Gouging Carbon

Potential health effects

Eye: Dust may cause eye irritation Skin Contact: Dust may cause skin irritation. Skin Absorption: Not expected to be a major route of entry. Ingestion: Not known Inhalation: Small graphite dust is suspected as being possible inhalation hazards.

Potential chronic health

A review of the literature does not show obvious long term hazard Carcinogenicty: No component known to be present in this product and is at > 0.1% is presently listed as a carcinogen by IARC or OSHA unless otherwise noted.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation of the dust, but which is not created during the normal use of this product unless it is being cut into smaller pieces. Permissible exposure: 15 MCCPF OSHA TWA, 10 mg/m3 ACGIH TWA (Total Dust) CIRCLA Hazard Ratings: Toxicity: 1 Ingnitgability: 0 Reactivity: 0 Persistence: 3 Inhalation of the dust, Skin or eye contact Target organs: Lungs, Cardiovascular system. Symptoms: Coughing, forceful expiration. Dyspnea, difficulty in breathing. Black sputum, black colored expectorate. Bronchitis, inflamed bronchial mucous membranes, pulmonary fibrosis, fibrous tissue involving lungs. Pneumoconiosis, degenerative respiratory disease. We do not believe this to be very likely with the normal use of the product for the intended applications in microscopy.

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Graphite dust causes benign pneumoconiosis (graphitosis). Symptoms of pneumoconiosis from graphite dust exposure are dypsnea, coughing, black sputum, bronchitis, ventricular hypertrophy and impairment of pulmonary function. X-rays will show progressive nodulation of the lungs. The threshold limit value was set in conformity with the limit for free crystalline silica, which may be present in graphite. Incompatibilies: Strong oxidizers,fluorine, peroxides