IDLH
IDLH is an acronym for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health, and is defined by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as exposure to airborne contaminants that is "likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such an environment." Examples include smoke or other poisonous gases at sufficiently high concentrations. (It is also known as IDHL Immediately Dangerous to Health or Life)
The OSHA regulation (1910.134(b)) defines the term as "an atmosphere that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual's ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere."[1]
IDLH values are often used to guide the selection of breathing apparatus that are made available to workers or firefighters in specific situations.
The NIOSH definition does not include oxygen deficiency (below 19.5 percent) although atmosphere-supplying breathing apparatus is also required. Examples include high altitudes and unventilated, confined spaces.
The OSHA definition is arguably broad enough to include oxygen-deficient circumstances in the absence of "airborne contaminants," as well as many other chemical, thermal, or pneumatic hazards to life or health (e.g., pure helium, super-cooled or super-heated air, hyperbaric or hypo-baric or submerged chambers, etc.). It also uses the broader term "impair", rather than "prevent", with respect to the ability to escape. For example, blinding but non-toxic smoke could be considered IDLH under the OSHA definition if it would impair the ability to escape a "dangerous" but not life-threatening atmosphere (such as tear gas).
The OSHA definition is part of a legal standard, which is the minimum legal requirement. Users or employers are encouraged to apply proper judgment to avoid taking unnecessary risks, even if the only immediate hazard is "reversible", such as temporary pain, disorientation, nausea, or non-toxic contamination.
Examples
The following examples are listed in reference to IDLH values.[2]
| Substance | IDLH |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | 40000 ppm (4% in a volume of air) |
| Trifluorobromomethane | 40000 ppm |
| Methyl alcohol | 6000 ppm |
| Ethanol (alcohol found in alcoholic beverages) | 3300 ppm |
| Acetone | 2500 ppm |
| Propane | 2100 ppm |
| Isopropyl alcohol | 2000 ppm |
| Acetaldehyde | 2000 ppm |
| Carbon monoxide | 1200 ppm |
| Octane | 1000 ppm |
| Turpentine | 800 ppm |
| Styrene | 700 ppm |
| Chloroform | 500 ppm |
| Benzene | 500 ppm |
| Toluene | 500 ppm |
| Ammonia | 300 ppm |
| Phenol | 250 ppm |
| Carbon tetrachloride (Halon/Freon) | 200 ppm |
| Sulfur dioxide | 100 ppm |
| Nitric oxide | 100 ppm |
| Hydrogen sulfide | 100 ppm |
| Acetic acid (Vinegar) | 50 ppm |
| Hydrogen cyanide | 50 ppm |
| Phosphine | 50 ppm |
| Nickel tetracarbonyl | 30 ppm |
| Fluorine | 25 ppm |
| Nitric acid | 25 ppm |
| Nitrogen dioxide | 20 ppm |
| Chlorine trifluoride | 20 ppm |
| Formaldehyde | 20 ppm |
| Diborane | 15 ppm |
| Chlorine (used in chemical weapons) | 10 ppm |
| Benzyl chloride (used in chemical weapons)[3] | 10 ppm |
| Dimethyl sulfate (used in chemical weapons)[4] | 7 ppm |
| Ozone | 5 ppm |
| Stibine | 5 ppm |
| Tetramethylsuccinonitrile | 5 ppm |
| Chlorine dioxide | 5 ppm |
| Tetranitromethane | 4 ppm |
| Bromine | 3 ppm |
| Methyl isocyanate | 3 ppm |
| Arsine | 3 ppm |
| Toluene diisocyanate | 2.5 ppm |
| Iodine | 2 ppm |
| Nickel carbonyl | 2 ppm |
| Diazomethane | 2 ppm |
| Selenium hexafluoride | 2 ppm |
| Acrolein | 2 ppm |
| Phosgene (used in chemical weapons) | 2 ppm |
| Chloropicrin (used in chemical weapons) | 2 ppm |
| Hydrogen selenide | 1 ppm |
| Tellurium hexafluoride | 1 ppm |
| Pentaborane | 1 ppm |
| Disulfur decafluoride (about 4 times as poisonous as phosgene) | 1 ppm |
| Sulfur mustard[5] | 0.7 ppm |
| Tabun or Sarin[6] | 0.1 ppm |
| Soman or Cyclosarin[6] | 0.05 ppm |
| VX[6] | 0.003 ppm |
References
- ↑ "Occupational Safety and Health Standards". Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ↑ "Chemical Listing and Documentation of Revised IDLH Values". NIOSH Publications and Products. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ↑ http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/benzylch.html
- ↑ http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/di-sulfa.html
- ↑ "The Emergency Response Safety and Health Database". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Nerve Agents". U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 7 July 2012.