Tricalcium Phosphate

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: Dust is mildly irritating to respiratory tract. See "Other Health Effects" Section. Can decompose at high temperatures forming toxic gases.

Potential health effects

Inhalation: Product may be mildly irritating to the nose, throat and respiratory tract and may cause coughing and sneezing. Excessive contact with powder may cause drying of mucous membranes of nose and throat due to absorption of moisture and oils. See "Other Health Effects" Section. Skin Contact: Skin contact can cause irritation, especially under the finger nails (and other confined spaces such as under rings or watch bands). May cause defatting, drying and cracking of the skin. Prolonged and repeated contact may lead to dermatitis. Skin Absorption: Not likely to be absorbed through the skin. Eye Contact: This product may cause irritation, redness and possible damage due to abrasiveness. Excessive contact with powder may cause drying of mucous membranes of the eyes due to absorption of moisture and oils. Ingestion: This product may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort. Ingestion of very high levels may cause kidney damage, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.

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. Ingestion of large quantities of phosphate salts (over 1.0 grams for an adult) may cause an osmotic catharsis resulting in diarrhea and probable abdominal cramps. Larger doses such as 4-8 grams will almost certainly cause these effects in everyone. In healthy individuals most of the ingested salt will be excreted in the feces with the diarrhea and, thus, not cause any systemic toxicity. Doses greater than 10 grams hypothetically may cause systemic toxicity. (3) Phosphate salts have been studied extensively since they are used in food additives. Toxic effects on the kidney, parathyroid glands and bones have been reported in experimental animals exposed to high oral doses. These high doses are not considered relevant to occupational exposure. (4) Signs and symptoms of kidney damage generally progress from oliguria, to blood in the urine, to total renal failure. Since phosphates are slowly and incompletely absorbed in the gut, systemic reactions are unlikely when these salts are swallowed. Polyphosphates are thought to be hydrolyzed to orthophosphates before absorption, which may induce a metabolic acidosis. If appreciable amounts of the intact polymer are absorbed from the alimentary tract, hypocalcemic tetany (muscular contraction, pains, tingling, etc., caused by a deficiency of calcium salts) may be a danger due to the binding of ionized calcium. (3) May cause hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is characterized by abnormally high levels of Calcium in the circulating blood.