Sulfur pentafluoride
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 5714–22–7
NIOSH REL: 0.01 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) CEILING
Current OSHA PEL: 0.025 ppm (0.25 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 0.01 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) CEILING
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.01 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) CEILING
Description of substance: Colorless liquid or gas (above 84°F) with an odor like sulfur dioxide.
LEL: . . Noncombustible Liquid/Nonflammable Gas
Original (SCP) IDLH: 1 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that a 1-hour exposure to 1 ppm caused severe congestion of the lungs of rats [Greenberg and Lester 1950]. According to ACGIH [1971], sulfur pentafluoride is more toxic than phosgene; the TLV of 0.025 ppm for sulfur pentafluoride reflects its greater toxicity in comparison with phosgene. The chosen IDLH also reflects the greater toxicity of sulfur pentafluoride in comparison with phosgene, which has an IDLH of 2 ppm.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50 | LCLo | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF) |
Derived value |
| Rat Mouse Rabbit G. pig Dog |
NDRC 1946 NDRC 1946 NDRC 1946 NDRC 1946 NDRC 1946 |
2,000 mg/m3 1,000 mg/m3 4,000 mg/m3 4,000 mg/m3 4,000 mg/m3 |
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- |
10 min 10 min 10 min 10 min 10 min |
130 ppm (0.69) 66 ppm (0.69) 262 ppm (0.69) 262 ppm (0.69) 262 ppm (0.69) |
13 ppm 6.6 ppm 26 ppm 26 ppm 26 ppm |
Other animal data: It has been reported that exposure for 1 hour at 10 ppm caused multiple diffuse hemorrhagic lesions in the lungs of rats, one hour at 1 ppm caused severe congestion of the lungs, and 1 hour at 0.1 ppm had no effect [Greenberg and Lester 1950].
Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
| Revised IDLH: 1 ppm [Unchanged] Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Greenberg and Lester 1950], the original IDLH for sulfur pentafluoride (1 ppm) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Sulfur pentafluoride. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 241.
2. Greenberg LA, Lester G [1950]. The toxicity of sulfur pentafluoride. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 2:350-352.
3. NDRC [1946]. Summary technical report of division 9, NDRC. Vol 1. Chemical warfare agents and related chemical problems. Parts I-II. Washington, DC: National Defence Research Committee, pp. 1-385.