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Selenium compounds (as Se)																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 7782–49–2 (Elemental)
**NIOSH REL:** 0.2 mg/m3 TWA
**Current OSHA PE:L** 0.2 mg/m3 TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** Same as current PEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 0.2 mg/m3 TWA
**Description of substance:** Varies
**Original (SCP) IDLH*:** Unknown [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 100 mg Se/m3 — see discussion below.]
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** ACGIH [1971] reported that the LD50 values of soluble selenium compounds (selenite and selenate) for various animals and by different routes of administration ranged from 1.5 to 5 mg/kg [Hall et al. 1951]. However, respirators have been selected based on the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to 500  ́ the OSHA PEL of 0.2 mg Se/m3 (i.e., 100 mg Se/m3); only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 100 mg Se/m3.
**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**SeO2Rabbit
    Zapp 1946
    -----
    5,890 mg/m3
    20 min
    3,638 mg Se/m3 (0.87)
    364 mg Se/m3SeO2Goat
    Zapp 1946
    -----
    6,590 mg/m3
    10 min
    3,228 mg Se/m3 (0.69)
    323 mg Se/m3SeO2Sheep
    Zapp 1946
    -----
    6,590 mg/m3
    10 min
    3,228 mg Se/m3 (0.69)
    323 mg Se/m3**Lethal dose data:**
 
 **Species**
    **Reference**
    **Route**
    **LD50** **(mg/kg)**
    **LDLo** **(mg/kg)**
    **Adjusted LD**
    **Derived value**Se Rat
    Cummins &Kimura 1971
    oral
    6,700
    -----
    46,900 mg Se/m3
    4,690 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Rat
    Cummins & Kimura 1971
    oral
    7
    -----
    22 mg Se/m3
    2.2 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Pig
    Olson 1986
    oral
    -----
    13
    42 mg Se/m3
    4.2 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Cow
    Olson 1986
    oral
    -----
    9.9
    32 mg Se/m3
    3.2 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Goat
    Olson 1986
    oral
    -----
    3.3
    11 mg Se/m3
    1.1 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Sheep
    Olson 1986
    oral
    -----
    3.3
    11 mg Se/m3
    1.1 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Mouse
    Pletnikova 1970a
    oral
    7.08
    -----
    23 mg Se/m3
    2.3 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na G. pig
    Pletnikova 1970a
    oral
    5.06
    -----
    16 mg Se/m3
    1.6 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Rabbit
    Pletnikova 1970b
    oral
    2.25
    -----
    7.2 mg Se/m3
    0.7 mg Se/m3SeO3×2Na Horse
    Stowe 1980
    oral
    13
    -----
    42 mg Se/ m3
    0.4 mg Se/m3SeOCl2Rabbit
    Wilber 1980
    skin
    -----
    2
    6.7 mg Se/m3
    0.7 mg Se/m3**Human data:** None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 1 mg Se/m3**Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for selenium compounds is 1 mg Se/m3 based on acute toxicity data in animals [Olson 1986; Pletnikova 1970a, 1970b]. This may be a conservative value for selenium compounds in general since it is based on sodium selenite, which is orders of magnitude more toxic than many other selenium compounds. Further, this may also be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers.**REFERENCES:**
1. ACGIH [1971]. Selenium compounds (as Se). In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 224-225.
2. Cummins LM, Kimura ET [1971]. Safety evaluation of selenium sulfide antidandruff shampoos. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol *20*:89-96.
3. Hall RH, Laskin S, Frank P, Maynard EA, Hodge HC [1951]. Preliminary observations on toxicity of elemental selenium. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med *4*:458-464.
4. Olson OE [1986]. Selenium toxicity in animals with emphasis on man. J Am Coll Toxicol *5*(1):45-70.
5. Pletnikova IP [1970a]. Biological action and the non-injuriousness level of selenium when it enters the organism together with drinking water. Gig Sanit *35*(2):14-19 (in Russian).
6. Pletnikova IP [1970b]. Biological effect and safe concentration of selenium in drinking water. Gig Sanit *35*(1-3):176-181 (translated).
7. Stowe HD [1980]. Effects of copper pretreatment upon the toxicity of selenium in ponies. Am J Vet Res *41*(12):1925-1928.
8. Wilber CG [1980]. Toxicology of selenium: a review. Clin Toxicol *17*:171-230.
9. Zapp JA [1946]. Chapter 11. Cadmium, selenium, and the carbonyls of iron and nickel. In: Summary technical report of division 9, NDRC. Vol 1. Chemical warfare agents and related chemical problems. Parts I-II. Washington, DC: National Defence Research Committee, pp. 173-178.

			
							
								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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