6% COBALT NAP-ALL

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: Purple liquid with mild solvent odor. Combustible liquid. Keep away from heat and all sources of ignition. May cause sensitization by skin contact which may produce allergic contact dermatitis. May cause sensitization by inhalation which may produce occupational asthma. May cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation. May be harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Aspiration hazard if swallowed. Can enter lungs and cause damage. EYE CONTACT: May cause eye irritation. SKIN CONTACT: Based on data for Cobalt metal powder, may cause allergic contact dermatitis if there is prior sensitization. Most rashes associated with cobalt occur on the hands and appear within the first year of occupational exposure to cobalt. Exposure may cause skin irritation. Prolonged or repeated exposure may dry the skin. Symptoms may include redness, burning, drying and cracking, and skin damage. Pre-existing skin disorders may be aggravated by exposure to this material. May cause skin defatting with prolonged exposure. SKIN ABSORPTION: Unknown INHALATION: Although no data exists for this product, Cobalt metal powder is a known allergen that produces characteristic symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, dry cough, and labored breathing. Usually the asthma symptoms appear 4-6 hours after exposure and often worsen again later in the same day. Even later asthma reactions to inhaled cobalt may occur up to 48 hours after exposure. Improvement typically occurs when cobalt exposure ceases, e.g. weekends, vacations. Other cobalt-containing compounds such as hard metal dust, but not cobalt powder itself, are associated with subacute fibrosis alveolitis and chronic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Causes mild respiratory irritation. Symptoms are more typically seen at air concentrations exceeding the recommended exposure limits. Symptoms of exposure may include irritation (nose, throat, respiratory tract) and central nervous system depression (dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, nausea, headache, unconsciousness, possible death. Reports have associated repeated and prolonged overexposure to solvents with permanent brain and nervous system damage (sometimes referred to as Solvent or Painter's syndrome). Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling this material may be harmful or fatal. INGESTION: May cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. Swallowing small amounts during handling is not likely to cause harmful effects; swallowing large amounts may be harmful. Symptoms may include gastrointestinal irritation (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), central nervous system depression (dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, nausea, headache, unconsciousness). This material can enter the lungs during swallowing or vomiting and cause lung inflammation and/or damage. Small amounts of this product aspirated into the respiratory system during ingestion or vomiting may cause mild to severe pulmonary injury, possibly progressing to death.