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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Hydrogen phosphide; Phosphorated hydrogen; Phosphorus hydride; Phosphorus trihydride

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2080

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7803-51-2

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: SY7525000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook [4 MB PDF, 392 pages]: 2199 119

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Phosphine: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

Exposure Limits

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 - 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A - 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards - 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.3 ppm, 0.42 mg/m3 TWA; 1 ppm, 1.4 mg/m3 STEL

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.3 ppm, 0.4 mg/m3 TWA; 1 ppm, 1 mg/m3 STEL

Health Factors

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 50 ppm

Potential Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea; thirst; chest pressure, dyspnea; muscle pain; chills; stupor or syncope; pulmonary edema (may be delayed); frostbite (from liquid); skin burns; numbness, paresthesia in fingers (from touching tablets); hypoglycemia, headache, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness; jaundice; cough with fluorescent green sputum; tremors; convulsions; cardiac arrhythmias; CHRONIC EXPOS.: Toothache, phossy jaw, spontaneous fractures of bones; anemia.

Health Effects: Acute and chronic systemic toxicity (CNS effects, focal myocardial necrosis; congestive heart failure, liver and kidney damage, lung edema, anemia) (HE4), (HE7), and (HE11); Explosive, Flammable (HE18)

Affected Organs: Respiratory system, CNS, heart, liver, kidneys

Notes:

  1. Gas/air mixtures are explosive. May ignite spontaneously in technical grade if sufficiently contaminated with P2H4
  2. Odor warning when the exposure limit value is exceeded is insufficient.
  3. Phosphine gas is generated when the pesticides, aluminum phosphide and magnesium phosphide come in contact with moisture.
  4. Although occupational exposure often involves workers who apply the fumigant, enter closed areas/containers of stored agricultural products (e.g., grain, dried beans) treated with aluminum phosphide, or are involved in phosphine fires and explosions (including firefighters), one reported case involved a law enforcement officer investigating an illicit methamphetamine manufacturing site.
  5. One study reported an association between the agricultural use of phosphine and elevated incidence of neurologic birth defects and neurobehavioral developmental effects in northwestern Minnesota.

Date Last Revised: 07/19/2004

Literature Basis:

  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Phosphine.
  • NIOSH Alert: Preventing Phosphine Poisoning and Explosions during Fumigation [152 KB PDF, 16 pages]. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99-126 (September 1999).
  • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Phosphine.
  • EPA Air Toxics Website: Phosphine. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network.
  • Brautbar, N. and Howard, J.: Phosphine toxicity: report of two cases and review of the literature. Toxicol. Ind. Health 18(2): 71-75, 2002.
  • Burgess, J.L.: Phosphine exposure from a methamphetamine laboratory investigation. J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 39(2): 165-168, 2001.
  • Garry, V.F., Harkins, M.E., Erickson, L.L., Long-Simpson, L.K., Holland, S.E. and Burroughs, B.L.: Birth defects, season of conception, and sex of children born to pesticide applicators living in the Red River Valley of Minnesota, USA. Environ. Health Perspec. 110(Suppl. 3): 441-449, 2002.
  • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Phosphine. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1862-1864.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

  • sampling media: Polyester Filter treated with Mercuric-Chloride
    maximum volume: 240 Liters
    maximum flow rate:     1.0 L/min (TWA)
    maximum volume: 30 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min (STEL)
    current analytical method: Inductively Coupled Plasma; ICP/AES
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1003)
    method classification: Fully Validated
    note: Place a glass fiber filter in front of the treated polyester filter to collect solid particles.

Wipe sampling: No.

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