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Sulfur fluoride

RTECS #
WS4900000
CAS #
2551-62-4
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Updated
September 2013
Molecular Weight
146.06
Molecular Formula
F6S
Synonyms
Hexafluorure de soufre (French)
Sulfur hexafluoride
Sulfur hexafluoride (ACGIH:OSHA)

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/mammal (species unspecified) Lowest published lethal concentration: 300 gm/m3Peripheral Nerve and Sensation: Flaccid paralysis with appropriate anesthesia

Behavioral: Muscle weakness

Behavioral: Rigidity (includes catalepsy)
VCVN5* -,354,1993
intravenous/rabbit lethal dose (50 percent kill): 5790 mg/kgTOLED5 1000(Sp Iss 1),100,1980

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 1000 ppmDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-Not classifiable as a human carcinogenDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3)DTLVS* 3,239,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (5970 mg/m3), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIAMAK-TMW 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3);KZW 2000 ppm (12000 mg/m3), 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6057 mg/m3), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARKtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-ECtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, JUN2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6100 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 1300 ppm (7900 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCEVME 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANYMAK 1000 ppm (6100 mg/m3), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, short term exposure limit 10 mg(F)/m3, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICOtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 1250 ppm, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICOtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (5970 mg/m3), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 2.5 mg(F)/m3, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (5974 mg/m3), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLANDMAC(time-weighted average) 1 mg(HF)/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) 3 mg(HF)/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIAshort term exposure limit 5000 mg/m3, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 1 mg(F)/m3, KZG-week 4 mg(F)/m3, inhal, skin, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDSMAC-TGG 6000 mg/m3, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINEStime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEYtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 1000 ppm (6070 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 1250 ppm (7590 mg/m3), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3)CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (6000 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO SULFUR HEXAFLUORIDE-air10H time-weighted average 1000 ppmNIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 70865; Number of Industries 9; Total Number of Facilities 264; Number of Occupations 11; Total Number of Employees Exposed 9282; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 1529
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 70865; Number of Industries 4; Total Number of Facilities 30; Number of Occupations 4; Total Number of Employees Exposed 177

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Sulfur hexafluoride by portable GC, 6602
Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018