Chlorine

CAS number: 7782505

NIOSH REL: 0.5 ppm (1.45 mg/m
3
) 15-minute CEILING
Current OSHA PEL: 1 ppm (3 mg/m
3
) CEILING
1989 OSHA PEL: 0.5 ppm (1.5 mg/m
3
) TWA, 1 ppm (3 mg/m
3
) STEL
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.5 ppm (1.5 mg/m
3
) TWA, 1 ppm (2.9 mg/m
3
) STEL
Description of Substance: Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor.
LEL: . . Nonflammable Gas
Original (SCP) IDLH: 30 ppm
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ILO [1971]
that exposure to 30 ppm will cause intense coughing fits, and exposure to 40 to 60 ppm for
30 to 60 minutes or more may cause serious damage.
Existing short-term exposure guidelines: National Research Council [NRC 1984]
Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs):
1-hour EEGL: 3 ppm
24-hour EEGL: 0.5 ppm
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal concentration data:


Species

Reference
LC
50

(ppm)
LC
Lo

(ppm)

Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr
LC (CF*)
Derived
value
Rat
Mouse
G. pig
Human
Human
Back et al. 1972
Back et al. 1972
Lehmann 1887
Prentiss 1937
Tab Biol Per 1933
293
137
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
3,200
858
550
1 hr
1 hr
3 hr
30 min
5 min
357 ppm (1.22)
167 ppm (1.22)
5,342 ppm (1.67)
858 ppm (1.0)
330 ppm (0.60)
36 ppm
17 ppm
534 ppm
86 ppm
33 ppm

*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 3.5 [ten Berge et al. 1986].
Other animal data: RD
50
(mouse), 9.34 ppm [Alarie 1981].
Other human data: Exposures to 30 ppm have been reported to cause intense coughing fits
and exposure to 40 to 60 ppm for 30 to 60 minutes or more may cause serious damage [ILO
1971]. A concentration of 34 to 51 ppm has been reported to be lethal in 1 to 1.5 hours
[Freitag 1941] while 14 to 21 ppm has been suggested as being dangerous within 0.5 to
1 hour [NPIRI 1983].

Revised IDLH: 10 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for chlorine is 10 ppm based on acute inhalation
toxicity data in humans [Freitag 1941; ILO 1971; NPIRI 1983].

REFERENCES:
1. Alarie Y [1981]. Dose-response analysis in animal studies: prediction of human responses.
Environ Health Perspect 42:9-13.
2. 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-182 to A-183.
3. Freitag [1941]. Danger of chlorine gas. Z. Gesamte Schiess Sprengstoffwes.
4. ILO [1971]. Chlorine and compounds. In: Encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety.
2nd ed. Vol. I (A-K). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, pp. 287-288.
5. Lehmann KB [1887]. Experimentelle studien uber den einfluss technisch und hygienisch
wichtiger gase und dampfe auf den organismus. Thiel III und IV: Chlor und brom. Arch
Hyg 7:231-285 (in German).
6. NPIRI [1983]. Raw materials data handbook, physical and chemical properties, fire hazard
and health hazard data. Vol. II. 2nd ed. Organic solvents. Bethlehem, PA: National Printing
Ink Research Institute, pp. 831-857.
7. NRC [1984]. Emergency and continuous exposure limits for selected airborne
contaminants. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, Committee on Toxicology,
Board on Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, Commission on Life Sciences,
National Research Council, pp. 5-11.
8. Prentiss AM [1937]. Chemicals in war. A treatise on chemical warfare. New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., p. 150.
9. Tab Biol Per [1933]; 3:231 (in German).
10. 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.