Agent Name |
Zinc chloride fume |
CAS Number |
7646-85-7 |
Formula |
Cl2-Zn |
Major Category |
Metals |
Synonyms |
Butter of zinc; Zinc chloride, anhydrous; Zinc dichloride; Zinc butter; [CHEMINFO] |
Category |
Metals, Inorganic Compounds |
Description |
White particulate dispersed in air; [NIOSH] |
Sources/Uses |
Zinc chloride is used as a soldering flux, battery electrolyte, and crowd control agent; also used in iron galvanizing, textiles, adhesives, deodorants, wood preserving, and petroleum refining; [ACGIH] Used as a glazing flux in glassblowing; [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html] |
Comments |
Asthma reported in a solderer and a locksmith; [Malo] At a concentration of 0.4 mg/m3, ZnCl2 caused no respiratory irritation; at 4.8 mg/m3 for 30 minutes, transient respiratory irritation occurred. Higher concentrations after industrial accidents have been associated with toxic pneumonitis. [ACGIH] Zinc chloride is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract; [ICSC] |
Reference Link |
Occupational asthma due to soft corrosive soldering fluxes containing zinc chloride and ammonium chloride |
Exposure Assessment |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
TLV (ACGIH) |
1 mg/m3 |
STEL (ACGIH) |
2 mg/m3 |
PEL (OSHA) |
1 mg/m3 |
IDLH (NIOSH) |
50 mg/m3 |
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Human data: A 30�minute exposure to 4.8 mg/m3 has been reported to produce respiratory distress [Ferry 1974]. Exposure to 80 mg/m3 has caused nausea and coughing and 120 mg/m3 for 2 minutes has caused nose and upper respiratory system irritation [Cullumbine 1957]. |
Lethal Concentration |
LCLo (rats) = 1,960 mg/m3/10 min |
Half Life |
For zinc, whole body: 162-500 days; [TDR, p. 1245] |
Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Zinc |
Adverse Effects |
Asthma |
Yes |
Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: ZINC CHLORIDE
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