AMMONIUM SULFATE CAS N°: 7783-20-2

OECD SIDS
AMMONIUM SULFATE
also an endogenous substance that serves a major role in the maintenance of the acid-base balance.
Minor amounts of ammonium nitrogen are incorporated in the physiological N-pool. Sulfate is a
normal intermediate in the metabolism of endogenous sulfur compounds, and is excreted unchanged
or in conjugated form in urine.
3.1.2 Acute Toxicity
Studies in Animals
Inhalation
The acute inhalation toxicity of ammonium sulfate aerosols (average diameter 1 - 3 µm) is very low
with 8-h LC 50 values of greater than 900 mg/m 3 for guinea pigs. Rats were exposed repeatedly for
8 h/d to 1000 - 1200 mg/m 3 (average diameter 2 - 3 µm) without mortality. No specific signs of
toxicity were reported from these studies (Pepelko, Mattox and Cohen, 1980).
Mucociliary clearance was neither significantly affected in male rabbits that were exposed to
2 mg/m 3 for one hour (mass median diameter: 0.4 µm) (Schlesinger, 1984), nor in sheep that were
exposed to 1.1 mg/m 3 (< 1 µm) for 20 minutes (Sackner et al., 1981) nor in rats exposed to
3.6 mg/m 3 (0.4 µm) for 4 h (Phalen et al., 1980).
Pulmonary resistance was slightly increased and compliance was statistically significantly
decreased in guinea pigs exposed to 0.5 - 9.5 mg/m 3 for one hour (Amdur et al., 1978). Pulmonary
mechanics were not altered in dogs breathing ammonium sulfate aerosol at a concentration of
4.1 mg/m 3 for 4 h (Sackner et al., 1981).
Dermal
LD 50 values of > 2000 mg/kg bw are reported for rats and mice after dermal application of
ammonium sulfate. Details on clinical signs and necropsy findings were not given (Yamanaka et al.,
1990).
Oral
In rats, the oral LD 50 was determined to be 4250 mg/kg bw (95 % confidence limits: 3788 - 4769).
At doses near to or exceeding the LD 50 value, staggering, prostration, apathy, and laboured and
irregular breathing were observed immediately after dosing. On the next day, secretion out of eyes
and mouth, and reddened eyes and nose were seen. In the post-exposure observation days the
surviving animals were without clinical symptoms. No clinical signs were noted at doses up to and
including 2500 mg/kg bw (BASF AG, 1969).
In another study similar to OECD TG 423, LD 50 values of about 2000 mg/kg bw are reported for
rats and of > 2000 mg/kg bw in mice (Yamanaka et al., 1990). In a full LD 50 test according to the
Toxicity Guidelines of Japan (1984) an oral LD 50 for mice of 3040 mg/kg bw was obtained. Details
on clinical signs and necropsy findings were not given (Yamanaka et al., 1990).
Studies in Humans
Inhalation
As ammonium sulfate forms in the environment from ammonia and sulfur dioxide (see chapter
"environmental exposure"), in the 1970s and 1980s several studies of acidic aerosols on the lung
function in humans have been conducted. Most of the studies were performed with low,
environmentally relevant concentrations up to about 1 mg ammonium sulfate/m 3 .
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