Caustic Soda Liquid, 10 - 50 % (8589, 9028, 9101)

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: Corrosive! Harmful if inhaled, absorbed through skin, or swallowed. Causes severe skin and eye burns. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause discoloration and erosion of teeth. Vapours are extremely irritating to eyes and respiratory tract. See "Other Health Effects" Section. This product is often transported and handled hot. Contact with heated material may cause thermal burns. Can decompose at high temperatures forming toxic gases. Contents may develop pressure on prolonged exposure to heat.

Potential health effects

Inhalation: Corrosive! Product may cause severe irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. Repeated and/or prolonged exposures may cause productive cough, running nose, bronchopneumonia, pulmonary edema (fluid build-up in lungs), and reduction of pulmonary function. Toxic effects may be delayed. Airborne concentration of dust, mist or spray may cause damage to the lung tissue which could produce chemical pneumonia. Can cause injury to entire respiratory tract. See "Other Health Effects" Section. Skin Contact: Corrosive! Burns (chemical) can occur if not promptly removed. Concentrated solutions may cause pain and deep and severe burns to the skin. Prolonged and repeated exposure to dilute solutions often causes irritation, redness, pain and drying and cracking of the skin. Prolonged and repeated contact may lead to dermatitis. Skin Absorption: Corrosive! Skin absorption is a secondary concern to the continual destruction of tissue while the product is in contact with the skin. Burns (chemical) can occur if not promptly removed. Eye Contact: Extremely corrosive! This product causes corneal scarring and clouding. Glaucoma, cataracts and permanent blindness may occur. Prolonged and repeated exposure may cause visual disturbances. Ingestion: Corrosive! This product causes severe burning and pain in the mouth, throat and abdomen. Vomiting, diarrhea and perforation of the esophagus and stomach lining may occur.

Other Health Effects

Corrosive effects on the skin and eyes may be delayed, and damage may occur without the sensation or onset of pain. Strict adherence to first aid measures following any exposure is essential. May cause chemical pneumonitis bluish lips and skin pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema is the build- up of fluid in the lungs that might be fatal. Symptoms of pulmonary edema, such as shortness of breath, may not appear until several hours after exposure and are aggravated by physical exertion. (4) Corrosive to all body tissues with which it comes in contact. The effect of local dermal exposure may consist of multiple areas of superficial destruction of the skin or of primary irritant dermatitis. Similarly, inhalation of dust, spray or mist may result in varying degrees of irritation or damage to the respiratory tract tissues and an increased susceptibility to respiratory illness. These effects occur only when the TLV is exceeded. (3) Regardless of concentrations, the severity of damage and extent of its irreversibility increases with length of contact time. Prolonged contact with even dilute Sodium Hydroxide solution can cause a high degree of tissue destruction. The latent period, following skin contact during which no sensation of irritation occurs, varies from several hours for 0.4-4% solution to 3 minutes with 25-50% solution. (3)