Sulfuric acid

RTECS #

WS5600000

CAS #

7664-93-9; 119540-51-1; 127529-01-5
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

March 2018

Molecular Weight

98.08

Molecular Formula

H₂O₄S

Synonyms

Acide sulfurique (French)
Acido solforico (Italian)
Battery acid
BOV
Dihydrogen sulfate
Dipping acid
Electrolyte acid
Mattling acid
Oil of vitriol
Schwefelsaeureloesungen (German)
Strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid (ACGIH:OSHA)
Sulfuric acid, aerosol
Sulphuric acid
Vitriol Brown Oil
Zwavelzuuroplossingen (Dutch)

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	250 µg	severe	AJOPAA 29,1363,1946
eye /rabbit	5 mg/30S rinse	severe	TXCYAC 23,281,1982

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
Cytogenetic Analysis	ovary/hamster	4 mmol/L	MUREAV 225,55,1989

Reproductive Effects Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rabbit	20 mg/m³/7H (6-18D pregnant)	Reproductive: Specific developmental abnormalities: Musculoskeletal system	JEHSDH 13,251,1979

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, liver tumor	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 20 mmol/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell protein synthesis	TIVIEQ 3,189,1989
In Vitro/Human, skin	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 10 pph/1H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 28,616,2014
inhalation/cat	Lowest published lethal concentration: 461 mg/m³/7H		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/guinea pig	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 18 mg/m³/8H		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 8 mg/m³/5D	Behavioral: Food intake (animal) Behavioral: Change in motor activity (specific assay) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema	VCVN5* -,240,1993
inhalation/guinea pig	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 18 mg/m³	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	MELAAD 45,590,1954
inhalation/guinea pig	Lowest published lethal concentration: 65 mg/m³/30M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Bronchiolar constriction, including asthma	VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 3 mg/m³/24W	Musculoskeletal: Changes in teeth and supporting structures	BJIMAG 18,63,1961
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 1 mg/m³/3H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	INHTE5 9,731,1997
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.6 mg/m³	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough	VCVN5* -,241,1993
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.73 mg/m³	Eye: Other eye effects	VCVN5* -,241,1993
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.63 mg/m³	Brain and Coverings: Changes in surface EEG	VCVN5* -,241,1993
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 3 mg/m³/5M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	VCVN5* -,241,1993
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 320 mg/m³/2H		85GMAT -,107,1982
inhalation/mouse	Lowest published lethal concentration: 461 mg/m³/7H		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 320 mg/m³		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/rabbit	Lowest published lethal concentration: 461 mg/m³/7H		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 510 mg/m³		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/rat	Lowest published lethal concentration: 461 mg/m³/7H		VCVN5* -,239,1993
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 510 mg/m³/2H		85GMAT -,107,1982
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2140 mg/kg		FEREAC 69,40781,2004
unreported route/man	lowest published lethal dose: 135 mg/kg		85DCAI 2,73,1970

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/Dog	lowest published toxic concentration: 900 µg/m³/21H/89W- intermittent	Cardiac: Changes in heart weight Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Changes in lung weight	AEHLAU 26,16,1973
inhalation/Dog	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.9 mg/m³/21H/620D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression	VCVN5* -,244,1989
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 30 mg/m³/7D- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	JTEHD6 3,521,1977
inhalation/guinea pig	lowest published toxic concentration: 4 mg/m³/24H/18D- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Fibrosis (interstitial) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema	VCVN5* -,243,1989
inhalation/horse, donkey	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.1 mg/m³/5D/26W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVN5* -,244,1989
inhalation/monkey	lowest published toxic concentration: 2.4 mg/m³/24H/78W- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVN5* -,243,1989
inhalation/monkey	lowest published toxic concentration: 2 mg/m³/23H/78W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	AEHLAU 27,16,1973
inhalation/monkey	lowest published toxic concentration: 2.4 mg/m³/24H/78W- continuous	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression	VCVN5* -,244,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.3 mg/m³/6H/5D- intermittent	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	JAPTO* 22,387,2002
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.2 mg/m³/6H/4W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	JAPTO* 22,387,2002
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 1.8 mg/m³/24H/65D- continuous	Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Recording from peripheral motor nerve Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in both tubules and glomeruli	VCVN5* -,243,1989
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 784 µg/m³/24H/84D- continuous	Behavioral: Muscle contraction or spasticity Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes in urine composition Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: True cholinesterase	GISAAA 38(3),6,1973

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.2 mg/m³ (thoracic)	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-Suspected human carcinogen	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Human Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 54,41,1992
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Group 1	IMEMDT 54,41,1992
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		EVHPAZ 10,35,1975
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ARTODN 39,299,1978
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CHHSA* 9,6,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CHHSA* 10,40,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		DIMON* 46,551,2000
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,117,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,661,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,671,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FCTOD7 47,1287,2009
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TXAPA9 248,71,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 768,27,2016
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TIVIEQ 32,92,2016

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1988 PESTICIDE SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATION		FEREAC 54,7740,1989
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 1998 STATUS OF PESTICIDES	RED Completed	RBREV* -,325,1998
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	DTLVS* 3,239,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypt	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 3 mg/m³, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 1 mg/m³;KZW 2 mg/m³, inhal, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 3 mg/m³, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 0.05 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 0.1 mg/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 1 mg/m³, VLE 3 mg/m³, FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 0.1 mg/m³, inhal, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 1 mg/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	ceiling concentration 1 mg/m³, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³; short term exposure limit 3 mg/m³, JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 1 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 3 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	short term exposure limit 1 mg/m³, Skin, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³;short term exposure limit 3 mg/m³, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	ceiling concentration 0.1 mg/m³, inhal, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THAILAND	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 1 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEY	time-weighted average 1 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO SULFURIC ACID-air	10H time-weighted average 1 mg/m³	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 70870; Number of Industries 300; Total Number of Facilities 54516; Number of Occupations 182; Total Number of Employees Exposed 775587; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 173653
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 70870; Number of Industries 313; Total Number of Facilities 54746; Number of Occupations 143; Total Number of Employees Exposed 499446

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/99/122038)
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA Section 8(e) Risk Notification, 8EHQ-0892-9247;8EHQ-0892-9248
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Acids, inorganic, 7903
NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens,2016:Known to be a human carcinogen
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID-113

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health