Phosgene

Synonyms

Carbon dichloride oxide; Carbon oxychloride; Carbone (oxychlorure de) [French]; Carbonic acid dichloride; Carbonic chloride; Carbonic dichloride; Carbonio (ossicloruro di) [Italian]; Carbonyl chloride; Carbonyl dichloride; Carbonylchlorid [German]; Chloroformyl chloride; Combat gas; Fosgeen [Dutch]; Fosgen [Polish]; Fosgene [Italian]; Koolstofoxychloride [Dutch]; Phosgen; Phosgen [German]; [ChemIDplus] UN1076

Category

Acid Halides

Description

Colorless gas with a suffocating odor like musty hay; Note: A fuming liquid below 47 degrees F. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH] Vapor density = 3.4 (heavier than air); [HSDB]

Sources/Uses

Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of many organic chemicals; also produced from thermal decomposition or photodecomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbons--the heat or UV light of welding can generate phosgene from degreasing solvents; [ACGIH]

Comments

Like ozone and nitrogen dioxide, phosgene is less soluble that other irritant inhalants and more likely to cause pulmonary edema without the signs of severe upper respiratory injury. [LaDou, p. 563-4] After a significant inhalation exposure, the onset of pulmonary edema may be delayed for up to 48 hours. [ATSDR Medical Management] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] See "Results from the US industry-wide phosgene surveillance: the Diller registry." [PMID 21293301] 2021 TLV Basis: pulmonary edema, emphysema; [ACGIH] Phosgene is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans.

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

Yes

0.02 ppm

0.1 ppm

0.41 ppm

2 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

It has been calculated that based on acute toxicity data in humans, the lethal dose for a 30­minute exposure would be about 17 ppm [Diller 1978]. It has been stated that 25 ppm for 30 to 60 minutes is dangerous and brief exposure to 50 ppm may be rapidly fatal [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. It has also been stated that 5 ppm is probably lethal for a 30­minute exposure [Jacobs 1967].

0.12 ppm

Odor Threshold High

5.7 ppm

LC50 (cats) = 190mg/m3/15 min

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from AIHA;

No reports found; [TDR, p. 1030]

Reference Link #2

will not burn

Not applicable

0.5 ppm

1.5 ppm

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Bronchiolitis obliterans
• Pneumonitis, toxic
• Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Burning Synthetic Polymers
• Firefighting
• Petroleum Production and Refining
• Welding