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Diborane

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May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

CAS number: 19287–45–7

NIOSH REL: 0.1 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 0.1 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.1 ppm (0.11 mg/m3) TWA

Description of Substance: Colorless gas with a repulsive, sweet odor.

LEL:. . 0.8% (10% LEL, 800 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 40 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that Jacobson and Lawson [1962] found the rat 4-hour LC50 to be 40 or 80 ppm, depending on the age or strain of rats used.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species Reference LC50(ppm) LCLo(ppm) Time Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) Derived value
RatMouse

Rat

Rat

Dog

Hamster

 Adams 1964Jacobson and Lawson 1962

Jacobson and Lawson 1962

Krackow 1953

Kunkel et al. 1956

Stumpe 1960

 4029

40- 80

159-181

—–

—–

 ———-

—–

—–

125

50

 4 hr4 hr

4 hr

15 min

2 hr

8 hr

 80 ppm (2.0)58 ppm (2.0)

80-160 ppm (2.0)

126-143 ppm (0.79)

200 ppm (1.6)

125 ppm (2.5)

 8.0 ppm5.8 ppm

8.0 ppm

13-14 ppm

20 ppm

13 ppm

 

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

 

REFERENCES:

1. ACGIH [1971]. Diborane. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 72.

2. Adams RM, ed. [1964]. Boron, metallo-boron compounds and boranes. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 693.

3. Jacobson KH, Lawson LH [1962]. The effect of age or weight on the toxicity of diborane. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 4:215-219.

4. Krackow EH [1953]. Toxicity and health hazards of boron hydrides. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 8:335-339.

5. Kunkel AM, Murtha EF, Oikemus AH, Stabile DE, Saunders JP, Wills JH [1956]. Some pharmacologic effects of diborane. AMA Arch Ind Health 13:346-351.

6. Stumpe AR [1960]. Toxicity of diborane in high concentrations. AMA Arch Ind Health 21:519-524.