Bromine

CAS number. . . . . . . . . . .  7726-95-6
NIOSH REL . . . . . . . . . . .  0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) TWA, 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m3)
                                 STEL
Current OSHA PEL. . . . . . . .  0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) TWA
1989 OSHA PEL . . . . . . . . .  0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) TWA, 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m3)
                                 STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV . . . . . .  0.1 ppm (0.66 mg/m3) TWA, 0.3 ppm (2.0 mg/m3)
                                 STEL
Description of Substance. . . .  Dark reddish-brown, fuming liquid with
                                 suffocating, irritating fumes.
LEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Noncombustible Liquid
Original (SCP) IDLH . . . . . .  10 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH .  The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by
                                 AIHA [1958] that concentrations of 10 ppm or
                                 above cause such severe upper respiratory
                                 irritation that such concentrations will not
                                 be voluntarily borne [MCA 1968].  AIHA [1958]
                                 also reported that even brief exposures of 40
                                 to 60 ppm are dangerous for humans [Henderson
                                 and Haggard 1943].
Short-term exposure guidelines.  None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

                                                        Adjusted             
                              LC50   LCLo                0.5-hr       Derived
Species     Reference         (ppm)  (ppm)   Time       LC (CF*)       Value
______________________________________________________________________________
Mouse    Bitron and Aharonson  750   -----  9   min  435 ppm (0.58)   44 ppm
         1978
Mouse    Bitron and Sharonson  240   -----  2   hr   451 ppm (1.88)   45 ppm
         1978
Rat      Ivanov et al. 1976    407   -----  ?           ?             ?
Rabbit   Spector 1955         -----   180   6.5 hr   578 ppm (3.21)   58 ppm

*Note:  Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 2.2 [ten Berge et al.
1986].
                                  
Lethal dose data:
                                  

                                                                             
                                   LD50    LDLo                     Derived
Species     Reference     Route   (mg/kg) (mg/kg)    Adjusted LD     Value
______________________________________________________________________________
Rat      Gig Sanit 1970   oral    2,600    -----      2,741 ppm      274 ppm
Mouse    Gig Sanit 1970   oral    3,100    -----      3,268 ppm      327 ppm
Rabbit   Gig Sanit 1970   oral    4,160    -----      4,386 ppm      439 ppm
G. pig   Gig Sanit 1970   oral    5,500    -----      5,798 ppm      580 ppm

                                  
                                  
Human data. . . . . . . . . . .  It has been reported that 10 ppm and above
                                 cause such severe upper respiratory
                                 irritation that exposures will not be
                                 voluntarily borne [MCA 1968].  Also, it has
                                 been reported that 0.75 ppm caused no
                                 symptoms in 6 hours [Flury and Zernik 1931].
                                 Further, 4 ppm has been recommended as the
                                 maximum concentration allowable for 0.5 to 1
                                 hour, with 40 to 60 ppm dangerous for brief 
                                 exposures [Henderson and Haggard 1943].  It
                                 has also been stated that respiratory damage
                                 occurs at 10 ppm [NFPA 1978].  It has been
                                 reported that 1.7 to 3.5 ppm produces severe
                                 choking, 4.5 to 9 ppm is extremely dangerous,
                                 and 30 ppm would prove fatal in a short time
                                 [ILO 1971].

Revised IDLH: 3 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for bromine is 3 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Flury and Zernik 1931; Henderson and Haggard 1943; ILO 1971; MCA 1968; NFPA 1978].

REFERENCES:

1. AIHA [1958]. Bromine. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 19:349-350.
2. Bitron MD, Aharonson EF [1978]. Delayed mortality of mice following inhalation of acute doses of CH2O, SO2, Cl2, and Br2. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 39:129-138.
3. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Sch„dliche gase d„mpfe, nebel, rauch- und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 538 (in German).
4. Gig Sanit [1970]; 35(11):11 (in Russian).
5. Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 133.
6. ILO [1971]. Bromine. In: Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety. 2nd ed. Vol. I (A-K). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, p. 211.
7. Ivanov NG, Klyachkina AM, Germanova AL [1976]. Experimental materials on hygienic regulation of bromine and hydrogen bromide in the air of the working zone. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 20(3):36-39 (in Russian).
8. MCA [1968]. Chemical safety data sheet SD-49: properties and essential information for safe handling and use of bromine. Washington, DC: Manufacturing Chemists Association, pp. 1-18.
9. NFPA [1978]. Fire protection guide on hazardous materials. 7th ed. Boston, MA: National Fire Protection Association, p. 49-65.
10. Spector WS, ed. [1955]. Handbook of toxicology. Vol. 1. Acute toxicities of solids, liquids and gases to laboratory animals. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co., p. 324.
11. ten Berge WF, Zwart A, Appelman LM [1986]. Concentration-time mortality response relationship of irritant and systematically acting vapours and gases. J Haz Mat 13:301-309.