-threshold-limit-values-and-biological-exposure-indi -

ces-7th-ed-2020-supplement. Date accessed: 

January 8, 2020.

AIHATM (American Industrial Hygiene Association) [2016]. AIHA Emergency Response Planning (ERP) Committee procedures and responsibilities. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene 

Association.

Braker W, Mossman AL [1980]. Bromine pentafluoride. In: Matheson gas data book. 6th ed. 

Lyndhurst, NJ: Matheson Gas Products.

Cloyd DR, Murphy WJ [1965]. Handling hazardous materials. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA SP-5032.

Darmer KI, Haun CC, MacEwen JD [1972]. 

The acute inhalation toxicity of chlorine pentafluoride. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 33:661–668.

Dost FN, Reed DJ, Smith VN, Wang CH [1967]. 

Metabolism and pharmacology of inorganic and 

fluorine containing compounds. Wright-Patterson 

Air Force Base, OH: Aerospace Medical Research 

Laboratories, Aerospace Medical Division, Air 

Force Systems Command, AMRL-TR-67-224.

Dost FN, Reed DJ, Smith VN, Wang CH [1974]. 

Toxic properties of chlorine trifluoride. Toxicol 

Appl Pharmacol 27:527–536.

EPA [2019]. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS): glossary, https://ofmpub.epa.gov/

sor_internet/registry/termreg/searchandretrieve/glossariesandkeywordlists/search.do?-

details=&glossaryName=IRIS%20Glossary#-

formTop. Accessed June 11, 2019.

Horn HJ, Weir RJ [1955]. Inhalation toxicity of 

chloride trifluoride. I. Acute and subacute toxicity. AMA Arch Ind Health 12:515–521.

HSDB [2019]. Hazardous Substances Data Bank, 

HSDB. CAS No. 7790-91-2, https://haz-map.

com/. Date accessed: June 11, 2019.

Longley MY, Pierce JF, Griesemer EC [1965]. 

A toxic hazard study of selected missile propellants. AMRL-TR-65-99. Wright-Patterson Air 

Force Base, OH: Aerospace Medical Research 

Laboratories.

MacEwen JD, Vernot EH [1970]. Toxic hazards 

research unit. Annual technical report: 1970. 

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories, Aerospace 

Medical Division, Air Force Systems Command, 

AMRL-TR-70-77.

NAS (National Academy of Sciences) [2000]. 

Emergency and continuous exposure limits for 

selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 2. National 

Academy of Sciences, National Research Council 

(NRC), Committee on Toxicology, Board of Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. 

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health) [1994]. Documentation for 

immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations (IDLHs): Chlorine trifluoride, https://

www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/7790912.html. Date 

accessed: January 10, 2018.

NIOSH [2004]. NIOSH respirator selection 

logic. By Bollinger N. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-100.
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 11

NIOSH [2005]. NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards. Barsan ME, ed. Cincinnati, OH: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 

2005-149.

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derivation of immediately dangerous to life or 

health (IDLH) values. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2014-100.

NIOSH [2016a]. Immediately dangerous to life 

or health (IDLH) value profile: bromine pentafluoride. By Dotson GS, Maier A, Parker A, 

Haber L. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of 

Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS 

(NIOSH) Publication 2017-106.

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life or health (IDLH) value profile: chlorine 

pentafluoride. By Dotson GS, Maier A, Parker 

A, Haber L. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute 

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(NIOSH) Publication 2016-170.

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or health (IDLH) value profile: chlorine trifluoride. By Niemeier RT. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. 

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Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2020-

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DC: The National Academies Press, https://doi.

org/10.17226/690.

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for developing acute exposure guideline levels for hazardous chemicals. Washington, DC: 

The National Academies Press, https://doi.

org/10.17226/10122.

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exposure guideline levels for selected airborne 

chemicals. Vol. 5. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, pp. 53–91, https://doi.

org/10.17226/11774.

NRC [2014]. Bromine trifluoride. In: Acute 

exposure guideline levels (AEGLs) for selected airborne chemicals. Vol. 18. Washington, 

DC: The National Academies Press, pp. 13–36, 

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health standards. 29 CFR 1910. Subpart Z—

toxic and hazardous substances. Washington, 

DC, https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_

id=9992. Date accessed: June 11, 2019. 

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Medical Research Laboratories, Aerospace Medical Division, Air Force Systems Command.

Teitelbaum DT [2001]. The halogens. In: Bingham E, Cohrssen B, Powell CH, eds. Patty’s toxicology. Vol. 3. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 

Inc., pp. 731–825. 

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WEELs.pdf. Date accessed: June 11, 2019.
12 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Appendix A—Literature Search Strategy and 

Data Evaluation

As described in Current Intelligence Bulletin 

66 [NIOSH 2013], NIOSH performed indepth literature searches to ensure that all 

relevant data from human and animal studies 

with acute exposures to the substance were 

identified. This search was conducted in July 

2019 and included available literature to July 

2019. This process included reviewing toxicity summaries and acute exposure guidelines 

during an initial screening approach, including the AEGL documentation [NRC 2014]. 

