Sulfuric acid
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 7664–93–9
NIOSH REL: 1 mg/m3 TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 1 mg/m3 TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 1 mg/m3 TWA, 3 mg/m3 STEL
Description of substance: Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid.
LEL: . . Noncombustible Liquid
Original (SCP) IDLH: 80 mg/m3
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that guinea pigs died after 2.75 hours of exposure at 87 mg/m3 [Treon et al. 1950].
Existing short-term exposure guidelines: National Research Council [NRC 1984] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
10-minute EEGL: 5 mg/m3
30-minute EEGL: 2 mg/m3
60-minute EEGL: 1 mg/m3
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50 | LCLo | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF) |
Derived value |
| G. pig | Amdur et al. 1952a | 50 mg/m3 | ----- | 8 hr | 125 mg/m3 (2.5) | 13 mg/m3 |
| Rat | Izmerov et al. 1982 | 510 mg/m3 | ----- | 2 hr | 816 mg/m3 (1.6) | 82 mg/m3 |
| Mouse | Izmerov et al. 1982 | 320 mg/m3 | ----- | 2 hr | 512 mg/m3 (1.6) | 51 mg/m3 |
| G. pig | Raule 1954 | 18 mg/m3 | ----- | ? | ? | ? |
| G. pig | Treon et al. 1950 | ----- | 87 mg/m3 | 2.75 hr | 154 mg/m3 (1.77) | 15 mg/m3 |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50 (mg/kg) |
LDLo (mg/kg) |
Adjusted LD | Derived value |
| Rat | Smyth et al. 1969 | oral | 2,140 | ----- | 14,980 mg/m3 | 1,498 mg/m3 |
Human data: In exposures of 5 to 15 minutes, some volunteers found 5 mg/m3 to be very objectionable, while others found it less so [Amdur et al. 1952b]. The lethal oral dose has been reported to be 135 mg/kg [Arena 1970]. [Note: An oral dose of 135 mg/kg is equivalent to a worker being exposed to about 6,300 mg/m3 for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]
| Revised IDLH: 15 mg/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for sulfuric acid is 15 mg/m3 based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Amdur et al. 1952b] and animals [Amdur et al. 1952a; Treon et al. 1950]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations above 5 mg/m3. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Sulfuric acid. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 239-240.
2. Amdur MO, Schulz RZ, Drinker P [1952a]. Toxicity of sulfuric acid mist to guinea pigs. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 5:318-329.
3. Amdur MO, Silverman L, Drinker P [1952b]. Inhalation of sulfuric acid mist by human subjects. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 6(4):305-313.
4. Arena JM [1970]. Poisoning, toxicology, symptoms, treatments. 2nd ed. Springfield, IL: C.C. Thomas, p. 73.
5. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 107.
6. NRC [1984]. Emergency and continuous exposure limits for selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 107-112.
7. Raule A [1954]. Occupational diseases caused by sulfuric acid. Med Lav 45:590-599 (in Italian).
8. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC, Striegel JA, Nycum JS [1969]. Range-finding toxicity data: list VII. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 30(5):470-476.
9. Treon JF, Dutra FR, Cappel J, Sigmon H, Younker W [1950]. Toxicity of sulfuric acid mist. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 2:716-734.