Key Points

Fire

• Non-combustible gas under normal conditions
• Emits toxic vapours
• In the event of a fire involving phosgene, use fine water spray and wear liquid-tight protective clothing with breathing apparatus

Health

• Phosgene is extremely poisonous by inhalation, skin and eye exposure
• Inhalation at low concentrations may cause irritation to the airways
• Inhalation at high concentrations may cause breathlessness and coughing and possible delayed serious lung damage
• Signs of poisoning may be delayed by several hours
• Skin and eye exposure may cause irritation and burns
• The effect of long-term exposure is thought to cause similar symptoms as short-term exposure
• Phosgene is not thought to be carcinogenic or mutagenic

Environment

• Avoid release into environment
• Inform Environment Agency of any substantial release incidents

All sections are available to download in PDF format.

 

• Phosgene - Full Document (PDF, 166 KB)
  HPA Compendium of Chemical Hazards Phosgene, version 2, 2011. This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years or sooner if substantive evidence becomes available.
  Added/updated: 13 January 2012
  
• General Information - Phosgene (PDF, 78 KB)
  Phosgene General information
  Added/updated: 30 March 2011
  
• Incident Management - Phosgene (PDF, 69 KB)
  Phosgene Incident management, version 2, 2011.
  Added/updated: 13 January 2012
  
• Toxicological Overview - Phosgene (PDF, 103 KB)
  Phosgene Toxicological overview, version 2, 2011. This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years or sooner if substantive evidence becomes available.
  Added/updated: 30 March 2011