NON-FLAMMABLE GAS MIXTURE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: This gas mixture is a colorless gas which has a rotten-egg odor (due to the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide). The odor cannot be relied on as an adequate warning of the presence of this gas mixture, because olfactory fatigue occurs after over-exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide (another component of this gas mixture) are toxic to humans in relatively low concentrations. Over-exposure to this gas mixture can cause skin or eye irritation, nausea, dizziness, headaches, collapse, unconsciousness, coma, and death. The Propane, n-Pentane, and n-Hexane components can cause anesthetic or peripheral neuropathy effects. Additionally, releases of this gas mixture may produce oxygen-deficient atmospheres (especially in small confined spaces or other poorly-ventilated environments); individuals in such atmospheres may be asphyxiated. SYMPTOMS OF OVER-EXPOSURE BY ROUTE OF EXPOSURE: The most HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM significant route of over-exposure for this gas mixture is by inhalation. INHALATION: Due to the small size of an individual cylinder of this gas mixture, no unusua! health effects from over-exposure to the product are anticipated under routine circumstances of use. A significant health hazard associated with this gas

Health hazards

BLUE) 8 mixture is the potential of inhalation of Hydrogen Sulfide, a component of this gas mixture. Such over-exposures may occur if this gas mixture is used in a confined space or other poorly-ventilated area. Over-exposures to Hydrogen Sulfide can cause dizziness, headache, and nausea. Exposure to this component can result in FLAMMABILITY HAZARD «eD) | 0 respiratory arrest, coma, or unconsciousness. Continuous inhalation of low concentrations of Hydrogen Sulfide may cause olfactory fatigue, so that the odor is no longer an effective warning of the presence of this gas. A summary of exposure concentrations and observed effects are as follows

