CBW Pipe, ERW Pipe, Carbon Steel pipe, MLT, Mega-Flow, Mega-Thread, Schedule 10, Schedule 40, WLS, WST, GL, WT-40, WT-30, WT-20, Tubing, Casing, Line Pipe, Hollow Structural Sections (HSS), Pipe Piles, Mechanical Tubing

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

This formed solid metal product poses little or no immediate health or fire hazard. When product is subjected to welding, burning, melting, sawing, brazing, grinding or other similar processes, potentially hazardous airborne particulate and fumes may be generated. These operations should be performed in well-ventilated areas. Avoid inhalation of metal dusts and fumes. Iron or steel foreign bodies imbedded in the cornea of the eye will produce rust stains unless removed promptly. If appropriate, respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment should be used.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Semi-finished Alloy steel products in their usual physical form do not present an inhalation, ingestion or contact hazard; however, operations such as burning, welding, sawing, brazing, machining and grinding may result in the following effects if exposures exceed recommended limits as listed in Section 2. Steel surfaces may be treated with small amounts of corrosion resistant paints, epoxies, laminates, etc., generally applied at the customer’s request. Refer to the coating manufacturer’s MSDS for hazards associated with coatings. Acute Effects: Inhalation: Excessive exposure to high concentrations of dust may cause irritation to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Excessive inhalation of fumes of freshly formed metal oxide particles sized below 1.5 microns and usually between 0.02-0.05 microns from many metals can produce an acute reaction known as “metal fume fever”. Symptoms consist of chills and fever (very similar to and easily confused with flu symptoms), metallic taste in the mouth, dryness and irritation of the throat followed by weakness and muscle pain. After excessive exposures, onset of symptoms present after a few hours and usually last from 12 to 48 hours. Long-term effects from metal fume fever have not been noted. Freshly formed oxide fumes of manganese and copper have been associated with causing metal fume fever. Inhalation of chromium compounds may cause upper respiratory tract irritation. Molybdenum, nickel, and vanadium compounds, especially vanadium pentoxide, are respiratory tract irritants. Eye: Particles of iron or iron compounds could become imbedded in the eye. Skin: Skin contact with metallic fumes and dusts may cause physical abrasion. Chromium, molybdenum and vanadium compounds, especially vanadium pentoxide, are skin irritants. Exposure to nickel may cause contact and atopic dermatitis and allergic sensitization. Repeated or prolonged contact with chemical surface treatments or oil residue may cause skin irritation, dermatitis, ulceration or allergic reactions in sensitized individuals Ingestion: Ingestion of harmful amounts of this product as distributed is unlikely due to its solid insoluble form. Ingestion of dust may cause nausea or vomiting.

Potential chronic health

Chronic inhalation of metallic fumes and dusts are associated with the following conditions IRON OXIDE: Chronic inhalation of excessive concentrations of iron oxide fumes or dusts may result in the development of a benign pneumoconiosis, called siderosis, which is observable as an X-ray change. No physical impairment of lung function has been associated with siderosis. Inhalation of excessive concentrations of ferric oxide may enhance the risk of lung cancer development in workers exposed to pulmonary carcinogens. Iron oxide is listed as a Group 3 (not classifiable) carcinogen by IARC (The International Agency for Research on Cancer). ALUMINUM: Aluminum dusts/fines are a low health risk by inhalation and should be treated as a nuisance dust. Aluminum dust is a respiratory and eye irritant. CARBON: Chronic inhalation of high concentrations to carbon may cause pulmonary disorders. CHROMIUM: The health hazards associated with exposure to chromium are dependent upon its oxidation state. The metal form (chromium as it exists in this product) is of very low toxicity. The hexavalent form is very toxic. Repeated or prolonged exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds may cause respiratory irritation, nosebleed, ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum. Industrial exposure to certain forms of hexavalent chromium has been related to an increased incidence of cancer. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Fourth Annual report on Carcinogens cites “certain Chromium compounds” as human carcinogens. ACGIH has reviewed the toxicity data and concluded that chromium metal is not classifiable as a human carcinogen. COPPER: Inhalation of high concentrations of freshly formed oxide fumes and dusts of copper can cause metal fume fever. Chronic inhalation of copper dust has caused, in animals, hemolysis of the red blood cells, deposition of hemofuscin in the liver and pancreas, injury to lung cells and gastrointestinal symptoms. MANGANESE: Chronic exposure to high concentrations of manganese fumes and dusts may adversely affect the central nervous system with symptoms including languor, sleepiness, weakness, emotional disturbances, spastic gait, mask-like facial expression and paralysis. Animal studies indicate that manganese exposure may increase susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections. MOLYBDENUM: Certain handling operations, such as burning and welding, may generate both insoluble molybdenum compounds (metal and molybdenum dioxide) and soluble molybdenum compounds (molybdenum trioxide). Molybdenum compounds generally exhibit a low order of toxicity with the trioxide the more toxic. However, some reports indicate that the dust of the molybdenum metal, molybdenum dioxide and molybdenum trioxide may cause eye, skin, nose and throat irritation in animals. NICKEL: Exposure to nickel dusts and fumes can cause sensitization dermatitis, respiratory irritation, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, edema and may cause nasal or lung cancer in humans. IARC lists nickel and certain nickel compounds as Group 2B carcinogens (sufficient animal data). ACGIH 2009 TLVs® and BEIs® lists insoluble nickel compounds as confirmed human carcinogens. SILICON: Silicon dusts are a low health risk by inhalation and should be treated as a nuisance dust. Eye contact with pure material can cause particulate irritation. Skin contact with silicon dusts may cause physical abrasion. VANADIUM: Excessive long term or repeated exposures to vanadium compounds, especially the pentoxide, may result in chronic pulmonary changes such as emphysema or bronchitis. Long-term inhalation exposure to high concentrations (over-exposure) to pneumoconiotic agents may act synergistically with inhalation of oxides, fumes or dusts of this product to cause toxic effects. Carcinogenicity IARC NTP and

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Individuals with chronic respiratory disorders (i.e., asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.) may be adversely affected by any fume or airborne particulate matter exposure. SARA Potential Hazard Categories: Delayed Chronic Health Hazard