May 1994

Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)

Ammonia

CAS number: 7664-41-7

NIOSH REL: 25 ppm (18 mg/m3) TWA, 35 ppm (27 mg/m3) STEL

Current OSHA PEL: 50 ppm (35 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: 35 ppm (27 mg/m3) STEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 25 ppm (17 mg/m3) TWA, 35 ppm (24 mg/m3) STEL

Description of substance: Colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor.

LEL: 15% (10% LEL, 15,000 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 500 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [1971] that 300 to 500 ppm for 30 to 60 minutes have been reported as a maximum short exposure tolerance [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. AIHA [1971] also reported that 5,000 to 10,000 ppm are reported to be fatal [Mulder and Van der Zahm 1967] and exposures for 30 minutes to 2,500 to 6,000 ppm are considered dangerous to life [Smyth 1956].

Existing short-term exposure:
1988 American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs)

ERPG-1: 25 ppm
ERPG-2: 200 ppm
ERPG-3: 1,000 ppm

National Research Council [NRC 1987] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs)

1-hour EEGL: 100 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 100 ppm

U.S. Navy Standards [U.S. Bureau of Ships 1962] Maximum allowable concentrations (MACs):

Continuous exposure (60 days): 25 ppm
1 hour: 400 ppm

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50(ppm)	LCLo(ppm)	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)	Derived Value
Rat	Alarie 1981	40,300	-----	10 min	23,374 ppm (0.58)	2,337 ppm
Rat	Alarie 1981	28,595	-----	20 min	23,448 ppm (0.82)	2,335 ppm
Rat	Alarie 1981	20,300	-----	40 min	23,345 ppm (1.15)	2,335 ppm
Rat	Alarie 1981	11,590	-----	1 hr	16,342 ppm (1.41)	1,634 ppm
Rat	Back et al. 1972	7,338	-----	1 hr	10,347 ppm (1.41)	1,035 ppm
Mouse	Back et al. 1972	4,837	-----	1 hr	6,820 ppm (1.41)	682 ppm
Rabbit	Boyd et al. 1944	9,859	-----	1 hr	13,901 ppm (1.41)	1,309 ppm
Cat	Boyd et al. 1944	9,859	-----	1 hr	13,901 ppm (1.41)	1,309 ppm
Rat	Deichmann and Gerarde 1969	2,000	-----	4 hr	5,660 ppm (2.83)	566 ppm
Mammal	Flury 1928	-----	5,000	5 min	2,050 ppm (0.41)	205 ppm
Mouse	Kapeghian et al. 1982	4,230	-----	1 hr	5,964 ppm (1.41)	596 ppm
Human	Tab Biol Per 1933	-----	5,000	5 min	2,050 ppm (0.41)	205 ppm

*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 2.0 [ten Berge et al. 1986].

Other animal data:RD50 (mouse), 303 ppm [Appelman et al. 1982].

Other human data: The maximum short exposure tolerance has been reported as being 300 to 500 ppm for 0.5 to 1 hour [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. A change in respiration rate and moderate to severe irritation has been reported in 7 subjects exposed to 500 ppm for 30 minutes [Silverman et al. 1946].

Revised IDLH: 300 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ammonia is 300 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Henderson and Haggard 1943; Silverman et al. 1946].

REFERENCES:

AIHA [1971]. Anhydrous ammonia. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 32:139-142.
Alarie Y [1981]. Dose-response analysis in animal studies: prediction of human responses. Environ Health Perspect 42:9-13.
Appelman LM, ten Barge WF, Reuzel PGJ [1982]. Acute inhalation toxicity study of ammonia in rats with variable exposure periods. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 43:662-665.
Back KC, Thomas AA, MacEwen JD [1972]. Reclassification of materials listed as transportation health hazards. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: 6570th Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Report No. TSA-20-72-3, pp. A-172 to A-173.
Boyd EM, MacLachlan ML, Perry WF [1944]. Experimental ammonia gas poisoning in rabbits and cats. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 26:29-34.
Deichmann WB, Gerarde HW [1969]. Trifluoroacetic acid (3FA). In: Toxicology of drugs and chemicals. New York, NY: Academic Press, Inc., p. 607.
Flury F [1928]. Moderne gewerbliche vergiftungen in pharmakologisch-toxikologischer hinsicht (Pharmacological-toxicological aspects of intoxicants in modern industry). Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 138:65-82 (translated).
Henderson Y, Haggard HW [1943]. Noxious gases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, p. 126.
Kapeghian JC, Jones AB, Mincer HH, Verlangieri AJ, Waters IW [1982]. The toxicity of ammonia gas in the mouse. Fed Proc 41:1568 [Abstract #7586].
Mulder JS, Van der Zahm HO [1967]. Fatal case of ammonium poisoning. Tydschrift Voor Sociale Geneeskunde (Amsterdam) 45:458-460 (translated).
NRC [1987]. Emergency and continuous exposure guidance levels for selected airborne contaminants. Vol. 7. Ammonia, hydrogen chloride, lithium bromide, and toluene. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council, pp. 7-15.
Silverman L, Whittenberger JL, Muller J [1946]. Physiological response of man to ammonia in low concentrations. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 31:74-78.
Smyth HF Jr [1956]. Improved communication: hygienic standards for daily inhalation. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 17(2):129-185.
Tab Biol Per [1933]; 3:231-296 (in German).
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.
U.S. Bureau of Ships [1962]. Submarine atmosphere habitability data book. AVSHIPS 250-649-1. Rev. 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Navy, U.S. Bureau of Ships, p. 629.