Tungsten(IV) chloride

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 0 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 4 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 1 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW 1 of 10 RISK Contact with water liberates toxic gas. Causes severe burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion. Ingestion of acidic corrosives may produce burns around and in the mouth. the throat and esophagus. Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual. If given orally, tungsten can accumulate in the spleen, kidney and liver. Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, stoppage of breathing and circulatory collapse leading to death. EYE The material can produce severe 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) vapour or fumes present a hazard from a single acute exposure. Exposures of 1300 to 2000 ppm have been lethal to humans in a few minutes. Tungsten is relatively inert and produces few respiratory effects.

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. Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. 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. Chronic minor exposure to hydrogen chloride (HCl) vapour or fume may cause discolouration or erosion of the teeth, bleeding of the nose and gums; and ulceration of the nasal mucous membranes. Repeated exposures of animals to concentrations of about 34 ppm HCl produced no immediate toxic effects. Workers exposed to hydrochloric acid suffered from gastritis and a number of cases of chronic bronchitis have also been reported. Repeated or prolonged exposure to dilute solutions of HCl may cause dermatitis.