Iron Oxide Black

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW ********************************** Dry, black powder with little to no odor. Will not burn or react, but may auto-oxidize if exposed to heat in excess of 176°F (80°C) causing additional heat which may be sufficient to cause packaging to smoulder or ignite. Long-term inhalation can cause lung irritation or siderosis. Packaging material can burn or melt in fire, producing toxic smoke and fumes. *************************************************************************************************************************************

HMIS CODES

H=0, F=1, PH=0, PP=E (0=Minimal, 1=Slight, 2=Moderate, 3=Serious, 4=Severe)

Potential health effects

Eye Contact: Non-irritating to the eyes. Excessive exposure to airborne dust may reduce visibility and/or cause unpleasant deposits. Skin Contact: Will not irritate skin and is not likely to cause allergic skin reaction. Irritation to skin or mucous membranes can occur by direct mechanical action or by rigorous skin cleaning necessary for removal of dust. Ingestion: Small amounts (a tablespoonful) swallowed are not likely to cause injury. Ingestion of very large quantities may result in stomachache, vomiting, intestinal obstruction, and/or constipation. Inhalation: As with all dusty materials, inhalation may cause respiratory irritation, sneezing, coughing, and runny nose. Wear respirator and avoid breathing dust. Human Effects and symptoms of overexposure: Acute: To date, adverse health effects from exposure have not been reported among workers using this pigment. On the basis of Animal Toxicity Data (see Section 11), we would expect this product to be non-irritating to the eyes and skin and essentially non-toxic by ingestion. However, excessive exposure to airborne dust may reduce visibility and/or cause unpleasant deposits in the eyes, ears and nose. Irritation to skin or mucous membranes can occur by direct mechanical action or by rigorous skin cleaning necessary for removal of dust. Chronic: Prolonged inhalation of amorphous silica may produce x-ray changes in the lungs without disability. Other Effects: No chronic effects are known from repeated exposure to iron oxide PIGMENT. Prolonged inhalation (6 to 10 years) of iron oxide FUME has been reported to produce changes in lung x-rays of exposed individuals. This condition, siderosis, is considered to be benign pneumoconiosis that exhibits no adverse health effects. Siderosis has been observed among occupations such as arc-welders where iron oxide FUMES are present. To the best of our knowledge, this condition has not been observed after prolonged exposure to iron oxide pigment. There is no Iron Oxide FUME contained in this product and none should be generated under normal use.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

None known Exposure: Carcinogenicity: IARC: Not Listed NTP: Not Listed OSHA: Not regulated Other: IARC and NTP both contain listings for underground hematite mining. These listings are for the occupational exposures associated with the mining process which include radon, a known lung carcinogen. NIOSH in the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) lists Iron Oxide as a suspect human carcinogen. However, the IARC reference to underground hematite mining is the source for this classification. Based on information currently available, this product is not considered a carcinogen.