Blended Cement

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview Blended cement is a light gray powder that poses little immediate hazard. A single short-term exposure to the dry powder is not likely to cause serious harm. However, exposure to wet Blended cement can cause serious, potentially irreversible tissue (skin or eye) destruction in the form of chemical (caustic) burns or an allergic reaction. The same type of tissue destruction can occur if wet or moist areas of the body are exposed for sufficient duration to dry Blended cement.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Eye contact, skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion • Effects resulting from eye contact: Exposure to airborne dust may cause immediate or delayed irritation or inflammation. Eye contact with larger amounts of dry powder or splashes of wet Blended cement may cause effects ranging from moderate eye irritation to chemical burns and blindness. Such exposures require immediate first aid (see section IV) and medical attention to prevent significant damage to the eye. • Effects resulting from skin contact: Discomfort or pain cannot be relied upon to alert a person to a hazardous skin exposure. Consequently, the only effective means of avoiding skin injury or illness involves minimizing skin contact, particularly contact with wet cement. Exposed persons may not feel discomfort until hours after the exposure has ended and significant injury has occurred. Exposure to dry blended cement may cause drying of the skin with consequent mild irritation or more significant effects attributable to aggravation of other conditions. Dry blended cement contacting wet skin or exposure to moist or wet blended cement may cause more severe skin effects including thickening, cracking or fissuring of the skin. Prolonged exposure can cause severe skin damage in the form of (caustic) chemical burns. Some individuals may exhibit an allergic response (e.g., allergic contact dermatitis) upon exposure to blended cement, possibly due to trace amounts of chromium. The response may appear in a variety of forms ranging from a mild rash to severe skin ulcers. Persons already sensitized may react to the first contact with the product. Other persons may experience this effect after years of contact with Blended cement products. • Effects resulting from inhalation: Blended cement contains small amounts of free crystalline silica. Prolonged exposure to respirable free crystalline silica can aggravate other lung conditions and cause silicosis, a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease and/or other diseases. Risk of injury or disease depends on duration and degree of exposure. (Also see “Carcinogenic potential” below.) Exposure to blended cement may cause irritation to the moist mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory system. It may also leave unpleasant deposits in the nose. • Effects resulting from ingestion: Although small quantities of dust are not known to be harmful, ill effects are possible if larger quantities are consumed. Blended cement should not be eaten. • Carcinogenic potential: NTP, OSHA, or IARC has not listed blended cement as a carcinogen. It may, however, contain trace amounts of substances listed as carcinogens by these organizations. Crystalline silica, which is present in blended cement in small amounts, has been listed by IARC and NTP as a known human carcinogen (Group I) through inhalation. Hexavelant chromium is listed by IARC, EPA, NTP and OSHA as Group I known carcinogen by inhalation. • Medical conditions which may be aggravated by inhalation or dermal exposure: Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases Unusual (hyper) sensitivity to hexavalent chromium (chromium+6) salts. Section IV – First Aid