"ALBONE"

Potential health effects

Hydrogen peroxide may cause severe irritation or burns of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Splashes in the eye can cause severe eye damage with ulceration of the cornea, and may cause irreversible eye damage, including blindness. Skin exposure can result in bleaching of the skin and hair. Inhalation of concentrated vapors can cause irritation of the nose and throat with chest discomfort, cough, difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. Ingestion can cause irritation of the upper gastrointestinal tract with pain and distention of the stomach and esophagus due to liberation of oxygen. Gross overexposure by ingestion may be fatal. Skin contact with aqueous solutions of less than 50% may cause irritation with discomfort or rash. Higher or prolonged exposure may result in skin burns or ulceration. Evidence suggests that skin permeation can occur in amounts capable of producing systemic toxicity. Effects of eye contact with aqueous solutions of less than 5% may include eye irritation with discomfort, tearing, or blurring of vision. Higher or prolonged exposure may result in eye corrosion with corneal or conjunctival ulceration. Contact with aqueous concentrations of greater than 10% may result in eye corrosion with corneal or conjunctival ulceration with possible irreversible eye damage, including blindness. Overexposure by inhalation may cause irritation of the upper respiratory passages or nonspecific discomfort such as nausea, headache, or weakness. Higher inhalation exposures may lead to temporary lung irritation effects with cough, discomfort, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath; or fatality from gross overexposure. Ingestion may cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract with upper abdominal pain, "heartburn", nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. "Coffee grounds" vomitus and black tarry stools may occur as a result of gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Additional effects from overexposure include red blood cell destruction, or gas embolism. When used as colonic lavage, hydrogen peroxide has caused gas embolism and gangrene of the intestine at concentrations down to 0.75%. Gross overexposure by ingestion may be fatal. Individuals with preexisting diseases of the skin, eyes, or lungs may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive exposures. Continued) Carcinogenicity Information The following components are listed by IARC NTP