Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UNIMIN WHITE CEMENT

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Decorative white cement for plastering, grouting and ceramics.

SYNONYMS

"portland cement white", "low iron portland cement", "white ceramic cement"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

EYE

  The material can produce 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.  

SKIN

  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Handling wet cement can cause dermatitis. Cement when wet is quite alkaline and this alkali action on the skin contributes strongly to cement contact dermatitis since it may cause drying and defatting of the skin which is followed by hardening, cracking, lesions developing, possible infections of lesions and penetration by soluble salts.  Cement contact dermatitis (CCD) may occur when contact shows an allergic response, which may progress to sensitization. Sensitization is due to soluble chromates (chromate compounds) present in trace amounts in some cements, cement products. Soluble chromates readily penetrate intact skin. Cement dermatitis can be characterized by fissures, eczematous rash, dystrophic nails, and dry skin; acute contact with highly alkaline mixtures may cause localized necrosis.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Respiratory sensitization may result in allergic/asthma like responses; from coughing and minor breathing difficulties to bronchitis with wheezing, gasping.  Effects on lungs are significantly enhanced in the presence of respirableparticles.  Acute silicosis occurs under conditions of extremely high silica dust exposure particularly when the particle size of the dust is small. The disease is rapidly progressive and spreads widely through the lungs within months of the initial exposure and causing deaths within 1 to 2 years.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Cement eczema may be due to chromium in feed stocks or contamination from  materials of construction. Sensitisation to chromium may be the leading  cause of nickel and cobalt sensitivity and the high alkalinity of cement  is an important factor in cement dermatoses [ILO].  Crystalline silicas activate the inflammatory response of white blood cells after they injure the lung epithelium. Chronic exposure to crystalline silicas reduce lung capacity and predispose to chest infections. A large part of the crystals accumulates in the lungs. Silicosis can occur, a condition where irreversible scarring of the lung occurs. Symptoms do not appear until months to years after exposure. Smoking increases this risk. Most simple cases of silicosis do not produce symptoms, but they can progress and eventually cause a tuberculosis-like syndrome which can be fatal. When silicosis is advanced, there is an increased risk of lung cancer and lymphoma. Laws in some areas require those exposed to silica to be under health surveillance.