Carbon Monoxide/Oxygen Mixture Toxic, Toxic, Flammable

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview DANGER! Toxic, flammable, high-pressure gas. May be fatal if inhaled. Symptoms may be delayed. May form explosive mixture with air. Self-contained breathing apparatus may be required by rescue workers.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation. EFFECTS OF A SINGLE (ACUTE) OVEREXPOSURE: INHALATION: Depending on the concentrations and the duration of exposure, may cause headache, drowsiness, dizziness, excitation, rapid breathing, excess salvation, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, confusion, convulsions and unconsciousness. With well established poisoning, the mucosal surface will be bright red (cherry red) in colour. Lack of oxygen can cause death. SKIN CONTACT: No evidence of adverse effects from available information. SKIN No evidence of adverse effects from available information. ABSORPTION: SWALLOWING: A highly unlikely route of exposure. EYE CONTACT: No evidence of adverse effects from available information. EFFECTS OF REPEATED (CHRONIC) OVEREXPOSURE: Not available. OTHER EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: Other effects of exposure to CO include embryo toxicity, impaired cardiovascular function, pulmonary edema, pneumatic, gross neuropsychiatric damage, memory impairment, permanent CNS damage and cerebral edema with irreversible brain damage.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

OVEREXPOSURE Due to the hypoxia from carboxyhemoglobin formation, may aggravate established coronary and cerebral circulatory insufficiency. SIGNIFICANT LABORATORY DATA WITH POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION: None currently known. CARCINOGENICITY: Not listed as carcinogen by OSHA, NTP or IARC.