Arsine

CAS number . . . . . . . . . . . 7784-42-1
NIOSH REL. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.002 mg/m3 15-minute CEILING; NIOSH
                                 considers arsine to be a potential
                                 occupational carcinogen as defined
                                 by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].
Current OSHA PEL . . . . . . . . 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL. . . . . . . . . . Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV. . . . . . . 0.05 ppm (0.16 mg/m3) TWA
Description of substance . . . . Colorless gas with a mild, garlic-like odor.
LEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1% (10% LEL, 5,100 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH. . . . . . . 6 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH. . The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by
                                 Patty [1963] that 6 to 30 ppm is the maximum
                                 concentration that can be inhaled in 1 hour
                                 without serious consequences [Henderson and
                                 Haggard 1943].  The chosen IDLH falls within
                                 the range of 1 to 10 ppm, which AIHA [1965]
                                 suggested might be dangerous for a 1-hour
                                 exposure [Elkins 1959; Kipling and
                                 Fothergill 1964].
Existing short-term exposure . . National Research Council [NRC 1984]
guidelines                       Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
                                      1-hour EEGL:   1.0 ppm
                                      24-hour EEGL:  0.1 ppm

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

                                                       Adjusted               
                             LC50    LCLo               0.5-hr         Derived
Species     Reference       (ppm)   (ppm)    Time       LC (CF)         Value
______________________________________________________________________________
Rat      Gates et al. 1946    120   -----   10 min     83 ppm (0.69)   8.3 ppm
Mouse    Gates et al. 1946     77   -----   10 min     53 ppm (0.69)   5.3 ppm
Rabbit   Gates et al. 1946    201   -----   10 min    138 ppm (0.69)  14   ppm
Dog      Gates et al. 1946    108   -----   10 min     75 ppm (0.69)   7.5 ppm
Human    Henderson and       -----   250    30 min    250 ppm (1.0)   25   ppm
         Haggard 1943
Human    Tab Biol Per 1933   -----   300     5 min    165 ppm (0.55)  17   ppm
Human    Teitelbaum and      -----    25    30 min     25 ppm (1.0)    2.5 ppm
         Kier 1969 

                                  
Other animal data. . . . . . . . RD50 (mouse), 13 ppm [Peterson and
                                 Bhattacharyya 1985].
Other human data . . . . . . . . It has been reported that poisoning symptoms
                                 occur after a few hours exposure to 3 to 10
                                 ppm [Henderson and Haggard 1943].  It has
                                 been suggested that 1 to 10 ppm might be
                                 dangerous for a 1 hour exposure [AIHA 1965]
                                 and that 6 to 30 ppm is the maximum
                                 concentration that can be inhaled in 1 hour
                                 without serious consequences [Henderson and
                                 Haggard 1943].  It has been estimated that
                                 1,543 ppm for 2 minutes and 62 ppm for 30
                                 minutes are minimal disabling exposures
                                 [Gates et al. 1946].

Revised IDLH: 3 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for arsine is 3 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [AIHA 1965; Henderson and Haggard 1943; Teitelbaum and Kier 1969]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for arsine at concentrations above 0.002 mg As/m3.]

REFERENCES:

1. AIHA [1965]. Arsine. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 26:438-441.
2. Elkins HB [1959]. Arsenic, As. In: The chemistry of industrial toxicology. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., pp. 62-65.
3. Gates M, Williams J, Zapp JA [1946]. Arsenicals. In: Summary technical report of Division 9, NRDC. Vol. 1. Chemical warfare agents, and related chemical problems. Part 1. Washington, DC: Office of Scientific Research and Development, National Defense Research Committee, pp. 83-114.
4. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 242.
5. Kipling MD, Fothergill R [1964]. Arsine poisoning in a slag-washing plant. Br J Ind Med 21:74-77.
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. 35-40.
7. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 880.
8. Peterson DP, Bhattacharyya MH [1985]. Hematological responses to arsine exposure: quantitation of exposure response in mice. Fundam Appl Toxicol 5:499-505.
9. Tab Biol Per [1933]; 3:231 (in German).
10. Teitelbaum DT, Kier LC [1969]. Arsine poisoning: report of five cases in the petroleum industry and a discussion of the indications for exchange transfusion and hemodialysis. Arch Environ Health 19:133-143.