Zirconium compounds (as Zr)

IDLH Documentation
CAS number: 7440­67­7 (Metal)

NIOSH REL: 5 mg/m3 TWA, 10 mg/m3 STEL

Current OSHA PEL: 5 mg/m3 TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: 5 mg/m3 TWA, 10 mg/m3 STEL

1993­1994 ACGIH TLV: 5 mg/m3 TWA, 10 mg/m3 STEL

Description of substance: Varies

Original (SCP) IDLH: 500 mg Zr/m3

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The available toxicological data indicate that zirconium compounds possess a low order of toxicity. The chosen IDLH has been based on the citation by NIOSH [1976] that a 30­minute exposure to 500 mg/m3 of zirconium nitrate is the lowest concentration of this substance which has been shown to be lethal to rats [Mogilevskaya 1967].

Short­term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species
Reference
LC50
LCLo
Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)
Derived value
Zr(NO3)2 RatMogilevskaya 1967
-----
500 mg/m3
30 min
212 mg Zr/m3 (1.0)
21 mg Zr/m3

Lethal dose data:

Species
Reference
Route
LD50

(mg/kg)
LDLo

(mg/kg)
Adjusted LD
Derived value
ZrF6×2K Mouse Shalganova 1967
oral
98
-----
221 mg Zr/m3
22 mg Zr/m3
Zr(SO4)2 RatCochran et al. 1950
oral
3,500
-----
7,886 mg Zr/m3
789 mg Zr/m3
ZrOCl2 MouseDelongeas et al. 1983
oral
1,227
-----
4,398 mg Zr/m3
440 mg Zr/m3
ZrOCl2 RatKlimmer & Doll 1964
oral
2,950
-----
10,573 mg Zr/m3
1,057 mg Zr/m3
ZrCl4 RatACGIH 1986
oral
1,688
-----
4,643 mg Zr/m3
464 mg Zr/m3
ZrCl4 MouseACGIH 1986
oral
655
-----
1,801 mg Zr/m3
180 mg Zr/m3
ZrF4 RatACGIH 1986
oral
98
-----
374 mg Zr/m3
37 mg Zr/m3

Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

Revised IDLH: 25 mg Zr/m3

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for zirconium compounds is 25 mg Zr/m3 based on acute toxicity data in animals [ACGIH 1986; Mogilevskaya 1967; Shalganova 1967]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute inhalation toxicity data for workers.

REFERENCES:

1. ACGIH [1986]. Zirconium. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 5th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 647.

2. Cochran KW, Doull J, Mazur M, DuBois KP [1950]. Acute toxicity of zirconium, columbium, strontium, lanthanum, cesium, tantalum and yttrium. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 1:637­650.

3. Delongeas JL, Burnel D, Netter P, Grignon M, Mur JM, Royer RJ, Grignon G [1983]. Toxicité et pharmacocinétique de l'oxychlorure de zirconium chez la souris et chez le rat. J Pharmacol 14(4):437­447 (in French).

4. Klimmer OR, Doll W [1964]. Zur frage der toxizität und speicherung löslicher zirkoniumverbindungen bei kurz­ und langdauernder verfütterung an warmblüter. Arzneimittel-Forschung (Drug Research) 14:1286­1290 (in German).

5. Mogilevskaya OY [1967]. Zirconium. In: Toxicology of the rare metals, ZI Izrael'son, ed. Translated from Russian by Y. Halperin, edited by E. Lieber. Washington, DC: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the National Science Foundation, pp. 44­52.

6. NIOSH [1976]. ZH87500. Zirconium nitrate. In: Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances, 1976 ed. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 76­191, p. 1230.

7. Shalganova IV [1967]. Hygienic features of the production of rare­metal fluorides. Gig Sanit 32(10­12):343­347 (translated).