| Agent Name |
Boron trifluoride |
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| CAS Number |
7637-07-2 |
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| Formula |
B-F3 |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Anca 1040; Borane, trifluoro-; Boron fluoride; Boron fluoride (BF3); Boron trifluoride; Fluorure de bore [French]; Trifluoroborane; Trifluoroboron; [ChemIDplus] UN1008 |
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| Category |
Corrosive Gases |
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| Description |
Colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor; Note: Forms dense white fumes in moist air. Shipped as a nonliquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used as a catalyst in the production of diborane, high-purity boron, and semiconductors; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Toxic effects in animals include pneumonitis and dental fluorosis in animals exposed to 12.8 ppm 5 days a week for up to 6 months; At 1.5 ppm, there was evidence of mild pneumonitis. [ACGIH] Burns caused by boron trifluoride are not as severe as those caused by hydrogen fluoride. [National Research Council, Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. 1981] A corrosive substance that causes lacrimation and may cause lung edema after inhalation of high concentrations; [ICSC] Decomposes in contact with moisture or when heated producing boric acid, HF, and fluoboric acid; [CAMEO] |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TIH |
Yes |
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| Ceiling (ACGIH) |
1 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) | Ceiling(OSHA) = 1 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
25 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other animal data: Exposure to a concentration of 100 ppm resulted in a uniformly high mortality rate in six laboratory species, and 15 ppm was occasionally fatal in 30-day studies [Stokinger et al. 1953]. Rats exposed 6 hours/day to 24 ppm or 2 weeks to 9 ppm showed signs of respiratory irritation, depression of body weight, increased lung weights, and depressed liver weights [Rusch et al. 1986]. |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
1.5 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 1,180 mg/m3/4H |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Odor threshold from AIHA; |
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| Half Life |
Whole body (for boron administered orally): complete removal within 96 hours; [TDR, p. 205] |
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| Reference Link |
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO) |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
0: will not burn |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Lacrimator |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: BORON TRIFLUORIDE
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