AISI 301, 304, Leowire

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Directive 67/548/EEC: The products this safety data sheet refers to, are in the form of massive metallic alloy and when used under usual conditions and in accordance with the intended use, they are generally not considered hazardous to man or environment. A different use of the product not conforming to the indications of use, may alter the performances of the product and induce potential hazards to health and safety. In case the products undergo to any process that causes the change in the state of the raw material, the following

Health hazards

shall be applied to the personnel involved in the raw material’s processing and not to the final user. Prolonged and repeated exposure to dust and fumes, generated from successive working processes of the products involving grinding, melting, brazing, thermal treatment, welding and pickling or any other process that causes a release of dust or fumes, could cause potential human health hazards. The following is a list of potential health effects for hazardous elements that are possibly contained in stainless steel alloys and which may be inhaled, swallowed or get in contact with skin and eyes. Iron oxide: it has caused irritation of the eyes, nose, and skin of test animals. It may have the same effect on humans. Chromium:. ferrochrome alloys have been associated with lung changes in workers exposed to these alloys. Chromium is classified by IARC3 as a suspect carcinogenic agent. Manganese: inhalation of manganese fume may cause “metal fume fever” with symptoms of chills, fever, nausea, cough, dry throat, weakness, muscle aches and a sweet or metallic taste in the mouth. Prolonged or repeated exposure may affect the nervous system, with difficulty in walking and balancing, weakness or cramps in the legs. Hoarseness of the voice, trouble with memory or judgment, unstable emotions or unusual irritability. The respiratory system may also be affected by a pneumonia like illness with symptoms of coughing, fever, chills, body ache, chest pain and other common signs of pneumonia. Nickel: fumes are respiratory irritants and may cause respiratory disease. Skin contact can also cause an allergic skin rash. Nickel and its compounds have been reported to cause cancer of the lungs and sinuses. Nickel is classified by IARC as a suspect carcinogenic agent. Nickel is classified by EC Directive 67/548/EEC and further modifications as suspect carcinogen (category 3 – R40) and a skin sensitizer (R43). The classification rules of the European Directive 99/45/EC and further modifications state that all preparations containing 1% Nickel or more must be automatically classified as suspect carcinogen (R40). 1 AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute). 2 The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 5832-1 standard “Implant for surgery – Metallic materials – Part 1: Wrought stainless steel”, specifies the characteristic of, and corresponding test methods for, wrought stainless steel for use in the manufacture of surgical implants. 3 IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer).