United States
Environmental Protection
1=1 m m Agency
EPA/690/R-12/019F
Final
4-03-2012
Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values for
Iron Sulfide
(CASRN 11126-12-8)
Superfund Health Risk Technical Support Center
National Center for Environmental Assessment
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, OH 45268

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AUTHORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND REVIEWERS
CHEMICAL MANAGER
Harlal Choudhury, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH
DRAFT DOCUMENT PREPARED BY
National Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati, OH
This document was externally peer reviewed under contract to
Eastern Research Group, Inc.
110 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington, MA 02421-3136
Questions regarding the contents of this document may be directed to the U.S. EPA Office of
Research and Development's National Center for Environmental Assessment, Superfund Health
Risk Technical Support Center (513-569-7300).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS	iii
BACKGROUND	1
DISCLAIMERS	1
QUESTIONS REGARDING PPRTVS	 1
INTRODUCTION	2
REVIEW OF POTENTIALLY RELEVANT DATA (CANCER AND NONCANCER)	3
DERIVATION 01 PROVISIONAL VALUES	3
CANCER WOE DESCRIPTOR	3
MODE-OF-ACTION (MOA) DISCUSSION	3
REFERENCES	4
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COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS
BMC
benchmark concentration
BMCL
benchmark concentration lower bound 95% confidence interval
BMD
benchmark dose
BMDL
benchmark dose lower bound 95% confidence interval
HEC
human equivalent concentration
HED
human equivalent dose
IUR
inhalation unit risk
LOAEL
lowest-observed-adverse-effect level
LOAELadj
LOAEL adjusted to continuous exposure duration
LOAELhec
LOAEL adjusted for dosimetric differences across species to a human
NOAEL
no-ob served-adverse-effect level
NOAELadj
NOAEL adjusted to continuous exposure duration
NOAELhec
NOAEL adjusted for dosimetric differences across species to a human
NOEL
no-ob served-effect level
OSF
oral slope factor
p-IUR
provisional inhalation unit risk
POD
point of departure
p-OSF
provisional oral slope factor
p-RfC
provisional reference concentration (inhalation)
p-RfD
provisional reference dose (oral)
RfC
reference concentration (inhalation)
RfD
reference dose (oral)
UF
uncertainty factor
UFa
animal-to-human uncertainty factor
UFC
composite uncertainty factor
UFd
incomplete-to-complete database uncertainty factor
UFh
interhuman uncertainty factor
UFl
LOAEL-to-NOAEL uncertainty factor
UFS
subchronic-to-chronic uncertainty factor
WOE
weight of evidence
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PROVISIONAL PEER-REVIEWED TOXICITY VALUES FOR
IRON SULFIDE (CASRN 11126-12-8)
BACKGROUND
A Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Value (PPRTV) is defined as a toxicity value
derived for use in the Superfund Program. PPRTVs are derived after a review of the relevant
scientific literature using established Agency guidance on human health toxicity value
derivations. All PPRTV assessments receive internal review by a standing panel of National
Center for Environment Assessment (NCEA) scientists and an independent external peer review
by three scientific experts.
The purpose of this document is to provide support for the hazard and dose-response
assessment pertaining to chronic and subchronic exposures to substances of concern, to present
the major conclusions reached in the hazard identification and derivation of the PPRTVs, and to
characterize the overall confidence in these conclusions and toxicity values. It is not intended to
be a comprehensive treatise on the chemical or toxicological nature of this substance.
The PPRTV review process provides needed toxicity values in a quick turnaround
timeframe while maintaining scientific quality. PPRTV assessments are updated approximately
on a 5-year cycle for new data or methodologies that might impact the toxicity values or
characterization of potential for adverse human health effects and are revised as appropriate. It is
important to utilize the PPRTV database flittp://hhpprtv.ornl.gov) to obtain the current
information available. When a final Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment is
made publicly available on the Internet (www.epa.eov/iris). the respective PPRTVs are removed
from the database.
DISCLAIMERS
The PPRTV document provides toxicity values and information about the adverse effects
of the chemical and the evidence on which the value is based, including the strengths and
limitations of the data. All users are advised to review the information provided in this
document to ensure that the PPRTV used is appropriate for the types of exposures and
circumstances at the site in question and the risk management decision that would be supported
by the risk assessment.
