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Arsenic (inorganic compounds, as As)																				Related Pages
										May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
**CAS number** 7440-38-2 (Metal)
**NIOSH REL** 0.002 mg As/m3 15-minute CEILING; NIOSH considers inorganic arsenic compounds to be potential occupational carcinogens as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].
**Current OSHA PEL:** 0.010 mg As/m3 TWA
**1989 OSHA PEL:** Same as current PEL
**1993-1994 ACGIH TLV:** 0.01 mg As/m3 TWA, A1
**Description of substance:** Varies
**Original (SCP) IDLH:** 100 mg As/m3
**Basis for original (SCP) IDLH:** The chosen IDLH is based on the cat 1-hour LCLO of 100 mg/m3 for arsenic trichloride [Flury 1921 cited by NIOSH 1976].
**Short-term exposure guidelines:** None developed
**ACUTE TOXICITY DATA**
**Lethal concentration data:**
Species
    Reference
    LC50
    LCLo
    0.5-hr Time
    Adjusted LC (CF)
    Derived ValueAsCl3Cat
    Flury 1921
    -----
    100 mg/m3
    1 hr
    52 mg As/m3 (1.25)
    5.2 mg As/m3Cat
    Spector 1955
    -----
    200 mg/m3
    20 min
    79 mg As/m3 (0.96)
    7.9 mg As/m3Mouse
    Spector 1955
    -----
    338 ppm
    10 min
    726 mg As/m3 (0.69) 73
    mg As/m3**Lethal dose data:**
 Species
    Reference
    Route
    LD50(mg/kg)
    LDLo(mg/kg)
    Adjusted LD
    Derived ValueRat
    Davydova et al. 1987
    oral
    763
    -----
    5,341 mg As/m3
    534 mg As/m3Mouse
    Davydova et al. 1987
    oral
    145
    -----
    1,015 mg As/m3
    102 mg As/m3Ca3(AsO4)2Rat
    Lehman 1951
    oral
    20
    -----
    53 mg As/m3
    5.3 mg As/m3Mouse
    MacEwen and Vernot 1972
    oral
    794
    -----
    2,090 mg As/m3
    209 mg As/m3Rabbit
    Muehlberger 1930
    oral
    50
    -----
    132 mg As/m3
    13 mg As/m3Dog
    Perkow 1971/1976
    oral
    38
    -----
    100 mg As/m3
    10 mg As/m3Pb3(AsO4)2Rabbit
    Muehlberger 1930
    oral
    75
    -----
    88 mg As/m3
    8.8 mg As/m3**Human data:** None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
 
 **Revised IDLH:** 5 mg As/m3**Basis for revised IDLH:** The revised IDLH for inorganic arsenic compounds is 5 mg As/m3 based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Flury 1921; Spector 1955]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for inorganic arsenic compounds at concentrations above 0.002 mg As/m3. OSHA currently requires in 29 CFR 1919.1018 that workers be provided with and required to wear and use the "most protective" respirators in concentrations exceeding 20 mg As/m3 (i.e., 2,000 x the PEL).]**REFERENCES:**
Davydova VE, Neizuestnova EM, et al. [1987]. Toxicity of metallic arsenic. Gig Tr Prof Zabol *31*(12):58 (in Russian).
Flury F [1921]. Arsentrichlorid. In: Uber kampfgasvergiftungen. IX. Lokal reizende arsenverbindungen. Zeit Ges Exp Med *13*:527-528 (in German).
Lehman AJ [1951]. Chemicals in foods: a report to the Association of Food and Drug Officials on current developments. Part II. Pesticides. Q Bulletin Assoc Food Drug Off U.S. *15*(4):122-125.
MacEwen JD, Vernot EH [1972]. Toxic Hazards Research Unit annual technical report: 1972. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Report AMRL-TR-72-62.
Muehlberger CW [1930]. Toxicity studies of fluorine insecticides. J Pharmacol Exp Ther *39*:246-248.
NIOSH [1976]. CG17500. Arsenic chloride. In: Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances (RTECS) 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. 126.
Perkow W [1971/1976]. Wirksubstanzen der Pflanzenschytz and Schadlingsbekampfungsmittel. Berlin, Germany: Verlag Paul Parey (in German).
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., pp. 324-325.

			
							
								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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