STAUROLITE SANDS

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Potential health effects

Eye contact with the product may cause irritation with discomfort, tearing, or blurring of vision. The product, as shipped, poses a minimal inhalation health hazard because it contains essentially no particles in the respirable size range. However, if during handling or use the particles are broken down to a size that can be inhaled, the dusts may be harmful to the respiratory system. Individuals with preexisting conditions of the lungs may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive exposures. Staurolite Products contain low quantities (<5%) of quartz. The predominant effect of overexposure to airborne respirable quartz in humans is silicosis. Silicosis is a chronic disease characterized by formation of silica-containing scar tissue in the lungs with symptoms of coughing, dyspnea, wheezing and nonspecific respiratory ailments. Very high short exposures to Crystalline Silica Continued) may lead to fatality from gross overexposure. Several recent epidemiology studies have shown that in addition to silicosis, there is limited evidence of an excess of lung cancer in occupations involving exposures mainly to Crystalline Silica, such as stone cutters and granite industry workers. Staurolite Products contain trace quantities of naturally Occurring radioactive uranium and thorium (less than or equal to 25 ppm uranium plus 175 ppm thorium = 200 ppm total U + Th or 0.02 % w/w, equivalent to 28 pCi/g or less), and radium (less than or equal to 28 pCi/g). Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, namely uranium, thorium, and their decay products, including radium, is commonly referred to as "NORM". The main radiological hazard from the product is internal exposure from small amounts of alpha particles given off by inhaled dust. Industrial hygiene practices aimed at control of airborne dust can lessen the potential for exposure. Overexposure by inhalation to inhaled dusts containing radioactive uranium, thorium, and radium may cause lung cancer. Low level gamma radiation in proximity to bulk or bagged stockpiles of Staurolite or Biasill may present a lesser, external exposure that can be managed by limiting close proximity for long time periods to large volumes of material. Staurolite is exempt from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations for source material per 10 CFR 40, since it falls under the definition of "unimportant quantity source material" containing less than 0.05% uranium or thorium. Some states may apply NRC type radiation protection standards for NORM above background levels, or may have NORM specific regulations that are determined based upon the radium content. It is recommended that you consult with current regulations. With respect to dust exposure for standard grade products, evaluation and calculation of OSHA PEL’s (29 CFR 1910), ACGIH TLV’s, and dosimetry (ICRP 68) yield the following guidance to ensure that inhalation intake is less than OSHA and ACGIH limits for zircon, less than OSHA and ACGIH limits for respirable and total quartz, and less than the NRC public dose limit (10 CFR 20) for radionuclides: Dust Level Dust Type Aero Diam Limiting Component - - - - - 0.5 mg/m3 Respirable - Quartz 4.3 mg/m3 Total - Quartz Continued) For XL grade Biasill, the corresponding levels are: Dust Level Dust Type Aero Diam Limiting Component - - - - - 2.5 mg/m3 Respirable - Quartz 6.9 mg/m3 Total 1 um NORM 10.0 mg/m3 Total >5 um Quartz The calculations noted above are based upon 8 hr/day TWAs. It should be noted that for staurolites, the actual particle physical diameter is approximately 1/2 the effective aerodynamic diameter. For Biasill XL, as shipped, with essentially no particles as small as calculated above, quartz is the most limiting of the components. However, if during handling or use the particles are broken down to finer particle sizes, the lower NORM total dust references would apply. Carcinogenicity Information The following components are listed by IARC, NTP, OSHA or ACGIH as carcinogens. Material IARC NTP OSHA ACGIH QUARTZ 1 X A2 DuPont controls the following materials as carcinogens: QUARTZ. ----------------------------------------------------------------------