Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance: Clear, colourless liquid with a slightly sharp and irritating odour. Will not burn. MODERATE OXIDIZER. Contact with combustible materials may cause fire or explosion. CORROSIVE to the eyes. May cause permanent injury including blindness. Corrosive to steel, iron, nickel, copper and its alloys. Target Organs: Blood, central nervous system, eyes.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation. Eye contact. Skin contact Effects of Acute Exposure: Corrosive. Causes severe eye burns. Irritating to skin, eyes and respiratory system. LD50/LC50 CAS# 7722-84-1 Inhalation, rat LC50 = 2 gm/m3/4H; Oral, rat LD50 = 910 mg/kg. CAS# 7732-18-5 Oral, rat LD50 = >90 mL/kg Inhalation: Hydrogen peroxide does not readily form a vapour at room temperature. If heated or misted, it is irritating to the nose, throat and respiratory tract, based on limited human and animal information. In very severe cases, bronchitis or a potentially life-threatening accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) may occur. However, no reports of these effects in humans were located. Eyes: Hydrogen peroxide solutions of 20% to less than 35% are corrosive to eyes based on animal information. Corrosive materials are capable of producing severe eye burns, and permanent injury, including blindness, depending on the concentration of the solutions and duration of contact. No human information was located for hydrogen peroxide solutions of 20% to less than 35%. Direct contact with dilute solutions (up to 3%) has not resulted in permanent eye injury. Skin: Hydrogen peroxide solutions of 20% to less than 35% are very mild skin irritants based on animal information. Prolonged contact (e.g. 24- hours) can cause moderate to severe irritation. Whitening or bleaching of the skin has been observed in humans following contact with dilute solutions. Exposure to 35% hydrogen peroxide may result in redness and an eruption of gas bubbles under the skin described as being similar to bubble wrap; however, the skin eruptions heal rapidly without scarring following treatment. Ingestion: Case reports of non-occupational ingestion of hydrogen peroxide describe symptoms such as sharp pains in the abdomen, foaming at the mouth, vomiting, temporary unconsciousness and fever. Sensory and motor impairment have also been described. Concentrated solutions (greater than 20%) irritate the gastrointestinal tract and may cause corrosive injury and death. Hydrogen peroxide reacts in the stomach releasing large amounts of oxygen. Ingestion is not a typical route of occupational exposure. Effects of Chronic Exposure: Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause eye and throat irritation, corneal damage, dermatitis, and gradual bleaching of hair.