Physical hazards

YELLOW) 0 CONCENTRATION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE OBSERVED EFFECT 0.3-30 ppm Odor is obvious and unpleasant. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 50 ppm Eye irritation. Dryness and irritation of nose, throat. Slightly higher than 50 ppm Irritation of the respiratory system. EVES RESPIRATORY HANGS sopy 100-150 ppm Temporary loss of smell. 200-250 ppm Headache, vomiting nausea. Prolonged exposure See Section 8 may lead to lung damage. Exposures of 4-8 ee Section hours can be fatal. 300-500 Swifter onset of symptoms. Death occurs in 1-4 For Routine Industrial Use and Handling Applications ours. 500 ppm Headache, excitement, staggering, and stomach ache after brief exposure. Death occurs within 0.5 - 1 hour of exposure. > 600 ppm Rapid onset of unconsciousness, coma, death. > 1000 ppm Immediate respiratory arrest. NOTE: This gas mixture contains a maximum of 250 ppm Hydrogen Sulfide. The higher concentration values here are presented to delineate the complete health effects which have been observed for humans after exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide. Inhalation over-exposures to atmospheres containing more than the Threshold Limit Value of Carbon Monoxide (25 ppm), another component of this gas mixture, can result in serious health consequences. Carbon Monoxide is classified as a chemical asphyxiant, producing a toxic action by combining with the hemoglobin of the blood and replacing the available oxygen. Through this replacement, the body is deprived of the required oxygen, and asphyxiation occurs. Since the affinity of Carbon Monoxide for hemoglobin is about 200-300 times that of oxygen, only a small amount of Carbon Monoxide will cause a toxic reaction to occur. Carbon Monoxide exposures in excess of 50 ppm will produce symptoms of poisoning if breathed for a sufficiently long time. If this gas mixture is released in a small, poorly ventilated area (i.e. an enclosed or confined space), symptoms which may develop include the following: CONCENTRATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE OBSERVED EFFECT All exposure levels:.. Over-exposure to Carbon Monoxide can be indicated by the lips and fingemails turning bright red. 200 ppm: es... Slight symptoms (i.e. headache) after several hours of exposure. 400 ppm: Headache and discomfort experienced within 2-3 hours of exposure. 1,000 -2000 ppm: Within 30 minutes, slight palpitations of the heart occurs. Within 1.5 hours, there is a tendency to stagger. 200-2500 ppm: Within 2 hours, there is mental confusion, headaches, and nausea. Unconsciousness within 30 minutes. > 2500 ppm: Potential for collapse and death before warning symptoms. Another hazard associated with this gas mixture is the potential for anesthetic and peripheral neuropathy effects after inhalation over-exposures to the Propane, n-Pentane and n-Hexane components of this gas mixture. Specific human over-exposure data are available for n-Pentane and n- Hexane, as follows: CONCENTRATION OF n-PENTANE OBSERVED EFFECT Brief (10 minute) up to 5,000 ppm: No symptoms. Higher than 5,000 ppm: Exhilaration, dizziness and headache can occur. Long term: Can cause chronic neurological disorder causing damage to the nerves in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) CONCENTRATION OF n-HEXANE OBSERVED EFFECT Brief (10 minute) at 1,500 ppm: Irritation of the respiratory tract, nausea and headache. 5000 ppm: Dizziness and drowsiness can occur. Long term at 500 ppm: Can affect the nerves in the arms and legs. Effects include numbing or tingling sensations in the fingers and toes, tiredness, muscle weakness, cramps and spasms in the leg, difficulty in holding objects or walking, abdominal pains, loss of appetite, weight loss. More serious exposures can cause damage to the nerves in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy). Eyes and Vision: Abnormal color perception and pigment changes in the eyes have been reported among industrial workers exposed to 423-1280 ppm for 5 years or more. Blood Cells: Mild forms of anemia have also been associated with exposure to hexane. These are of temporary nature. Additionally, if mixtures of this gas mixture contain less than 19.5% Oxygen and are released in a small, poorly ventilated area (i.e. an enclosed or confined space), an oxygen-deficient environment may occur. Individuals breathing such an atmosphere may experience symptoms which include headaches, ringing in ears, dizziness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, and depression of all the senses. Under some circumstances of over-exposure, death may occur. The following effects associated with various levels of oxygen are as follows: CONCENTRATION OF OXYGEN OBSERVED EFFECT 12-16% Oxygen: Breathing and pulse rate increased, muscular coordination slightly disturbed. 10-14% Oxygen: Emotional upset, abnormal fatigue, disturbed respiration. 6-10% Oxygen: Nausea, vomiting, collapse, or loss of consciousness. Below 6%: Convulsive movements, possible respiratory collapse, and death. SKIN and EYE CONTACT: The Hydrogen Sulfide component of this gas mixture may be irritating to the skin. Inflammation and irritation of the eyes can occur at very low airborne concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide (less than 10 ppm). Exposure over several hours may result in “gas eyes” or “sore eyes” with symptoms of scratchiness, irritation, tearing and burning. Above 50 ppm of Hydrogen Sulfide, there is an intense tearing, blurring of vision, and pain when looking at light. Over-exposed individuals may see rings around bright lights. Most symptoms disappear when exposure ceases. However, in serious cases, the eye can be permanently damaged. HEALTH EFFECTS OR RISKS FROM EXPOSURE: An Explanation in Lay Terms. Over-exposure to this gas mixture may cause the following

Potential health effects

ACUTE: Due to the small size of the individual cylinder of this gas mixture, no unusual health effects from exposure to the product are anticipated under routine circumstances of use. However, the Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide components of this gas mixture are toxic to humans. Over-exposure to this gas mixture can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, collapse, unconsciousness, coma, and death. Due to the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide, over-exposures to this gas mixture can also irritate the skin and eyes; severe eye contamination can result in blindness. Inhalation over-exposures to Propane, n-Pentane, and n-Hexane can cause anesthetic effects and motor neuropathy (i.e. pain and tingling in feet and hands). (Continued) CHRONIC: Abnormal color perception and pigment changes in the eyes have been reported among persons exposed to 420 -1300 ppm of n- Hexane for five years. Additionally, long-term exposure to low levels of n-Hexane or n-Pentane can affect the nerves in the arms and legs. Effects include numbing or tingling sensation, tiredness, cramps, spasms in legs, difficulty holding objects or walking, loss of appetite and weight loss. Pentane isomers, such as n-Pentane, and Propane can cause sensitization of the heart to epinephrine. Refer to Section 11 (Toxicology Information) for additional information on the components of this gas mixture. TARGET ORGANS: ACUTE: Respiratory system, blood system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system. CHRONIC: Reproductive system, cardiovascular system.