 |
Chemical Sampling Information: |
|
| Phosphine |
|
General Description
Synonyms: Hydrogen phosphide; Phosphorated hydrogen; Phosphorus hydride; Phosphorus trihydride
OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2080
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7803-51-2
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: SY7525000
Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 2199 119
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Phosphine: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.3 ppm, 0.42 mg/m3 TWA; 1 ppm, 1.4 mg/m3 STEL
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA; 1 ppm, 1 mg/m3 STEL
Health Factors
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 50 ppm
Potential symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea; thirst; chest pressure, dyspnea; muscle pain; chills; stupor or syncope; pulmonary edema (may be delayed); frostbite (from liquid); skin burns; numbness, paresthesia in fingers (from touching tablets); hypoglycemia, headache, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness; jaundice; cough with fluorescent green sputum; tremors; convulsions; cardiac arrhythmias; CHRONIC EXPOS.: Toothache, phossy jaw, spontaneous fractures of bones; anemia.
Health Effects: Acute and chronic systemic toxicity (CNS effects, focal myocardial necrosis; congestive heart failure, liver and kidney damage, lung edema, anemia) (HE4), (HE7), and (HE11); Explosive, Flammable (HE18)
Affected organs: Respiratory system, CNS, heart, liver, kidneys
Notes: 1) Gas/air mixtures are explosive. May ignite spontaneously in technical grade if sufficiently contaminated with P2H4. 2) Odor warning when the exposure limit value is exceeded is insufficient. 3) Phosphine gas is generated when the pesticides, aluminum phosphide and magnesium phosphide come in contact with moisture. 4) Although occupational exposure often involves workers who apply the fumigant, enter closed areas/containers of stored agricultural products (e.g., grain, dried beans) treated with aluminum phosphide, or are involved in phosphine fires and explosions (including firefighters), one reported case involved a law enforcement officer investigating an illicit methamphetamine manufacturing site. 5) One study reported an association between the agricultural use of phosphine and elevated incidence of neurologic birth defects and neurobehavioral developmental effects in northwestern Minnesota.
Date Last Revised: 07/19/2004
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Phosphine.
- NIOSH Alert: Preventing Phosphine Poisoning and Explosions during Fumigation. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-126 (September 1999)
.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Phosphine.
- EPA Air Toxics Website: Phosphine. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network.
- Brautbar, N. and Howard, J.: Phosphine toxicity: report of two cases and review of the literature. Toxicol. Ind. Health 18(2): 71-75, 2002.
- Burgess, J.L.: Phosphine exposure from a methamphetamine laboratory investigation. J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 39(2): 165-168, 2001.
- Garry, V.F., Harkins, M.E., Erickson, L.L., Long-Simpson, L.K., Holland, S.E. and Burroughs, B.L.: Birth defects, season of conception, and sex of children born to pesticide applicators living in the Red River Valley of Minnesota, USA. Environ. Health Perspec. 110(Suppl. 3): 441-449, 2002.
- Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Phosphine. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1862-1864.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
-
sampling media: Polyester Filter treated with Mercuric-Chloride
maximum volume: 240 Liters maximum flow rate: 1.0 L/min (TWA)
maximum volume: 30 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min (STEL)
current analytical method: Inductively Coupled Plasma; ICP/AES
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1003)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: Place a glass fiber filter in front of the treated polyester filter to collect solid particles.
Wipe sampling: No.
* All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Back to Top
www.osha.gov
