| Agent Name | Hydrogen bromide |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 10035-10-6 |
| Formula | Br-H |
| Major Category | Toxic Gases & Vapors |
| Synonyms | Anhydrous hydrogen bromide; Aqueous hydrogen bromide; Hydrobromic acid; [NIOSH] UN1048; UN1788 |
| Category | Acids, Inorganic |
| Description | Colorless gas with a sharp, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Often used in an aqueous solution.]; [NIOSH] |
| Sources/Uses | Used in synthesis of organic compounds and bromides; also used to dissolve ores and catalyze alkylation; [ACGIH] Dilute HBr used in holography (color bleach); [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html] |
| Comments | Aqueous hydrogen bromide = Hydrobromic acid; [NIOSH] Skin contact with acid solutions may cause burns. HBr, compared to HCl, is more toxic to rats, and considerably more toxic to mice in acute inhalation studies. [ACGIH] Highly corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] The following chemicals can release HBr when spilled in water: Boron tribromide, Phosphorus pentabromide, Acetyl bromide, and Aluminum bromide. [ERG 2016] See the Process, "Toxic Gas from Spilling Chemical in Water." Hydrogen bromide is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans. |
| Exposure Assessment | |
| Skin Designation (ACGIH) | Insufficient data |
| TIH | Yes |
| Ceiling (ACGIH) | 2 ppm |
| PEL (OSHA) | 3 ppm |
| MAK | 2 ppm |
| IDLH (NIOSH) | 30 ppm |
| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs | Other animal data: Hydrogen bromide (with a rat 1hour LC50 of 2,858 ppm [Back et al. 1972]) is about as acutely toxic as hydrogen chloride (with a rat 1hour LC50 of 3,124 ppm [MacEwen and Vernot 1974]). . . . Human data: Volunteers noted nose and throat irritation at 2 to 6 ppm after several minutes [Clayton and Clayton 1981]. It has been reported that 1,300 to 2,000 ppm are lethal in exposures lasting a few minutes [NRC 1981]. |
| Odor Threshold Low | 2 ppm |
| Lethal Concentration | LC50 (rat) = 2,858 ppm/1H |
| Explanatory Notes | Odor threshold from CHEMINFO; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Hydrogen bromide, anhydrous." |
| Reference Link | |
| Adverse Effects | |
| Toxic Pneumonitis | Yes |
| Fibrogenic | Yes |
| Dermatotoxin | Skin Burns |
| Links to Other NLM Databases | |
| Health Studies | Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: |
| Toxicity Information | |
| Chemical Information | |
| Related Information in HazMap | |
| Diseases | Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: |
| Processes | Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: |
Agent Name
Hydrogen bromide
CAS Number
10035-10-6
Formula
Br-H
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Synonyms
Anhydrous hydrogen bromide; Aqueous hydrogen bromide; Hydrobromic acid; [NIOSH] UN1048; UN1788
Category
Acids, Inorganic
Description
Colorless gas with a sharp, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Often used in an aqueous solution.]; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used in synthesis of organic compounds and bromides; also used to dissolve ores and catalyze alkylation; [ACGIH] Dilute HBr used in holography (color bleach); [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html]
Comments
Aqueous hydrogen bromide = Hydrobromic acid; [NIOSH] Skin contact with acid solutions may cause burns. HBr, compared to HCl, is more toxic to rats, and considerably more toxic to mice in acute inhalation studies. [ACGIH] Highly corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] The following chemicals can release HBr when spilled in water: Boron tribromide, Phosphorus pentabromide, Acetyl bromide, and Aluminum bromide. [ERG 2016] See the Process, "Toxic Gas from Spilling Chemical in Water." Hydrogen bromide is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans.
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
TIH
Yes
Ceiling (ACGIH)
2 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
3 ppm
MAK
2 ppm
IDLH (NIOSH)
30 ppm
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
Other animal data: Hydrogen bromide (with a rat 1hour LC50 of 2,858 ppm [Back et al. 1972]) is about as acutely toxic as hydrogen chloride (with a rat 1hour LC50 of 3,124 ppm [MacEwen and Vernot 1974]). . . . Human data: Volunteers noted nose and throat irritation at 2 to 6 ppm after several minutes [Clayton and Clayton 1981]. It has been reported that 1,300 to 2,000 ppm are lethal in exposures lasting a few minutes [NRC 1981].
Odor Threshold Low
2 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 2,858 ppm/1H
Explanatory Notes
Odor threshold from CHEMINFO; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Hydrogen bromide, anhydrous."
Reference Link
Adverse Effects
Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Fibrogenic
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin Burns
Links to Other NLM Databases
Toxicity Information
Chemical Information
Related Information in HazMap
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: