May 1994

Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)

Decaborane

CAS number: 17702–41–9

NIOSH REL: 0.3 mg/m³ (0.05 ppm) TWA, 0.9 mg/m³ (0.15 ppm) STEL [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 0.3 mg/m³ (0.05 ppm) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: 0.3 mg/m³ (0.05 ppm) TWA, 0.9 mg/m³ (0.15 ppm) STEL [skin]

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.25 mg/m³ (0.05 ppm) TWA,

0.75 mg/m³ (0.15 ppm) STEL [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless to white crystalline solid with an intense, bitter, chocolatelike odor.

LEL:. . Unknown

Original (SCP) IDLH: 100 mg/m³

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ILO [1971] that the 4hour LC₅₀ was 122 to 230 mg/m³ for small animals.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species

Reference

LC₅₀

LC_Lo

Time

Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)

Derived

value

Rat

Mouse

Schechter 1958

Svirbely 1954

276 mg/m³

72 mg/m³

144 mg/m³

-----

4 hr

552 mg/m³ (2.0)

144 mg/m³ (2.0)

288 mg/m³ (2.0)

55 mg/m³

14 mg/m³

29 mg/m³

Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

Revised IDLH: 15 mg/m³

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for decaborane is 15 mg/m³ based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Schechter 1958].

REFERENCES:

1. ILO [1971]. Boron hydrides. In: Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety. 2nd ed. Vol. I (AK). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, p. 206.

2. Schechter WH [1958]. Toxicity of high energy fuels. AMA Arch Ind Health 17:362366.

3. Svirbely JL [1954]. Acute toxicity studies of decaborane and pentaborane by inhalation. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 10:298304.

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