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Hydrogen sulfide																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 7783–06–4
**NIOSH REL:** 10 ppm (15 mg/m3) 10-minute CEILING
**Current OSHA PEL:** 20 ppm CEILING, 50 ppm 10-minute MAXIMUM PEAK
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 10 ppm (14 mg/m3) TWA, 15 ppm (21 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 10 ppm (14 mg/m3) TWA, 15 ppm (21 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of Substance:** Colorless gas with a strong odor of rotten eggs.
**LEL:** 4.0% (10% LEL, 4,000 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 300 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Patty [1963] that 170 to 300 ppm is the maximum concentration that can be endured for 1 hour without serious consequences; 400 to 700 ppm is dangerous after exposure of 0.5 to 1 hour [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. AIHA [1963] reported that 400 to 700 ppm caused loss of consciousness and possible death in 0.5 to 1 hour [MCA 1950].
**Existing short-term exposure guidelines:** 1991 American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs):
ERPG-1: 0.1 ppm (60-minute)
ERPG-2: 30 ppm (60-minute)
ERPG-3: 100 ppm (60-minute)
National Research Council [NRC 1985] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
10-minute EEGL: 50 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 10 ppm
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:**

**Lethal concentration data:**


**Species**
    **Reference**
    **LC50** **(ppm)**
    **LCLo** **(ppm)**
    **Time**
    **Adjusted 0.5-hr** **LC (CF*)**
    **Derived value**Rat
    Back et al. 1972
    713
    -----
    1 hr
    977 ppm (1.37)
    98 ppmMouse
    Back et al. 1972
    673
    -----
    1 hr
    922 ppm (1.37)
    92 ppmHuman
    Lefaux 1968
    -----
    600
    30 min
    600 ppm (1.0)
    60 ppmMouse
    MacEwen and Vernot 1972
    634
    -----
    1 hr
    869 ppm (1.37)
    87 ppmHuman
    Tab Biol Per 1933
    -----
    800
    5 min
    354 ppm (0.44)
    35 ppmRat
    Tansey et al. 1981
    444
    -----
    4 hr
    1,141 ppm (2.57)
    114 ppm*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 2.2 [ten Berge et al. 1986].
 **Other human data:** It has been reported that 170 to 300 ppm is the maximum concentration that can be endured for 1 hour without serious consequences [Henderson and Haggard 1943] and that olfactory fatigue occurs at 100 ppm [Poda 1966]. It has also been reported that 50 to 100 ppm causes mild conjunctivitis and respiratory irritation after 1 hour; 500 to 700 ppm may be dangerous in 0.5 to 1 hour; 700 to 1,000 ppm results in rapid unconsciousness, cessation of respiration, and death; and 1,000 to 2,000 ppm results in unconsciousness, cessation of respiration, and death in a few minutes [Yant 1930].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 100 ppm **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for hydrogen sulfide is 100 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943; Poda 1966; Yant 1930] and animals [Back et al. 1972; MacEwen and Vernot 1972; Tansey et al. 1981].**REFERENCES:**
1. AIHA [1963]. Hydrogen sulfide. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *24*:92-94.
2. 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. A-220 to A-221.
3. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 245.
4. Lefaux R [1968]. Practical toxicology of plastics. Cleveland, OH: Chemical Rubber Co., p. 207.
5. MacEwen JD, Vernot EH [1972]. Toxic Hazards Research Unit annual report: 1972. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Air Force Systems Command, Aerospace Medical Division, Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory Report, AMRL-TR-72-62.
6. MCA [1968]. Chemical safety data sheet SD-36: properties and essential information for safe handling and use of hydrogen sulfide. Washington, DC: Manufacturing Chemists Association, pp. 1-13.
7. NRC [1985]. Emergency and continuous exposure guidance levels for selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 4. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 55-68.
8. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 899.
9. Poda GA [1966]. Hydrogen sulfide can be handled safety. Arch Environ Health *12*:795-800.
10. Tab Biol Per [1933]; *3*:231 (in German).
11. Tansey MF, Kendall FM, Fantasia J, Landin WE, Oberly R [1981]. Acute and subchronic toxicity studies of rats exposed to vapors of methyl mercaptan and other reduced sulfur compounds. J Toxicol Environ Health *8*:71-88.
12. ten Berge WF, Zwart A, Appelman LM [1986]. Concentration-time mortality response relationship of irritant and systematically acting vapours and gases. J Haz Mat *13*:301-309.
13. Yant WP [1930]. Hydrogen sulfide in industry: occurrence, effects and treatment. Am J Public Health *20*:598-608.

			
							
								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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