DECK MUD

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation, Skin, Ingestion Acute Exposure: Product becomes alkaline when exposed to moisture. Exposure can dry the skin, cause alkali burns and affect the mucus membranes. Dust can irritate the eyes and upper respiratory system. Toxic effects noted in animals include, for acute exposures, alveolar damage with pulmonary edema. Chronic Exposure: Dust can cause inflammation in the interior lining tissue of the nose and of the cornea. Hypersensitive individuals may develop an allergic dermatitis. Carcinogenicity: Portland and blended cements are manufactured from raw materials mined from the earth (limestone, marble, sand, shale etc.), and the heat process is provided by burning fossil fuels. Trace, but detectable, amounts of naturally occurring, and possibly harmful, elements may be found during chemical analysis. Under ASTM standards, Portland Cement may contain 0.75 % insoluble residue. A fraction of these residues may be free crystalline silica. Respirable crystalline silica (quartz) can cause silicosis, a fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs and possibly cancer. There is evidence that exposure to respirable silica or the disease silicosis is associated with an increase of scleroderma, tuberculosis, and kidney disorders. Carcinogenicity Listings: NTP: Known Carcinogen OSHA: Not Listed as a Carcinogen IARC: Monographs: Group 1 Carcinogen California Proposition 65: Known Carcinogen NTP: The National Toxicology Program, in its “Ninth Report On Carcinogens” (released May 15, 2000 ) concluded that “Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), primarily quartz dust occurring in industrial and occupational settings, is known to be a human carcinogen, based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans indicating a relationship between exposure to RCS and increased lung cancer rates in workers exposed to crystalline silica dust (reviewed in AIC, 1977:Brown et al., 1977; Hind et al., 1997) IARC: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that there was “sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of crystalline silica in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources”, and there is “sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of quartz or cristobalite.” The overall IARC evaluation was that “Crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).” The IARC evaluation noted that “Carcinogenicity may depend on inherent characteristics of the crystalline silica or on external factors affecting the biological activity or distribution of its polymorphs.” For further information on the IARC evaluation, see IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Volume 68, “Silica, Some Silicates, etc.” (1997) Symptoms of Exposure: Symptoms of excessive exposure to the dust include shortness of breath and reduced pulmonary function. Excessive exposure to skin and eyes especially when mixed with water may cause third degree caustic burns.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Individuals with sensitive skin and with pulmonary and/or respiratory disease, including, but not limited to, asthma and bronchitis, or subject to eye irritations, should be precluded from exposure. Exposure to crystalline silica or the disease silicosis is associated with increased occurrence of scleroderma, tuberculosis and possibly increases the risk of kidney lesions. Chronic Exposure: Dust can cause inflammation in the interior lining tissue of the nose and of the cornea. Hypersensitive individuals may develop an allergic dermatitis. The product may contain trace (<0.05 %) amounts of chromium salts or compounds including Hexavalent Chromium or other metals found to be hazardous or toxic in some chemical forms. These metals are mostly present as trace substitution within the principal minerals.