Lithium tetrafluoroborate

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 0 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 4 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 0 Moderate=2 High=3 Chronic: 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Contact with acids liberates toxic gas. Causes severe burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes. Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Cumulative effects may result following exposure*. * (limited evidence).

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED ■ Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual. ■ Ingestion of acidic corrosives may produce burns around and in the mouth, the throat and oesophagus. Immediate pain and difficulties in swallowing and speaking may also be evident. ■ Fluoride causes severe loss of calcium in the blood, with symptoms appearing several hours later including painful and rigid muscle contractions of the limbs. Cardiovascular collapse can occur and may cause death with increased heart rate and other heart rhythm irregularities. ■ Lithium, in large doses, can cause dizziness and weakness. If a low salt diet is in place, kidney damage can result. EYE ■ The material can produce severe chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapours or mists may be extremely irritating. ■ If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. ■ Direct eye contact with acid corrosives may produce pain, tears, sensitivity to light and burns. Mild burns of the epithelia generally recover rapidly and completely. SKIN ■ The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin. ■ Skin contact with the material may be harmful; systemic effects may result following absorption. ■ Skin contact with acidic corrosives may result in pain and burns; these may be deep with distinct edges and may heal slowly with the formation of scar tissue. ■ 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, may markedly increase skin corrosion and accelerate tissue destruction. INHALED ■ Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material, during the course of normalhandling, may be harmful. ■ The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. ■ Corrosive acids can cause irritation of the respiratory tract, with coughing, choking and mucous membrane damage. There may be dizziness, headache, nausea and weakness. ■ 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. ■ Acute effects of fluoride inhalation include irritation of nose and throat, coughing and chest discomfort. A single acute over-exposure may even cause nose bleed.

Potential chronic health

■ Repeated or prolonged exposure to acids may result in the erosion of teeth, swelling and/or ulceration of mouth lining. Irritation of airways to lung, with cough, and inflammation of lung tissue often occurs. Chronic exposure may inflame the skin or conjunctiva. 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. 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. Borate can accumulate in the testes and deplete germ cells and cause withering of the testicles, according to animal testing. Hair loss, skin inflammation, stomach ulcer and anaemia can all occur. Repeated swallowing or inhalation irritates the stomach, causes a loss of appetite, disturbed digestion, nausea and vomiting, red rash, dry skin and mucous membranes, reddening of the tongue, cracking of the lips, inflamed conjunctiva, swelling of the eyelids and kidney injury. Animal testing revealed prolonged ingestion causes effects to the reproductive system in both males and females. 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. Fluoborates accumulate in the thyroid gland, preventing the uptake of iodine. Chronic exposure to boron trifluoride can increase levels of bone fluoride and cause dental fluorosis.