Description of substance: Colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating
odor.
LEL: 15% (10% LEL, 15,000 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH: 500 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by
AIHA [1971] that 300 to 500 ppm for 30 to 60
minutes have been reported as a maximum short
exposure tolerance [Henderson and Haggard
1943]. AIHA [1971] also reported that 5,000
to 10,000 ppm are reported to be fatal
[Mulder and Van der Zahm 1967] and exposures
for 30 minutes to 2,500 to 6,000 ppm
are considered dangerous to life [Smyth
1956].
Existing short-term exposure:
1988 American Industrial Hygiene
Association (AIHA) Emergency Response
Planning Guidelines (ERPGs)
ERPG-1: 25 ppm
ERPG-2: 200 ppm
ERPG-3: 1,000 ppm
National Research Council [NRC 1987]
Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs)
1-hour EEGL: 100 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 100 ppm
U.S. Navy Standards [U.S. Bureau of Ships
1962] Maximum allowable concentrations
(MACs):
Continuous exposure (60 days): 25 ppm
1 hour: 400 ppm
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:
Species
Reference
LC50(ppm)
LCLo(ppm)
Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)
Derived Value
Rat
Alarie 1981
40,300
-----
10 min
23,374 ppm (0.58)
2,337 ppm
Rat
Alarie 1981
28,595
-----
20 min
23,448 ppm (0.82)
2,335 ppm
Rat
Alarie 1981
20,300
-----
40 min
23,345 ppm (1.15)
2,335 ppm
Rat
Alarie 1981
11,590
-----
1 hr
16,342 ppm (1.41)
1,634 ppm
Rat
Back et al. 1972
7,338
-----
1 hr
10,347 ppm (1.41)
1,035 ppm
Mouse
Back et al. 1972
4,837
-----
1 hr
6,820 ppm (1.41)
682 ppm
Rabbit
Boyd et al. 1944
9,859
-----
1 hr
13,901 ppm (1.41)
1,309 ppm
Cat
Boyd et al. 1944
9,859
-----
1 hr
13,901 ppm (1.41)
1,309 ppm
Rat
Deichmann and Gerarde 1969
2,000
-----
4 hr
5,660 ppm (2.83)
566 ppm
Mammal
Flury 1928
-----
5,000
5 min
2,050 ppm (0.41)
205 ppm
Mouse
Kapeghian et al. 1982
4,230
-----
1 hr
5,964 ppm (1.41)
596 ppm
Human
Tab Biol Per 1933
-----
5,000
5 min
2,050 ppm (0.41)
205 ppm
*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 2.0 [ten Berge et al.
1986].
Other animal data:RD50 (mouse), 303 ppm [Appelman et al.
1982].
Other human data: The maximum short exposure tolerance has been
reported as being 300 to 500 ppm for 0.5 to 1
hour [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. A change
in respiration rate and moderate to severe
irritation has been reported in 7 subjects
exposed to 500 ppm for 30 minutes [Silverman
et al. 1946].
Revised IDLH: 300 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ammonia is 300 ppm based on
acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943;
Silverman et al. 1946].
REFERENCES:
AIHA [1971]. Anhydrous ammonia. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg
Assoc J 32:139-142.
Alarie Y [1981]. Dose-response analysis in animal studies: prediction of
human responses. Environ Health Perspect 42:9-13.
Appelman LM, ten Barge WF, Reuzel PGJ [1982]. Acute inhalation toxicity
study of ammonia in rats with variable exposure periods. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J
43:662-665.
Back KC, Thomas AA, MacEwen JD [1972]. Reclassification of materials
listed as transportation health hazards. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH:
6570th Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Report No. TSA-20-72-3, pp.
A-172 to A-173.
Boyd EM, MacLachlan ML, Perry WF [1944]. Experimental ammonia gas
poisoning in rabbits and cats. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 26:29-34.
Deichmann WB, Gerarde HW [1969]. Trifluoroacetic acid (3FA). In:
Toxicology of drugs and chemicals. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc., p.
607.
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).
Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY:
Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 126.
Kapeghian JC, Jones AB, Mincer HH, Verlangieri AJ, Waters IW [1982]. The
toxicity of ammonia gas in the mouse. Fed Proc 41:1568 [Abstract
#7586].
Mulder JS, Van der Zahm HO [1967]. Fatal case of ammonium poisoning.
Tydschrift Voor Sociale Geneeskunde (Amsterdam) 45:458-460
(translated).
NRC [1987]. Emergency and continuous exposure guidance levels for
selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 7. Ammonia, hydrogen chloride, lithium
bromide, and toluene. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on
Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission
on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 7-15.
Silverman L, Whittenberger JL, Muller J [1946]. Physiological response of
man to ammonia in low concentrations. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 31:74-78.
Smyth HF Jr [1956]. Improved communication: hygienic standards for daily
inhalation. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 17(2):129-185.
Tab Biol Per [1933]; 3:231-296 (in German).
ten Berge WF, Zwart A, Appelman LM [1986]. Concentration-time mortality
response relationship of irritant and systematically acting vapours and gases.
J Haz Mat 13:301-309.
U.S. Bureau of Ships [1962]. Submarine atmosphere habitability data book.
AVSHIPS 250-649-1. Rev. 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Navy,
U.S. Bureau of Ships, p. 629.
