Hydrated Portland Cement (CAS 65997-15-1)

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA Emergency Overview Exposure of sufficient duration to ready mixed concrete can cause serious, potentially irreversible tissue (skin or eye) destruction in the form of chemical (caustic) burns.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Eye contact, skin contact, and ingestion. Effects Resulting from Eye Contact: Eye contact by splashes of concrete may cause effects ranging from moderate eye irritation to chemical burns or blindness. Such exposures require immediate first aid (see Section 4) and medical attention to prevent significant damage to the eye. Effects Resulting from Skin Contact: Discomfort or pain cannot be relied upon to alert a person to hazardous skin exposure. Consequently, the only effective means of avoiding skin injury or illness involves minimizing skin contact, with concrete. Exposed persons may not feel discomfort until hours after the exposure has ended and significant injury has occurred. Exposure to concrete may cause more severe skin effects including thickening, cracking or fissuring of the skin. Prolonged exposure can cause severe skin damage in the form of (alkali) chemical burns. Some individuals may exhibit an allergic response upon exposure to concrete, possibly due to trace elements of chromium. The response may appear in a variety of forms ranging from a mild rash to severe skin ulcers. Persons already sensitized may react to their first contact with the product. Other persons may first experience this effect after years of contact with concrete products. Effects Resulting from Ingestion: Although small quantities of concrete are not known to be harmful, ill effects are possible if larger quantities are consumed. Concrete should not be eaten. Carcinogenic potential: Concrete is not listed as a carcinogen by NTP, OSHA, or IARC. It may however, contain trace amounts of substances listed as carcinogens by these organizations. Crystalline silica, a potential component in concrete, is now classified by IARC as known human carcinogen (Group I). NTP has characterized respirable silica as "reasonably anticipated to be [a] carcinogen". Medical conditions which may be aggravated by dermal exposure: Unusual (hyper) sensitivity to hexavalent chromium (chromium+6) salts.