Oxalic Acid

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Physical State and Appearance Colourless, transparent crystals or powder Hazard Summary Corrosive

Principle Routes of Exposure

Skin and eye contact, inhalation, ingestion

Potential Acute Health Effects

Skin: Solutions of 5 % or higher are irritating to the skin, with prolonged exposure corrosive injury may occur. Excessive contact may produce localised pain and discolouration of the skin, with fingernails becoming brittle and blue-coloured. Eyes: Causes severe eye irritation. Can cause redness, pain and damage to the cornea. Prolonged contact with solutions can produce irreversible eye damage. Inhalation: May irritate nose, mouth and throat. Coughing, chest pains and difficulty breathing may occur. Also nausea, headache and vomiting. Ingestion: Can cause severe poisoning or death, depending on the concentration and amount ingested. Concentrated solutions (10% or greater) may cause burning in the mouth, throat and stomach, followed by profuse vomiting (sometime bloody – corrosive effects). Small does of oxalate in the body may cause headache, pain and twitching in the muscles and cramps. Larger doses can cause weak and irregular heartbeat, a drop in blood pressure and signs of heart failure. Large doses rapidly cause shock like state, convulsions, coma and possibly death. Delayed effect of ingestion is kidney damage, leading to possible renal failure.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

None known See Toxicological Information – Section 11 Additional Hazard None Identification Remarks