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Carbon dioxide																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 124–38–9
**NIOSH REL:** 5,000 ppm (9,000 mg/m3) TWA,
30,000 ppm (54,000 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 5,000 ppm (9,000 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 10,000 ppm (18,000 mg/m3) TWA,
30,000 ppm (54,000 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 5,000 ppm (9,000 mg/m3) TWA,
30,000 ppm (54,000 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of Substance:** Colorless, odorless gas.
**LEL:** . . Nonflammable Gas
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 50,000 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by ACGIH [1971] that a 30-minute exposure at 50,000 ppm produces signs of intoxication, and a few minutes of exposure at 70,000 ppm and 100,000 ppm produces unconsciousness [Flury and Zernik 1931]. AIHA [1971] reported that 100,000 ppm is the atmospheric concentration immediately dangerous to life. In addition, Hunter [1975] noted that exposure to 100,000 ppm for only a few minutes can cause loss of consciousness.
**Short-term exposure guidelines:** None developed
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA**
**Lethal concentration data:**

**Species**
    **Reference**
    **LC50** **(ppm)**
    **LCLo** **(ppm)**
    **Time**
    **Adjusted 0.5-hr** **LC (CF)**
    **Derived** **Value**Human
    Tab Biol Per 1933
    -----
    90,000
    5 min
    49,500 ppm (0.55)
    4,950 ppm
 **Other human data:** Signs of intoxication have been produced by a 30-minute exposure at 50,000 ppm [Aero 1953], and a few minutes exposure at 70,000 to 100,000 ppm produces unconsciousness [Flury and Zernik 1931]. It has been reported that submarine personnel exposed continuously at 30,000 ppm were only slightly affected, provided the oxygen content of the air was maintained at normal concentrations [Schaefer 1951]. It has been reported that 100,000 ppm is the atmospheric concentration immediately dangerous to life [AIHA 1971] and that exposure to 100,000 ppm for only a few minutes can cause loss of consciousness [Hunter 1975].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 40,000 ppm **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for carbon dioxide is 40,000 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Aero 1953; Flury and Zernik 1931; Schaefer 1951].
**REFERENCES:**
1. ACGIH [1971]. Carbon dioxide. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 39.
2. Aero Medical Association [1953]. Committee on Aviation Toxicology, Blakiston, New York.
3. AIHA [1964]. Carbon dioxide. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *25*:519-521.
4. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Schädliche gase dämpfe, nebel, rauch- und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, pp. 218-219 (in German).
5. Hunter D [1975]. The diseases of occupations. 5th ed. London, England: Hodder and Stoughton, p. 618.
6. Schaefer KE [1951]. Studies of carbon dioxide toxicity. New London, CT: Navy Department, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Research Laboratory, U.S. Naval Submarine Base, Vol. 10, Report No. 181, pp. 156-189.
7. Tab Biol Per [1933]; *3*:231 (in German).

			
							
								Page last reviewed:  December 4, 2014						Content
							source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH Publications & Products
Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health (IDLH) Values
Table of IDLH Values
Criteria for Determining IDLH Values
Historical Documentation
Original (SCP) Values
Abbreviations for IDLH Documentation
Abbreviations for Journal Titles Follow NIOSH Facebook
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