Other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs or external parties who
may choose to use PPRTVs are advised that Superfund resources will not generally be used to
respond to challenges, if any, of PPRTVs used in a context outside of the Superfund program.
QUESTIONS REGARDING PPRTVS
Questions regarding the contents and appropriate use of this PPRTV assessment should
be directed to the EPA Office of Research and Development's National Center for
Environmental Assessment, Superfund Health Risk Technical Support Center (513-569-7300).
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INTRODUCTION
Iron sulfide, CAS No. 11126-12-8, is a compound with the molecular formula Fe2S3. No
further information could be located specifically on iron sulfide. A table of physicochemical
properties for iron sulfide is provided below (see Table 1).
Table 1. Physicochemical Properties of Iron Sulfide (CASRN 11126-12-8)a
Property (unit)
Value
Boiling point (°C)
ND
Melting point (°C)
ND
Density (g/cm )
ND
Vapor pressure (Pa at 25°C)
ND
pH (unitless)
ND
Solubility in water (g/100 mL at 25°C)
ND
Relative vapor density (air =1)
ND
Molecular weight (g/mol)
207.888
aNLM (2011).
ND = no data.
No reference dose (RfD), reference concentration (RfC), or cancer assessment for iron
sulfide is included in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Integrated Risk
Information System (IRIS) (U.S. EPA, 201 la) or on the Drinking Water Standards and Health
Advisories List (U.S. EPA, 201 lb). No RfD or RfC values are reported in the Health Effects
Assessment Summary Tables (HEAST) (U.S. EPA, 201 lc). The Chemical Assessments and
Related Activities (CARA) list does not include a Health and Environmental Effects Profile
(HEEP) for iron sulfide (U.S. EPA, 1994). The toxicity of iron sulfide has not been reviewed by
the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR, 2011) or the World Health
Organization (WHO, 2011). The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA, 2008,
2011) has not derived toxicity values for exposure to iron sulfide. No occupational exposure
limits for iron sulfide have been derived or recommended by the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH, 2011), the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH, 2007), or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA, 2006). Since elemental iron is an essential metal, the Institute of Medicine (NAS, 2001)
has provided an upper level of iron intake value of 40-45 mg/day for healthy adults. This
recommended upper intake value is equivalent to 200-225 mg of soluble ferrous sulfate/day.
The HEAST (U.S. EPA, 201 lc) does not report a U.S. EPA (1986) cancer
weight-of-evidence (WOE) classification or an oral slope factor for iron sulfide. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2011) has not reviewed the carcinogenic
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potential of iron sulfide. Iron sulfide is not included in the 12th Report on Carcinogens (NTP,
2011). CalEPA (2009) has not prepared a quantitative estimate of the carcinogenic potential of
iron sulfide.
Literature searches were conducted on sources published from 1900 through
October 19, 2011 for studies relevant to the derivation of provisional toxicity values for iron
sulfide, CAS No. 11126-12-8. Searches were conducted using U.S. EPA's Health and
Environmental Research Online (HERO) database of scientific literature. HERO searches the
following databases: AGRICOLA; American Chemical Society; BioOne; Cochrane Library;
DOE: Energy Information Administration, Information Bridge, and Energy Citations Database;
EBSCO: Academic Search Complete; GeoRef Preview; GPO: Government Printing Office;
Informaworld; IngentaConnect; J-STAGE: Japan Science & Technology; JSTOR: Mathematics
& Statistics and Life Sciences; NSCEP/NEPIS (EPA publications available through the National
Service Center for Environmental Publications [NSCEP] and National Environmental
Publications Internet Site [NEPIS] database); PubMed: MEDLINE and CANCERLIT databases;
SAGE; Science Direct; Scirus; Scitopia; SpringerLink; TOXNET (Toxicology Data Network):
ANEUPL, CCRIS, ChemlDplus, CIS, CRISP, DART, EMIC, EPIDEM, ETICBACK, FEDRIP,
GENE-TOX, HAPAB, HEEP, HMTC, HSDB, IRIS, ITER, LactMed, Multi-Database Search,
NIOSH, NTIS, PESTAB, PPBIB, RISKLINE, TRI; and TSCATS; Virtual Health Library; Web
of Science (searches Current Content database among others); World Health Organization; and
Worldwide Science. The following databases outside of HERO were searched for risk
assessment values: ACGM, AT SDR, CalEPA, U.S. EPA IRIS, U.S. EPA HEAST, U.S. EPA
HEEP, U.S. EPA OW, U.S. EPA TSCATS/TSCATS2, NIOSH, NTP, OSHA, and RTECS.
