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Phosphoric acid																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 7664–38–2
**NIOSH REL:** 1 mg/m3 TWA, 3 mg/m3 STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 1 mg/m3 TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 1 mg/m3 TWA, 3 mg/m3 STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 1 mg/m3 TWA, 3 mg/m3 STEL
**Description of substance:** Thick, colorless, odorless, crystalline solid.
**LEL** :. . Noncombustible Solid
**Original (SCP) IDLH*:** 10,000 mg/m3 [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 2,000 mg/m3 — see discussion below.]
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** According to MCA [1958], phosphoric acid does not cause any systemic effect, and the chance of pulmonary edema from mist or spray inhalation is very remote. The rat oral LD50 of 1,530 mg/kg [Biofax 1970] cited by NIOSH provides a calculated IDLH of about 10,000 mg/m3. However, for this draft technical standard, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to 2,000  ́ the OSHA PEL (i.e., 2,000 mg/m3); only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 2,000 mg/m3.
**Short-term exposure guidelines:** None developed
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:**
**Lethal dose data:**

**Species**
    **Reference**
    **Route**
    **LD50** **(mg/kg)**
    **LDLo** **(mg/kg)**
    **Adjusted LD**
    **Derived value**Rat
    Biofax 1970
    oral
    1,530
    -----
    10,710 mg/m3
    1,071 mg/m3**Human data:** It has been stated that phosphoric acid does not cause any systemic effect and that the chance of pulmonary edema from mist or spray inhalation is very remote [MCA 1958].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 1,000 mg/m3**Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for phosphoric acid is 1,000 mg/m3 based on acute oral toxicity data in animals [Biofax 1970]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers.**REFERENCES:**

1. Biofax [1970]. Data sheet 19-4/70. Northbrook, IL: Biofax Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories, Inc.
2. MCA [1958]. Chemical safety data sheet SD-70: properties and essential information for safe handling and use of phosphoric acid. Washington, DC: Manufacturing Chemists Association, pp. 1-13.
3. NIOSH [1976]. TB63000. Phosphoric acid. In: Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances, 1976 ed. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 76-191, p. 879.

			
							
								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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