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Tellurium hexafluoride (as Te)
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 7783–80–4
NIOSH REL: 0.02 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 0.02 ppm (0.2 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.02 ppm (0.10 mg/m3) TWA
Description of substance: Colorless gas with a repulsive odor.
LEL :. . Nonflammable Gas
Original (SCP) IDLH: 1 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by ACGIH [1971] that “animals showed evidence of pulmonary edema (disturbed breathing) at the lowest exposure tested, 1 ppm for 4 hours; a 1-hour exposure at 1 ppm produced greatly accelerated respiration but no mortality” [Kimmerle 1960]. The IDLH has been conservatively set, but no other data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base an IDLH. Exposure for 4 hours to higher concentrations (5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ppm) invariably proved fatal to all exposed animals [Kimmerle 1960].
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Kimmerle 1960 | —– | 5 | 4 hr | 10 ppm (2.0) | 1.0 ppm |
| Mouse | Kimmerle 1960 | —– | 5 | 1 hr | 6.3 ppm (1.25) | 0.6 ppm |
| Rabbit | Kimmerle 1960 | —- | 5 | 4 hr | 10 ppm (2.0) | 1.0 ppm |
| G. pig | Kimmerle 1960 | —- | 5 | 4 hr | 10 ppm (2.0) | 1.0 ppm |
Other animal data: It has been reported that animals showed evidence of pulmonary edema (disturbed breathing) at the lowest exposure tested, 1 ppm for 4 hours; a 1-hour exposure at 1 ppm produced greatly accelerated respiration but no mortality [Kimmerle 1960].
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 [Kimmerle 1960], the original IDLH for tellurium hexafluoride (1 ppm) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Tellurium hexafluoride. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 246.
2. Kimmerle G [1960]. Vergleichende untersuchungen der inhalationstoxicitat von schwefel-, selen- und tellurhexafluorid. Arch Toxikol 18:140-144 (in German).