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Osmium tetroxide (as Os)
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 20816–12–0
NIOSH REL: 0.002 mg/m3 (0.0002 ppm) TWA,
0.006 mg/m3 (0.0006 ppm) STEL
Current OSHA PEL: 0.002 mg/m3 TWA
1989 OSHA PEL: 0.002 mg/m3 (0.0002 ppm) TWA,
0.006 mg/m3 (0.0006 ppm) STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.0016 mg/m3 (0.0002 ppm) TWA,
0.0047 mg/m3 (0.0006 ppm) STEL
Description of substance: Colorless, crystalline solid or pale-yellow mass with an unpleasant, acrid, chlorine-like odor.
LEL: . . Noncombustible Solid
Original (SCP) IDLH: 1 mg Os/m3
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [197] that 1 mg/m3 has been suggested as tolerable for 30 minutes [Flury and Zernik 1931]. No other data on acute inhalation toxicity are available which would be useful in determining the IDLH. AIHA [1968] reported that McLaughlin et al. [1946] found that workers exposed to 0.1 to 0.6 mg/m3 suffered from lacrimation and disturbances of vision and in some cases, headache, conjunctivitis, and cough.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| Species | Reference | LC50 | LCLo | Time | Adjusted 0.5-hrLC (CF) | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Brunot 1933 | —– | 1,316 mg/m3 | 30 min | 987 mg Os/m3 (1.0) | 99 mg Os/m3 |
| Rat | Shell 1961 | —– | 423 mg/m3 | 4 hr | 317 mg Os/m3 (2.0) | 32 mg Os/m3 |
| Mouse | Shell 1961 | —– | 423 mg/m3 | 4 hr | 317 mg Os/m3 (2.0) | 32 mg Os/m3 |
Human data: It has been suggested that 1 mg/m3 is tolerable for 30 minutes [Flury and Zernik 1931]. Workers exposed to 0.1 to 0.6 mg/m3 suffered from lacrimation and disturbances of vision and in some cases, headache, conjunctivitis, and cough [McLaughlin et al. 1946].
| Revised IDLH: 1 mg Os/m3 [Unchanged]Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Flury and Zernik 1931; McLaughlin et al. 1946], the original IDLH for osmium tetroxide (1 mg Os/m3) is not being revised at this time. |
REFERENCES:
1. AIHA [1968]. Osmium and its compounds. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 29:621-623.
2. Brunot FR [1933]. The toxicity of osmium tetroxide (osmic acid). J Ind Hyg 15:136-143.
3. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Schädliche gase dämpfe, nebel, rauch- und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 254 (in German).
4. McLaughlin AIG, Milton R, Perry KMA [1946]. Toxic manifestations of osmium tetroxide. Br J Ind Med 3:183-186.
5. Shell [1961]. Unpublished report. San Ramon, CA: Shell Chemical Co., p. 8.