Studies were identified from these summaries and additional database queries were 

conducted in the databases listed in Table 

A-1. Search terms used in these databases are 

provided in Table A-2. For BrF3

, the chemical identifiers used in the database searches 

were “bromine trifluoride,” “bromotrifluoride,” “bromine fluoride,” and “CAS Registry 

Number: 7787-71-5.” 

Inadequate toxicity data were available for 

BrF3

. The data on ClF3 were used to derive 

an IDLH for BrF3

 because their structures, 

reaction mechanisms, and potencies are assumed to be similar. For ClF3

, this process 

included reviewing toxicity summaries and 

acute exposure guidelines during an initial 

screening approach, including the AEGL 

documentation [NRC 2007], ACGIH® TLV®

documentation [ACGIH 2020], NIOSH 1994 

IDLH documentation [NIOSH 1994], and 

the Emergency and Continuous Exposure 

Limits for Selected Airborne Contaminants 

documentation [NRC 1984]. Studies were 

identified from these summaries and additional database queries were conducted in the 

databases listed in Table A-1. Search terms 

used in these databases are provided in Table 

A-2. For ClF3

, the chemical identifiers used in 

the database searches were “chlorine trifluoride,” “chlorotrifluoride,” “chlorine fluoride,” 

and “CAS Registry Number: 7790-91-2.” 

For ClF3

, the in-depth literature search was 

conducted through June 2019. The information that was identified in the in-depth literature search was evaluated with general 

considerations that included description of 

studies (i.e., species, study protocol, exposure concentration, and duration), health 

endpoint evaluated, and critical effect levels 

(e.g., NOAELs, LOAELs, and LC50 values). 

Eighteen references were identified in the 

literature search and 10 of these were cited 

in the IDLH document. These references 

included both peer-reviewed literature and 

scientific reports. The eight references that 

were not cited did not provide primary data 

on ClF3. 
IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 13

Table A-1. Literature search sources 

Database and databases Link 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/ Agency for Toxic Substance 

and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxProfiles 

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/index.asp

ChemIDplus https://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp

EU, European INventory of Existing Commercial chemical Substances (EINECS) https://ihcp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/our_labs/predictive_ 

toxicology/information-sources/ec_inventory

EMBASE https://www.embase.com/

Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) https://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/download/

hsdb.html

Haz-map https://haz-map.com/

National Library of Medicine (NLB) https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

International Agency for Research on 

Cancer (IARC) 

https://www.iarc.fr/

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) Notices 

https://www.epa.gov/oppt/tsca8e/index.html

World Health Organization (WHO)/IPCS 

International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC) 

https://www.ilo.org/safework/lang--en/index.htm

International Toxicity Estimates for Risk 

(ITER) 

https://www.iter.tera.org/

New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact 

Sheets (NJ-HSFS)

https://web.doh.state.nj.us/rtkhsfs/indexfs.aspx

NIOSHTIC-2 https://www2a.cdc.gov/nioshtic-2/default.asp

NLM, PUBMED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH)/Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS)

https://web.doh.state.nj.us/rtkhsfs/indexfs.aspx

NLM, Toxicology Literature Online (TOXLINE) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=-

tox%20%5Bsubset%5D%20AND%20

Scopus https://www.scopus.com/search/form.uri?display=basic
14 IDLH Value Profile for Bromine Trifluoride 

Table A–2. Literature search terms 

Search terms

Acute Fatal Threshold

Inhalation Fatal Case study

Lethal Irritation Poisoning

Lethal concentration Respiratory Chemical identifiers

LC RD

References

ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) [2020]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological 

exposure indices, 7th edition – 2020 supplement. 

Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, https://www.

acgih.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/documentation-of-the-threshold-limit-values-and-biological-exposure-indices-7th-ed-2020-supplement. Date accessed: January 8, 2020.

NIOSH [2013]. Current intelligence bulletin 

66: derivation of immediately dangerous to life 

or health (IDLH) values. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 

2014-100.

NIOSH [1994]. Documentation for immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations 

(IDLHs): chlorine trifluoride, https://www.cdc.

gov/niosh/idlh/7790912.html. Date accessed: 

June 11, 2019.

NRC (National Research Council) [1984]. 

Emergency and continuous exposure limits for 

selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 

https://doi.org/10.17226/690.

NRC [2007]. Chlorine trifluoride. In: Acute 

exposure guideline levels for selected airborne 

chemicals. Vol. 5. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, pp. 53–91, https://doi.

org/10.17226/11774.

NRC [2014]. Bromine trifluoride. In: Acute 

exposure guideline levels (AEGLs) for selected airborne chemicals. Vol. 18. Washington, 

DC: The National Academies Press, pp. 13–

36, https://doi.org/10.17226/18941.
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DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2020–123

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2020123

Promoting productive workplaces through 

safety and health research