Osmium tetroxide

RTECS #

RN1140000

CAS #

20816-12-0
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

September 2013

Molecular Weight

254.20

Molecular Formula

O₄Os

Synonyms

Osmic acid
Osmium tetroxide (ACGIH:OSHA)
Osmium(VIII) oxide
RCRA waste number P087

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
DNA repair	/Bacillus subtilis	5 mmol/L	MUREAV 77,109,1980
Unscheduled DNA Synthesis	embryo/hamster	200 µmol/L	MUREAV 131,173,1984

Reproductive Effects Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
intratesticular/rat	20336 µg/kg (1D male)	Reproductive: Paternal effects: Spermatogenesis (including genetic material, sperm morphology, motility, and count) Reproductive: Paternal effects: Testes, epididymis, sperm duct	JRPFA4 7,21,1964
subcutaneous/mouse	20336 µg/kg (30D male)	Reproductive: Paternal effects: Spermatogenesis (including genetic material, sperm morphology, motility, and count) Reproductive: Paternal effects: Testes, epididymis, sperm duct	JRPFA4 7,21,1964

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/man	lowest published toxic concentration: 133 µg/m³	Eye: Lacrimation Eye: Other eye effects Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi	BJIMAG 3,183,1946
inhalation/mouse	Lowest published lethal concentration: 40 ppm/4H		SCCUR* -,8,1961
inhalation/rabbit	Lowest published lethal concentration: 1316 mg/m³/30M	Behavioral: Coma Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes	JIDHAN 15,136,1933
inhalation/rat	Lowest published lethal concentration: 40 ppm/4H		SCCUR* -,8,1961
intraperitoneal/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 13500 µg/kg		SCCUR* -,8,1961
intraperitoneal/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 14100 µg/kg		SCCUR* -,8,1961
ocular/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 0.25 mg/kg	Eye: Corneal damage	VCVN5* -,526,1989
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 162 mg/kg		SCCUR* -,8,1961

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm(Os);short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm(Os)	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ISMEA* 9,750,2007

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 0.002 mg/m³	DTLVS* 3,192,1971
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 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.0016 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm (0.0047 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³);KZW 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), skin, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.0016 mg(Os)/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm (0.0048 mg(Os)/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	short term exposure limit 0.0002 ppm, skin, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Os)/m³, short term exposure limit 0.002 mg(Os)/m³, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.0002 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm (0.0006 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm;short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.0016 mg/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 0,0002 ppm (0,002 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 0,0006 ppm (0,006 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	ceiling concentration 0.0002 ppm (0.002 mg/m³), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 0.002 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 0.002 mg/m³, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm (2 µg/m³);short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm (6 µg/m³), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Os)/m³	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Os)/m³	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Os)/m³	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 0.002 mg(Os)/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 OSMIUM TETROXIDE-air	10H time-weighted average 0.0002 ppm;short term exposure limit 0.0006 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 52370; Number of Industries 2; Total Number of Facilities 87; Number of Occupations 5; Total Number of Employees Exposed 1733; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 420
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 52370; Number of Industries 2; Total Number of Facilities 195; Number of Occupations 2; Total Number of Employees Exposed 370

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Inconclusive: D melanogaster Sex-linked lethal
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: B subtilis rec assay
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
On EPA IRIS database

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health