Sulfur pentafluoride

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.