Inert Gas/Nitrous Oxide Mixture

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview CAUTION! High-pressure gas. Can cause rapid suffocation. May cause dizziness and drowsiness. Self-contained breathing apparatus may be required by rescue workers.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation. EFFECTS OF A SINGLE (ACUTE) OVEREXPOSURE: INHALATION: Asphyxiant. Moderate concentrations may cause headache, drowsiness, dizziness, stinging of the nose and throat, excitation, rapid breathing, excess salivation, vomiting and unconsciousness. This product contains traces of Nitrous Oxide which may cause incoordination and narcosis, and clinical anaesthesia. Lack of oxygen can kill. 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. This product is a gas at room temperature and pressure. EYE CONTACT: No evidence of adverse effects from available information. EFFECTS OF REPEATED (CHRONIC) OVEREXPOSURE: Metabolic injury to the nervous system has resulted from frequent exposure to anaesthetic concentrations of Nitrous Oxide. OTHER EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: This product is an asphyxiant. Exposure to Nitrous Oxide has produced embryo fetal toxicity in laboratory animals. Exposure to Nitrous Oxide may be associated with an increased incidence of abortion in humans.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

OVEREXPOSURE A knowledge of the available toxicology information and of the physical and chemical properties of the material suggests that overexposure is unlikely to aggravate existing medical conditions. SIGNIFICANT LABORATORY DATA WITH POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION: None currently known. CARCINOGENICITY: Classified A4 (Not classifiable for human or animal.) by ACGIH [Nitrous oxide].