Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
														Search
		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate





HYDROGEN BROMIDE								Related Pages
										*OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.*
**CAS:** 10035-10-6; **Chemical Formula:** HBr
The previous OSHA PEL for hydrogen bromide was 3 ppm as an 8-hour TWA. The Agency proposed revising this limit to 3 ppm as a ceiling limit not to be exceeded at any time during the working day; NIOSH (Ex. 8-47, Table N1) concurred with this proposal. In the final rule, OSHA is establishing this ceiling limit, which conforms to the recommendation made by the ACGIH. Hydrogen bromide (HBr) is a colorless, corrosive, nonflammable gas with an acrid odor.
Animal studies have demonstrated that hydrogen bromide has a considerably higher acute toxicity than hydrogen chloride (HCl) in mice and a somewhat higher acute toxicity than this chemical in rats (NIOSH 1977i/Ex. 1-1182). In mice, the LC(50) is 800 ppm HBr in air for 60 minutes (and 2500 ppm HCl in air for 30 minutes); in rats, the LC(50) is 2800 ppm HBr in air for 60 minutes (and 5000 ppm HCl in air for 30 minutes).
The chief toxic effect of hydrogen bromide in humans is primary irritation of the nose and throat. Irritation begins within several minutes at levels of between 3 and 6 ppm. At 2 ppm, the odor of HBr is detectable, but no irritation is experienced (Connecticut State Department of Health 1955, as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 312). No chronic effects have been associated with exposure to hydrogen bromide. No comments, other than NIOSH’s, were received on this substance.
OSHA finds that, under its previous 3-ppm TWA limit, workers were at significant risk of experiencing irritant effects due to short-term exposures to levels of hydrogen bromide exceeding 3 ppm. The Agency considers the irritant effects of exposure to hydrogen bromide to be material impairments of health. Therefore, OSHA is establishing a 3-ppm ceiling limit for this substance in the final rule to limit short-term exposures to hydrogen bromide and reduce this risk.
										
							
								Page last reviewed:  September 28, 2011						Content source:  	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH
1988 OSHA PEL Project Documentation
Index of Chemical Names
Index of CAS Numbers Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue