Safety Datn Sheet Callectian

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

tb* Emergency Overview ***** Silver exists as a hard, brilliant white, malleable metal. It is noncombustible as a solid, but the finely divided powder is flammable. Silver has no known function in man and appears to have low toxicity other than a localized or general bluish-gray pigmentation of the mucous membranes, eyes, and skin due to deposition of silver particles over a period of time. The condition called argyria appears to be more of a cosmetic problem than a toxicological concern.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation, skin and eye conract Target Organs: Skin, eyes (especially the conjunctiva), and mucous membranes. Acute Effects Inhalation: Heavy exposure of a worker to heated metallic silver vapor for 4 hr caused lung damage and pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs). Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis is also possible. Eye and Skin: Effects are generally chronic. Carcinogenicity: IARC, NTP, and OSHA do not list silver as a carcinogen.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

None reported

Potential chronic health

The main effect associated with exposure to silver is argyria, a bluish-gray pigmentation of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes caused by deposition of silver particles. This effect can be either local or generalized. It appears that localized deposition occurs by penetration o[ fine, metallic particles and that generalized argyria occurs from inhalation or ingestion of si lver salts. It is esrimated that a gradual intake of I to 59 silver wi ll lead to generalized argyria. Generalized atgyria appears to be darker in areas exposed to the light. Silver deposition in the respiratory tract may result in a mild chronic bronchitis. Silver polishers exposed for long periods to.silver and polishing dusts have developed increased lung densities (shown by x-ray). Argyria of the eyes is not accompanied by vision loss although there may be some difficulty adapting to the dark. There is some evidence for skin absorption; amalgam tattoos (accidental implantation of dental amalgams) caused fatigue, headache, sinusitis, and weight loss. Repeated skin contact may cause allergic contacl dermatitis in some individuals. Other: The reason that silver toxicity rarely occurs beyond argyria is due to rapid binding to various proteins and precipitation of silver chloride, Tissue damage only occurs when this binding ability is altered by a heavy dose. Kidney, liver, and neurologic damage has been associated with silver, but these cases are not well documented. Copyrigho|99i1lryC*niumPrrb|ifintGrFEi['Aty@mfrci.|uttrcprql6knwi.txD|.'Ep0b|it'E.smirsifisP'ohibitcd',t,d!fnl$.aslo('ui6 |!.fNei ft M6wiry rh. porh.s/r .crJxnvhrllv Alatxruth rc:vrn.trk (rr hrr hrn ulcn In dr prcpuerm oi uh inf()makF. Ccnium Publishing Crrpoeri(n cPGs(r|ilm\1'xlrrtum.<fr'cs'en\'hi|ily!\(|ltk(curg'vrlrurtah|rtvof{s.hnfm,ti.on'o':m|icali.,n|olhcpurha$isin.cndcd cxtcndr fr wmtics. m:k6 m MSDS No. l8l Silver 6194 Section - 4 First Aid Measures Inhalation: Remove exposed person to fresh air and support breatling as needed.