SULPHURIC ACID

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Clear, colourless to dark brown, odourless, dense, oily liquid. Will not burn. Can decompose at high temperatures forming toxic gases, such as sulfur oxides. Contact with combustible materials may cause fire. Highly reactive. Contact with many organic and inorganic chemicals may cause fire or explosion. Contact with metals liberates flammable hydrogen gas. Reacts violently with water. VERY TOXIC. May be fatal if inhaled or swallowed. CORROSIVE to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause blindness and permanent scarring. Causes lung injury--effects may be delayed. Strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid are CARCINOGENIC. Target Organs: Lungs, teeth, eyes, skin, mucous membranes.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation and ingestion. Skin contact. Eye contact Effects of Acute Exposure: Corrosive, oxidizing and sulphonating properties on contact. May be fatal by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption. LD50/LC50 CAS# 7664-93-3 Inhalation, mouse LC50 = 320 mg/m3/2H, Inhalation, rat LC50 = 510 mg/m3/2H Oral, rat LD50 – 2140 mg/kg. Eyes: Causes severe eye burns. May cause irreversible eye injury. Skin: Causes skin burns. Defatting dermatitis with prolonged use. Ingestion: May cause severe and permanent damage to the digestive tract. Causes burns in mouth, pharynx and gastrointestinal tract. Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal pain. Corrosive and toxic Inhalation: Harmful if inhaled. May cause severe irritation of the respiratory tract with sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath and delayed lung edema. Causes chemical burns to the respiratory tract. May cause respiratory inflammation. Destructive to tissues of mucous membranes. Headache, May cause delayed lung injury. Vomiting. Nausea. Pulmonary edema. Corrosive and toxic. Effects of Chronic Exposure: Prolonged or repeated inhalation may cause nosebleeds, nasal congestion, erosion of the teeth, perforation of the nasal septum, chest pain and bronchitis. Prolonged or repeated eye contact may cause conjunctivities. May cause death. CORROSIVE to body tissues. To the best of our knowledge the chronic toxicity of this substance has not been fully investigated.