Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UMBER (MINERAL)

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Paint pigment, lithographic inks, wallpaper pigment, artists colours.

SYNONYMS

"natural umber", "raw umber", "510BU burnt tky umber"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre-  existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Iron poisoning results in pain in the upper abdomen and vomiting, and is followed hours later by shock, in severe cases coma and death. Iron toxicity increases in proportion to their solubility in the gastrointestinal tract. There is often vomiting of blood due to dilation of capillaries and bleeding from the walls of the gastrointestinal system. A watery diarrhea can occur, often leading to cardiovascular collapse after fluid and mineral loss and there can be a relapse marked by profound metabolic acidosis after several hours of apparent recovery. There may also be liver damage. Symptoms of poisoning include metallic taste, restlessness, lethargy, loss of muscle tone, coma, pallor or cyanosis (blue-gray skin), fast and weak pulse, low blood pressure, hyperventilation, shock, vasomotor instability and cardiovascular collapse. There may be inflammation, swelling and bleeding from the lungs, convulsions, jaundice, low blood sugar, multiple blood clotting defects, kidney damage with absence of urine, damage to the pancreas, vascular damage, blood loss, shock and vascular collapse. Survivor can display stomach scarring, obstruction or narrowing of digestive tract sphincters, liver hardening or nervous system effects.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  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.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Primary route of exposure is usually by inhalation of generated dust.  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. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Chronic excessive intake of iron have been associated with damage to the liver and pancreas. People with a genetic disposition to poor control over iron are at an increased risk. Iron overload in men may lead to diabetes, joint inflammation, liver cancer, heart irregularities and problems with other organs.  Overexposure to fumes can cause benign pneumoconiosis.