Bis(cyclopentadienyl)magnesium, sublimed

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 3 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 3 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 2 Moderate=2 High=3 Chronic: 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Spontaneously flammable in air. Causes burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes. Reacts violently with water liberating extremely flammable gases. Highly flammable. May cause fire.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion. Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual. Pyrophoric compounds may produce gastrointestinal damage resulting fromlocal generation of heat. Magnesium salts are generally absorbed so slowly that oral administration causes few toxic effects, as the dose is readily expelled via the bowel. If evacuation fails, mucosal irritation and absorption may result. EYE The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating. If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. Pyrophoric compounds may produce thermal burns on contact with the eye. SKIN The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin. Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. Pyrophoric compounds can produce irritation with a range of severity. Deep burns can occur in severe cases, with shock. Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material. Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected. Solution of material in moisture on the skin, or perspiration, mayincrease irritant effects. INHALED If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons. The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting. Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled. Pyrophoric compounds may decompose giving rise to potent irritants of therespiratory tract.

Potential chronic health

Repeated or prolonged exposure to corrosives may result in the erosion of teeth, inflammatory and ulcerative changes in the mouth and necrosis (rarely) of the jaw. Bronchial irritation, with cough, and frequent attacks of bronchial pneumonia may ensue. Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung.