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Phosdrin
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 7786–34–7
NIOSH REL: 0.01 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) TWA, 0.03 ppm (0.3 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 0.1 mg/m3 TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: 0.01 ppm (0.1 mg/m3) TWA, 0.03 ppm (0.3 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.01 ppm (0.92 mg/m3) TWA,
0.03 ppm (0.27 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
Description of substance: Pale-yellow to orange liquid with a weak odor.
LEL: . . Unknown
Original (SCP) IDLH: 4 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No useful data on acute inhalation toxicity are available on which to base the IDLH for Phosdrin. The chosen IDLH has been estimated from the male rat oral LD50 of 6 to 7 mg/kg [Shell 1956 cited by ACGIH 1971]. [Note: A concentration of 4 ppm phosdrin is equivalent to about 40 mg/m3.]
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50 (ppm) | LCLo (ppm) | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF) | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Kodama et al. 1954 | 14 | —– | 1 hr | 18 ppm (1.25) | 1.8 ppm |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50 (mg/kg) | LDLo (mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Kenaga 1979 | oral | 3 | —– | 2.3 ppm | 0.2 ppm |
| Mouse | Kodama et al. 1954 | oral | 4 | —– | 3.0 ppm | 0.3 ppm |
| Rat | Shell 1956 | oral | 6-7 | —– | 4.5-5.3 ppm | 0.5 ppm |
Human data: A dose of 2.5 mg/day for 27 days caused a 25% decrease in red blood cell cholinesterase [Rider et al. 1975]. [Note: An oral dose of 2.5 mg/day for 27 days is equivalent to a worker being exposed to about 5 ppm for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]
| Revised IDLH: 4 ppm [Unchanged]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute toxicity data in humans [Rider et al. 1975], the original IDLH for phosdrin (4 ppm) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Phosdrin (mevinphos). In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 208.
2. Kenaga EE [1979]. Acute and chronic toxicity of 75 pesticides to various animal species. Down to Earth 35:25-31.
3. Kodama J, Morse MS, Anderson HH, Dunlap MK, Hines CH [1954]. Comparative toxicity of two vinyl-substituted phosphates. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 9:45-61.
4. Rider JA, Puletti EJ, Swader JI [1975]. The minimal oral toxicity level for mevinphos in man. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 32(10):97-100.
5. Shell [1956]. Personal communication to ACGIH from the Shell Chemical Corporation, August 31, 1956. [From ACGIH [1991]. Phosdrin. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 1044-1046.]