REVIEW OF POTENTIALLY RELEVANT DATA
(CANCER AND NONCANCER)
No information is available regarding repeat-dose oral or inhalation exposure of humans
or animals to iron sulfide.
DERIVATION OF PROVISIONAL VALUES
Limitations in the available data preclude development of both cancer and noncancer
toxicity values for iron sulfide.
CANCER WOE DESCRIPTOR
Limitations in the available data preclude development of a WOE descriptor.
MODE-OF-ACTION (MOA) DISCUSSION
Limitations in the available data preclude determination of a MOA discussion.
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REFERENCES
ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists). (2011) 2011 TLVs and
BEIs: Based on the documentation of the threshold limit values for chemical substances and
physical agents and biological exposure indices. Cincinnati, OH: ACGIH. Available online at
http://www.acgih.org/store/ProductPetai 1.cfm?id=2147. 783980.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). (2011) Toxicological profile
information sheet. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Atlanta, GA. Available online at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/index.asp. Accessed on
9/6/2011. 684152.
CalEPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). (2008) All OEHHA acute, 8-hour and
chronic reference exposure levels (chRELs) as of December 18, 2008. Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment, Sacramento, CA. Search all RELs. Available online at
http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/allrels.html. Accessed on 9/6/2011. 595416.
CalEPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). (2009) Hot spots unit risk and cancer
potency values. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Sacramento, CA.
Available online at http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/hot spots/2009/AppendixA.pdf. Accessed on
9/6/2011. 684164.
CalEPA (California Environmental Protection Agency). (2011) OEHHA toxicity criteria
database. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Sacramento, CA. Available
online at http://www.oehha.ca.gov/tcdb. Accessed on 9/6/2011. 783987.
NAS (National Academy of Science). (2001) Dietary reference intakes: Elements. Institute of
Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board, Washington, DC. Available online at
http://www.iom.edU/~/media/Files/Activitv%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/DRI Elements.pdf.
IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). (2011) Monographs on the evaluation of
carcinogenic risks to humans. Lyon, France: IARC. Available online at
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/PDFs/index.php. Accessed on 9/6/2011. 783869.
NLM (National Library of Medicine). (2011) ChemlDPlus [database]. Available online at
http://chern.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidptus/chemidheavv.isp. Accessed on 9/6/2011. 629639.
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). (2007) NIOSH pocket guide to
chemical hazards. Index by CASRN. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/20Q5-
149/. Accessed on 9/6/2011. 192177.
NTP (National Toxicology Program). (2011) Report on carcinogens, 12th edition.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of
Health, Research Triangle Park, NC. Available online at
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/rocl2.pdf. Accessed on 9/6/2011. 737606.
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OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). (2006) Table Z-l limits for air
contaminants: occupational safety and health standards, subpart Z, toxic and hazardous
substances. U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC; OSHA Standard 1910.1000. Available
online at http://63.234.227.130/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show document?p table=STANDARDS&
p id 9992 Accessed on 9/6/201 1. 670067.
U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). (1986) Guidelines for carcinogen risk
assessment. Risk Assessment Forum, Washington, DC; EPA/630/R-00/004. September 1986.
Available online at http://epa.gov/raf/publications/pdfs/CA%20GUIDELINES 1986.PDF.
199530.
U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). (1994) Chemical assessments and related
activities (CARA). Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC;
EPA/600/R-94/904. Available online at
nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cai?Dockey=6000lG8L.txt. 596444.
U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). (201 la) Integrated risk information system
(IRIS). Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment,
Washington, DC. Available online at http://www.epa.gov/iris/. Accessed 9/6/2011. 003752.
U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). (201 lb) 2011 Edition of the drinking water
standards and health advisories. Office of Water, Washington, DC; EPA/820/R-11/002.
Available online at http://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/drinking index.cfm.
Accessed 9/6/2011. 783978.
U.S. EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). (201 lc) Health effects assessment
summary tables (HEAST). Prepared by the Office of Research and Development, National
Center for Environmental Assessment, Cincinnati OH for the Office of Emergency and Remedial
Response, Washington, DC. Available online at http://epa-heast.ornl.gov/. Accessed 9/6/2011.
595422.
WHO (World Health Organization). (2011) Online catalogs for the Environmental Health
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