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Sulfur dioxide																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 7446–09–5
**NIOSH REL:** 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA, 5 ppm (13 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 5 ppm (13 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL**: 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) TWA, 5 ppm (13 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 2 ppm (5.2 mg/m3) TWA, 5 ppm (13 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of substance:** Colorless gas with a characteristic, irritating, pungent odor.
**LEL:** . . . Nonflammable Gas
**Original (SCP) IDLH: 100 ppm**
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [1955] that 50 to 100 ppm is considered the maximum concentration for exposures of 0.5 to 1 hour [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. With regard to the atmospheric concentration immediately hazardous to life, AIHA [1955] reported that 400 to 500 ppm is considered dangerous for even short periods of exposure [Henderson and Haggard 1943] and that exposure to unendurable concentrations is not necessarily hazardous if escape is made within a few minutes.
**Existing short-term exposure guidelines**: National Research Council [NRC 1984] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
10-minute EEGL: 30 ppm
30-minute EEGL: 20 ppm
60-minute EEGL: 10 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 5 ppm
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:**
**Lethal concentration data:**

**Species**
    **Reference**
    **LC50** **(ppm)**
    **LCLo** **(ppm)**
    **Time**
    **Adjusted 0.5-hr** **LC (CF)**
    **Derived value**Rat
    Flury & Zernik 1935
    -----
    993
    20 min
    864 ppm (0.87)
    86 ppmRat
    Flury &Zernik 1935
    -----
    611
    5 hr
    1,314 ppm (2.15)
    131 ppmMouse
    Flury &Zernik 1935
    -----
    764
    20 min
    665 ppm (0.87)
    67 ppmMouse
    Hilado &Machado 1977
    3,000
    -----
    30 min
    3,000 ppm (1.0)
    300 ppmRat
    Kinkead & Einhaus 1984
    2,520
    -----
    1 hr
    3,150 ppm (1.25)
    315 ppmHuman
    Shupe et al. 1972
    -----
    1,000
    10 min
    690 ppm (0.69)
    69 ppmHuman
    Tab Biol Per 1933
    -----
    3,000
    5 min
    1,500 ppm (0.5)
    150 ppm**Other animal data**: RD50 (mouse), 117 ppm [Alarie 1981].
 **Other human data**: The maximum concentration for exposures of 0.5 to 1 hour is considered to be 50 to 100 ppm [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. It has been reported that 400 to 500 ppm is considered dangerous for even short periods of exposure [Henderson and Haggard 1943].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 100 ppm [Unchanged] **Basis for revised IDLH:** Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943; Shupe et al. 1972; Tab Biol Per 1933], the original IDLH for sulfur dioxide (100 ppm) is not being revised at this time.**REFERENCES:**
1. AIHA [1955]. Sulfur dioxide. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q *16*:332-333.
2. Alarie Y [1981]. Dose-response analysis in animal studies: prediction of human responses. Environ Health Perspect *42*:9-13.
3. Flury F, Zernik F [1935]. Zusammenstellung der toxischen und letalen dosen für die gebräuchlichsten gifte und versuchstiere. Abder Hand Biol Arbeitsmethod *4*:1289-1422 (in German). [From Back KC, Thomas AA, MacEwen JD [1972]. Reclassification of materials listed as transportation health hazards. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: 6570th Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Report No. TSA-20-72-3, pp. A250 to A251.]
4. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 131.
5. Hilado CJ, Machado AM [1977]. Effect of sulfur dioxide on Swiss albino mice. J Combustion Toxicol *4*:236-244.
6. Kinkead ER, Einhaus RL [1984]. Acute toxicity of thionyl chloride vapor for rats. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Air Force Systems Command, Air Force Aerospace Medical Division, Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Technical Report AFAMRL-TR-84-069.
7. NRC [1984]. Emergency and continuous exposure limits for selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 95-102.
8. Shupe JL, Olson AE, Sharma RP [1972]. Fluoride toxicity in domestic and wild animals. Clin Toxicol *5*:195-213.
9. 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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