NON-FLAMMABLE GAS MIXTURE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: This gas mixture is a colorless gas which has a rotten-egg odor (due to the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide). The odor cannot be relied on as an adequate warning of the presence of this gas mixture, because olfactory fatigue occurs after over-exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide (another component of this gas mixture) are toxic to humans in relatively low concentrations. Over-exposure to this gas mixture can cause skin or eye irritation, nausea, dizziness, headaches, collapse, unconsciousness, coma, and death. Additionally, releases of this gas mixture may produce MSDS1097 1 of 10 oxygen-deficient atmospheres (especially in small confined spaces or other poorly-ventilated environments); individuals in such atmospheres may be asphyxiated. SYMPTOMS OF OVER-EXPOSURE BY ROUTE OF EXPOSURE: The most significant route of over-exposure for this gas mixture is by inhalation. INHALATION: Due to the small size of an individual cylinder of this gas mixture, no unusual health effects from over-exposure to the product are anticipated under routine circumstances of use. A potential health hazard associated with this gas mixture is the potential of inhalation of Hydrogen Sulfide, a component of this gas mixture. Such over-exposures may occur if this gas mixture is used in a confined space or other poorly-ventilated area. Over-exposures to Hydrogen Sulfide can cause dizziness, headache, and nausea. Over-exposure to this gas could result in respiratory arrest, coma, or unconsciousness, due to the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide. Continuous inhalation of low concentrations of Hydrogen Sulfide may cause olfactory fatigue, so that the odor is no longer an effective warning of the presence of this gas. A summary of exposure concentrations and observed effects are as follows: CONCENTRATION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE OBSERVED EFFECT 0.3-30 ppm Odor is unpleasant. 50 ppm Eye irritation. Dryness and irritation of nose, throat. Slightly higher than 50 ppm Irritation of the respiratory system. 100-150 ppm Temporary loss of smell. 200-250 ppm Headache, vomiting nausea. Prolonged exposure may lead to lung damage. Exposures of 4-8 hours can be fatal. 300-500 Swifter onset of symptoms. Death occurs in 1-4 hours. 500 ppm Headache, excitement, staggering, and stomach ache after brief exposure. Death occurs within 0.5 - 1 hour of exposure. > 600 ppm Rapid onset of unconsciousness, coma, death. > 1000 ppm Immediate respiratory arrest. NOTE: This gas mixture contains a maximum of 250 ppm Hydrogen Sulfide. The higher concentration values here are presented to delineate the complete health effects which have been observed for humans after exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide. Inhalation over-exposures to atmospheres containing more than the Threshold Limit Value of Carbon Monoxide (25 ppm), another component of this gas mixture, can result in serious health consequences. Carbon Monoxide is classified as a chemical asphyxiant, producing a toxic action by combining with the hemoglobin of the blood and replacing the available oxygen. Through this replacement, the body is deprived of the required oxygen, and asphyxiation occurs. Since the affinity of Carbon Monoxide for hemoglobin is about 200-300 times that of oxygen, only a small amount of Carbon Monoxide will cause a toxic reaction to occur. Carbon Monoxide exposures in excess of 50 ppm will produce symptoms of poisoning if breathed for a sufficiently long time. If this gas mixture is released in a small, poorly ventilated area (i.e. an enclosed or confined space), symptoms which may develop include the following: CONCENTRATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE OBSERVED EFFECT All exposure levels: Over-exposure to Carbon Monoxide can be indicated by the lips and fingernails turning bright red. 200 ppm: Slight symptoms (i.e. headache) after several hours of exposure. 400 ppm: Headache and discomfort experienced within 2-3 hours of exposure. 1,000 -2000 ppm: Within 30 minutes, slight palpitations of the heart occurs. Within 1.5 hours, there is a tendency to stagger. 200-2500 ppm: Within 2 hours, there is mental confusion, headaches, and nausea. Unconsciousness within 30 minutes. >2500 ppm: Potential for collapse and death before warning symptoms. Additionally, if mixtures of this gas mixture contain less than 19.5% Oxygen and are released in a small, poorly ventilated area (i.e. an enclosed or confined space), an oxygen-deficient environment may occur. Individuals breathing such an atmosphere may experience symptoms which include headaches, ringing in ears, dizziness, drowsiness, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, and depression of all the senses. Under some circumstances of over-exposure, death may occur. The following effects associated with various levels of oxygen are as follows: CONCENTRATION OF OXYGEN OBSERVED EFFECT 12-16% Oxygen: Breathing and pulse rate increased, muscular coordination slightly disturbed. 10-14% Oxygen: Emotional upset, abnormal fatigue, disturbed respiration. 6-10% Oxygen: Nausea, vomiting, collapse, or loss of consciousness. Below 6%: Convulsive movements, possible respiratory collapse, and death. SKIN and EYE CONTACT: Hydrogen Sulfide, a component of this gas mixture, may be irritating to the skin. Inflammation and irritation of the eyes can occur at very low airborne concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide (less than 10 ppm). Exposure over several hours may result in “gas eyes” or “sore eyes” with symptoms of scratchiness, irritation, tearing and burning. Above 50 ppm of Hydrogen Sulfide, there is an intense tearing, blurring of vision, and pain when looking at light. Over-exposed individuals may see rings around bright lights. Most symptoms disappear when exposure ceases. However, in serious cases, the eye can be permanently damaged. MSDS1097 2 of 10

Potential health effects

OR RISKS FROM EXPOSURE An Explanation in Lay Terms. Over-exposure to this gas mixture may cause the following health effects: ACUTE: Due to the small size of the individual cylinder of this gas mixture, no unusual health effects from exposure to the product are anticipated under routine circumstances of use. However the Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide components of this gas mixture are toxic to humans. Over-exposure to this gas mixture can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, collapse, unconsciousness, coma, and death. Due to the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide, over-exposures to this gas mixture can also irritate the skin and eyes; severe eye contamination can result in blindness. CHRONIC: Severe over-exposures to the Hydrogen Sulfide component of this gas mixture, which do not result in death, may cause long-term symptoms such as memory loss, paralysis of facial muscles, or nerve tissue damage. In serious cases of over-exposure, the eyes can be permanently damaged. Skin disorders and respiratory conditions may be aggravated by repeated over-exposures to this gas product. Refer to Section 11 (Toxicology Information) for additional information on the components of this gas mixture. Chronic exposure to oxygen-deficient atmospheres (below 18% oxygen in air) may affect the heart and nervous system. TARGET ORGANS ACUTE Respiratory system, blood system, central nervous system effects, cardiovascular system, skin, eyes CHRONIC: Neurological system, reproductive system, eyes.