Sodium Carbonate / Soda Ash, Solid

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: Causes eye irritation. Sodium Carbonate is corrosive to aluminum. Dust is irritating to respiratory tract. See "Other Health Effects" Section. Can decompose at high temperatures forming toxic gases.

Potential health effects

Inhalation: Product is irritating to the nose, throat and respiratory tract. Skin Contact: This product may cause irritation. May cause more severe response if skin is abraded (scratched, scraped or cut). Prolonged, confined (especially under the finger nails, under rings or watch bands) or repeated exposure may cause skin irritation and possibly lead to (chemical) burns. Solid sodium carbonate is corrosive to aluminum but not to human tissue. Skin Absorption: A single, prolonged skin exposure is not likely to result in the absorption of toxic amounts of the material. Eye Contact: This product causes irritation, redness and pain and lachrymation (excessive tears). Ingestion: May irritate mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Ingestion of large amounts may cause nausea, gastrointestinal upset and abdominal pain. Ingestion is not a likely route of exposure.

Other Health Effects

Effects (irritancy) 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. Sodium salts have a hypothetical risk of hypernatremia. Hypernatraemia is a term that describes an abnormally high plasma concentration of sodium ions. This condition may lead to weakness, restlessness, dizziness, headache, convulsions and coma. (6) In the presence of moisture (perspiration), soda ash and lime dusts (CaO) combine to form corrosive caustic soda which may cause burns. (3) Long-term or repeated contact with sodium carbonate may result in dermatitis due to its' hygroscopic nature. (4) Prolonged inhalation of sodium carbonate dust has been related to perforations of the nasal septum. (4)