PORTLAND CEMENT BASED GROUTS

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation, Skin, Ingestion Acute Exposure: Product becomes alkaline when exposed to moisture. Exposure can dry the skin, cause alkali burns and affect the mucous membranes. Dust can irritate the eyes and upper respiratory system. Toxic effects noted in animals include, for acute exposures, alveolar damage with pulmonary edema. Chronic Exposure: Dust can cause inflammation of the lining tissue of the interior of the nose and inflammation of the cornea. Hypersensitive individuals may develop an allergic dermatitis. Carcinogenicity: Since Portland cement and blended cements are manufactured from raw materials mined from the earth (limestone, marl, sand, shale, etc.) and process heat is provided by burning fossil fuels, trace, but detectable, amounts of naturally occurring, and possibly harmful, elements may be found during chemical analysis. Under ASTM standards, Portland cement may contain 0.75 % insoluble residue. A fraction of these residues may be free crystalline silica. Respirable crystalline silica (quartz) can cause silicosis, a fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs and possibly cancer. There is evidence that exposure to respirable silica or the disease silicosis is associated with an increased incidence of Scleroderma, tuberculosis and kidney disorders. Carcinogenicity Listings: NTP: Known carcinogen

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Individuals with sensitive skin and with pulmonary and/or respiratory disease, including, but not limited to, asthma and bronchitis, or subject to eye irritation, should be precluded from exposure. Exposure to crystalline silica or the disease silicosis is associated with increased incidence of scleroderma, Tuberculosis and possibly increased incidence of kidney lesions. Chronic Exposure: Dust can cause inflammation of the lining tissue of the interior of the nose and inflammation of the cornea. Hypersensitive individuals may develop an allergic dermatitis. (May contain trace (<0.05 %) amounts of chromium salts or compounds including hexavalent chromium, or other metals found to be hazardous or toxic in some chemical forms. These metals are mostly present as trace substitutions within the principal minerals) Individuals with sensitive skin and with pulmonary and/or respiratory disease, including, but not limited to, asthma and bronchitis, or subject to eye irritation, should be precluded from exposure. SECTION III - HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS/IDENTITY INFORMATION