Review of the Toxicity of Long-Term Phosgene Exposure

Abstract

An estimate of the phosgene concentration that would have no deleterious effects on persons working regularly with the agent and on people living in the surrounding areas was developed. After evaluating the available data, it is proposed that: (1) A nontoxic environmental concentration for a daily eight-hour exposure of workers (healthy adults medically evaluated and cleared for duty) is less than 0.08 mg/cu meter (0.02 ppm). (It is expected that in the event of accidental discharge of phosgene leading to concentrations in excess of the ceiling level for any period of time, corrective action will be taken before any additional phosgene is processed.) (2) For a population subject to a 24-hour per day exposure a nontoxic concentration is less than 0.0025 mg/cu meter (0.0006 ppm).