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Ferbam
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 14484–64–1
NIOSH REL: 10 mg/m3 TWA
Current OSHA PEL: 15 mg/m3 TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 10 mg/m3 TWA
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/m3 TWA
Description of Substance: Dark brown to black, odorless solid.
LEL: . . . Unknown
Original (SCP) IDLH*: No Evidence [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 7,500 mg/m3 — see discussion below.]
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: There is no evidence in the available toxicological data of an IDLH for ferbam. For this draft technical standard, therefore, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device. However, for some particulate substances for which no evidence of an IDLH exists, the determination of allowable respiratory protection based on protection factors may result in the assignment of respirators for concentrations that are not likely to be encountered in the occupational environment. Therefore, for all such particulate substances, it has been arbitrarily determined that only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 500 × the OSHA PEL (500 × 15 mg/m3 is 7,500 mg/m3).
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RabbitG. pig
Rat Mouse |
Hodge et al. 1952Hodge et al. 1952
Korablev 1969 Lee et al. 1978 |
oraloral
oral oral |
3,0002,000
1,130 3,400 |
———-
—– —– |
21,000 mg/m314,000 mg/m3
7,910 mg/m3 23,800 mg/m3 |
2,100 mg/m31,400 mg/m3
791 mg/m3 2,380 mg/m3 |
Human data: Large oral doses cause gastrointestinal disturbances [Proctor et al. 1988]. The dust is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract; severe exposures are expected to cause depression of the central nervous system [Proctor et al. 1988].
| Revised IDLH: 800 mg/m3Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ferbam is 800 mg/m3 based on acute oral toxicity data in animals [Korablev 1969]. |
REFERENCES:
1. Hodge HC, Maynard EA, Downs W, Blanchet HJ Jr, Jones CK [1952]. Acute and short-term oral toxicity tests of ferric dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam) and zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ziram). J Am Pharm Assoc 61(12):662-665.
2. Korablev MV [1969]. Toxicological characteristics of derivatives of dithiocarbamino acid used in industry and medicine. Farmakol Toksikol 32:356-362 (in Russian).
3. Lee C-C, Russell JQ, Minor JL [1978]. Oral toxicity of ferric dimethyl-dithiocarbamate (ferbam) and tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram) in rodents. J Toxicol Environ Health 4(1):93-106.
4. Proctor NH, Hughes, JP, Fischman ML [1988]. Chemical hazards of the workplace. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company, p. 257.