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Bromine																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 7726-95-6
**NIOSH REL:** 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) TWA, 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) TWA, 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 0.1 ppm (0.66 mg/m3) TWA, 0.3 ppm (2.0 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of Substance:** Dark reddish-brown, fuming liquid with suffocating, irritating fumes.
**LEL:** Noncombustible Liquid
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 10 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [1958] that concentrations of 10 ppm or above cause such severe upper respiratory irritation that such concentrations will not be voluntarily borne [MCA 1968]. AIHA [1958] also reported that even brief exposures of 40 to 60 ppm are dangerous for humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943].
**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 ValueMouse
    Bitron and Aharonson 1978
    750
    -----
    9 min
    435 ppm (0.58)
    44 ppmMouse
    Bitron and Sharonson 1978
    240
    -----
    2 hr
    451 ppm (1.88)
    45 ppmRat
    Ivanov et al. 1976
    407
    -----
    ?
    ?
    ?Rabbit
    Spector 1955
    -----
    180
    6.5 hr
    578 ppm (3.21)
    58 ppm*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 2.2 [ten Berge et al. 1986]. 
 **Lethal dose data:**
 Species
    Reference
    Route
    LD50(mg/kg)
    LDLo(mg/kg)
    Adjusted LD
    Derived ValueRat
    Gig Sanit 1970
    oral
    2,600
    -----
    2,741 ppm
    274 ppmMouse
    Gig Sanit 1970
    oral
    3,100
    -----
    3,268 ppm
    327 ppmRabbit
    Gig Sanit 1970
    oral
    4,160
    -----
    4,386 ppm
    439 ppmG. pig
    Gig Sanit 1970
    oral
    5,500
    -----
    5,798 ppm
    580 ppm**Human data:** It has been reported that 10 ppm and above cause such severe upper respiratory irritation that exposures will not be voluntarily borne [MCA 1968]. Also, it has been reported that 0.75 ppm caused no symptoms in 6 hours [Flury and Zernik 1931]. Further, 4 ppm has been recommended as the maximum concentration allowable for 0.5 to 1 hour, with 40 to 60 ppm dangerous for brief exposures [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. It has also been stated that respiratory damage occurs at 10 ppm [NFPA 1978]. It has been reported that 1.7 to 3.5 ppm produces severe choking, 4.5 to 9 ppm is extremely dangerous, and 30 ppm would prove fatal in a short time [ILO 1971].
 **Revised IDLH: 3 ppm** **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for bromine is 3 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Flury and Zernik 1931; Henderson and Haggard 1943; ILO 1971; MCA 1968; NFPA 1978].**REFERENCES:**
AIHA [1958]. Bromine. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *19*:349-350.
Bitron MD, Aharonson EF [1978]. Delayed mortality of mice following inhalation of acute doses of CH2O, SO2, Cl2, and Br2. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *39*:129-138.
Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Sch„dliche gase d„mpfe, nebel, rauch- und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 538 (in German).
Gig Sanit [1970]; *35*(11):11 (in Russian).
Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 133.
ILO [1971]. Bromine. In: Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety. 2nd ed. Vol. I (A-K). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, p. 211.
Ivanov NG, Klyachkina AM, Germanova AL [1976]. Experimental materials on hygienic regulation of bromine and hydrogen bromide in the air of the working zone. Gig Tr Prof Zabol *20*(3):36-39 (in Russian).
MCA [1968]. Chemical safety data sheet SD-49: properties and essential information for safe handling and use of bromine. Washington, DC: Manufacturing Chemists Association, pp. 1-18.
NFPA [1978]. Fire protection guide on hazardous materials. 7th ed. Boston, MA: National Fire Protection Association, p. 49-65.
Spector WS, ed. [1955]. Handbook of toxicology. Vol. 1. Acute toxicities of solids, liquids and gases to laboratory animals. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co., p. 324.
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.

			
							
								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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