Lithium perchlorate

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability 0 Toxicity 2 Min/Nil=0 Body Contact 2 Low=1 Reactivity Moderate=2 2 High=3 Chronic 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Contact with combustible material may cause fire. Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED ■ Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual. ■ Lithium, in large doses, can cause dizziness and weakness. If a low salt diet is in place, kidney damage can result. ■ Symptoms of exposure to perchlorates include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and a bluish discolouration of the skin. The effects may be delayed for several hours following exposure. ■ Nausea and vomiting are almost always apparent after chlorate poisonings usually with upper stomach pain. Diarrhoea may also occur. EYE ■ This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons. SKIN ■ This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons. ■ The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition. ■ Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects (as classified under EC Directives); the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. ■ 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. INHALED ■ The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. ■ 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. If prior damage to the circulatory or nervous systems has occurred or if kidney damage has been sustained, proper screenings should be conducted on individuals who may be exposed to further risk if handling and use of the material result in excessive exposures.

Potential chronic health

■ Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. Substance accumulation, in the human body, may occur and may cause some concern following repeated or long-term occupational exposure. Based on experience with animal studies, there is a possibility that exposure to the material may result in toxic effects to the development of the foetus, at levels which do not cause significant toxic effects to the mother. Lithium compounds can affect the nervous system and muscle. This can cause tremor, inco-ordination, spastic jerks and very brisk reflexes. They may cause birth defects and should not be used when pregnancy is suspected. They are effective in treating manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Restricting sodium in the diet increases the risks of taking lithium. 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. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray. Chronic and/or sub-lethal exposure to inorganic chlorate may have deleterious effects on human health, such as redness of the eyes and skin (including dermatitis), sore throat, abdominal pain, blue lips or skin, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and unconsciousness. Sodium chlorate may damage the liver, kidneys, and blood cells of humans. Subchronic chlorate exposure was associated with smaller body and organ weights, blood abnormalities and pituitary and thyroid abnormalities in one study using Sprague-Dawley rats. Chlorate is a thyroid toxicant producing thyroid gland follicular cell hypertrophy in rats and mice following chronic exposures, and may produce follicular cell tumors in rats. Perchlorates may affect the use of iodine by the thyroid gland and chronic exposures may result in symptoms of thyroid dysfunction such as goitre.