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Phosphine																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number:** 7803–51–2
**NIOSH REL:** 0.3 ppm (0.4 mg/m3) TWA, 1 ppm (1 mg/m3) STEL
**Current OSHA PEL:** 0.3 ppm (0.4 mg/m3) TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** 0.3 ppm (0.4 mg/m3) TWA, 1 ppm (1 mg/m3) STEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 0.3 ppm (0.42 mg/m3) TWA, 1 ppm (1.4 mg/m3) STEL
**Description of substance:** Colorless gas with a fish- or garlic-like odor.
**LEL:** . . 1.79% (10% LEL, 1,790 ppm)
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 200 ppm
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Patty [1963] that 290 to 430 ppm is dangerous to life after 1 hour, and 100 to 200 ppm is the maximum amount for 0.5 to 1 hour [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 value**Mammal MouseG. pigCatRabbitHumanRat
    Flury 1928 Izmerov et al. 1982Izmerov et al. 1982Izmerov et al. 1982Schulz 1890Tab Biol Per 1933Waritz & Brown 1975
    ----- -------------------------11
    1,000 270100502,5001,000-----
    5 min 2 hr4 hr2 hr20 min5 min4 hr
    550 ppm (0.55) 431 ppm (1.6)200 ppm (2.0)80 ppm (1.6)2,400 ppm (0.96)550 ppm (0.55)22 ppm (2.0)
    55 ppm 43 ppm20 ppm8.0 ppm240 ppm55 ppm2.2 ppm**Other human data:** Symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, tightness of the chest, cough, headache, and dizziness have been reported in workers exposed intermittently to concentrations up to 35 ppm [Jones et al. 1964]. It has been stated that 290 to 430 ppm is dangerous to life after 1 hour, and 100 to 200 ppm is the maximum amount for 0.5 to 1 hour [Henderson and Haggard 1943].
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 50 ppm **Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for phosphine is 50 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Jones et al. 1964; Tab Biol Per 1933]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations above 35 ppm.**REFERENCES:**
1. Flury F [1928]. Moderne gewerbliche vergiftungen in pharmakologisch-toxikologischer hinsicht (Pharmacological-toxicological aspects of intoxicants in modern industry). Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol *138*:65-82 (translated).
2. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 243.
3. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 75.
4. Jones AT, Jones RC, Longley EO [1964]. Environmental and clinical aspects of bulk wheat fumigation with aluminum phosphide. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *23*:375-379.
5. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 884.
6. Schulz H [1890]. Uber phosphorwasserstoff. Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol *27*:314-335 (in German).
7. Tab Biol Per [1933]; *3*:231 (in German).
8. Waritz RS, Brown RM [1975]. Acute and subacute inhalation toxicities of phosphine, phenylphosphine, and triphenylphosphine. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J *36*:452-458.

			
							
								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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