Copper (II) Nitrate Hemipentahydrate

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance: blue solid. Danger! Strong oxidizer. Contact with other material may cause a fire. Causes digestive and respiratory tract irritation with possible burns. May cause allergic skin reaction. May cause severe eye and skin irritation with possible burns. May cause liver and kidney damage. Target Organs: Kidneys, liver.

Potential health effects

Eye: Contact with eyes may cause severe irritation, and possible eye burns. Contact may cause ulceration of the conjunctiva and cornea. May cause conjunctivitis. May cause permanent corneal opacification. Skin: May cause severe irritation and possible burns. May cause dermatitis. May cause skin discoloration. Ingestion: May cause severe gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and possible burns. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause hemorrhaging of the digestive tract. Methemoglobinemia is characterized by dizziness, drowsiness, headache, shortness of breath, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), rapid heart rate and chocolate- brown colored blood. May cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, possibly with blood. Inhalation: May cause methemoglobinemia, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), convulsions, tachycardia, dyspnea (labored breathing), and death. May cause ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum if inhaled in excessive quantities. May cause severe irritation of the upper respiratory tract with pain, burns, and inflammation. May cause acute pulmonary edema, asphyxia, chemical pneumonitis, and upper airway obstruction caused by edema. Chronic: Chronic inhalation and ingestion may cause effects similar to those of acute inhalation and ingestion. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by chocolate-brown colored blood, headache, weakness, dizziness, breath shortness, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of blood), rapid heart rate, unconsciousness and possible death. Individuals with Wilson's disease are unable to metabolize copper. Thus, copper accumulates in various tissues and may result in liver, kidney, and brain damage.