Arsine

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview DANGER! Toxic, flammable liquid and gas under pressure. May be fatal if inhaled. Causes severe red blood cell, lung, liver, kidney, nervous system, and heart damage. Liquid may cause frostbite. Symptoms may be delayed. May form explosive mixtures with air. Suspect cancer hazard. Self-contained breathing apparatus must be worn by rescue workers.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation. EFFECTS OF A SINGLE (ACUTE) OVEREXPOSURE: Date: Oct 15, 2016 INHALATION: Extremely toxic. May be fatal if inhaled. Arsine produces rapid intravascular hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), hemoglobinuria (hemoglobin in urine) with accompanying dark urine, weakness, shivering, decreased blood pressure, dizziness, headache, garlic odour of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominial and flank pain, diarrhea, thirst and collapse. Acute exposure to high concentrations can also result in difficulty in breathing and pulmonary edema. This interval between onset of exposure and symptoms is dependent on the concentration of gas and duration of exposure. Symptoms can be delayed up to 48 hours. Concentrations in excess of 50 ppm are rapidly fatal. Deaths have been reported from exposures to 25 ppm for 30 minutes. SKIN CONTACT: No harm expected. Liquid may cause frostbite. SKIN No harm expected. Liquid may cause frostbite. ABSORPTION: SWALLOWING: An highly unlikely route of exposure, but frostbite of the lips and mouth may result from contact with the liquid. This product is a gas at normal temperature and pressure. EYE CONTACT: No harm expected. Liquid may cause frostbite. EFFECTS OF REPEATED (CHRONIC) OVEREXPOSURE: Repeated exposure can result in anemia, peripheral neuropathy, numbness, tingling, and weakness of the extremities, and cardiovascular disease. When inhaled, arsine releases inorganic arsenic; repeated exposure to arsenic may result in increased pigmentation and thickening of the skin. OTHER EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: Delayed effects include hemolytic anemia, jaundice and bronzing of the skin, pulmonary edema, and peripheral neuropathy. Severe overexposure can also result in kidney, liver, and heart damage. Kidney failure may occur with oliguria or anuria leading to uremia and death.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

OVEREXPOSURE Indivduals with anemia or pre-existing kidney, heart, liver, or nervous system disease may be at increased risk. SIGNIFICANT LABORATORY DATA WITH POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has reported that there is sufficient evidence that inorganic arsenic compounds are skin and lung carcinogens in humans. CARCINOGENICITY: Inorganic arsenic is listed by NTP (human carcinogen), OSHA (cancer hazard) and IARC (human carcinogen, group 1)