Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HACH HIGH RANGE PLUS COD REAGENT 0-15000 PPM RANGE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Laboratory reagent.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Danger of cumulative effects.
Causes severe burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Severely toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 5 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Ingestion of acidic corrosives may produce burns around and in the mouth. the throat and esophagus. Immediate pain and difficulties in swallowing and speaking may also be evident. Swelling of the epiglottis may make it difficult to breathe which may result in suffocation. More severe exposure may result in vomiting blood and thick mucus, shock, abnormally low blood pressure, fluctuating pulse, shallow respiration and clammy skin, inflammation of stomach wall, and rupture of esophageal tissue. Untreated shock may eventually result in kidney failure. Severe cases may result in perforation of the stomach and abdominal cavity with consequent infection, rigidity and fever. There may be severe narrowing of the esophageal or pyloric sphincters; this may occur immediately or after a delay of weeks to years. There may be coma and convulsions, followed by death due to infection of the abdominal cavity, kidneys or lungs.  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects following ingestion (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse systemic effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum.  

EYE

  The material can produce severe 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.  Direct eye contact with acid corrosives may produce pain, tears, sensitivity to light and burns. Mild burns of the epithelia generally recover rapidly and completely. Severe burns produce long-lasting and possibly irreversible damage. The appearance of the burn may not be apparent for several weeks after the initial contact. The cornea may ultimately become deeply opaque resulting in blindness.  The material may produce moderate eye irritation leading to inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce severely toxic effects; systemic effects may result following absorption and these may be fatal.  The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Skin contact with acidic corrosives may result in pain and burns; these may be deep with distinct edges and may heal slowly with the formation of scar tissue.  Skin contact is not thought to produce harmful health effects (as classified using animal models). Systemic harm, however, has been identified following exposure of animals by at least one other route and the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  The material may cause skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin.  

INHALED

  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce toxic effects.  The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Corrosive acids can cause irritation of the respiratory tract, with coughing, choking and mucous membrane damage. There may be dizziness, headache, nausea and weakness. Swelling of the lungs can occur, either immediately or after a delay; symptoms of this include chest tightness, shortness of breath, frothy phlegm and cyanosis. Lack of oxygen can cause death hours after onset.  High concentrations cause inflamed airways and watery swellingof the lungs with edema.  The material may produce respiratory tract irritation, and result in damage to the lung including reduced lung function.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Repeated or prolonged exposure to acids may result in the erosion of teeth, swelling and or ulceration of mouth lining. Irritation of airways to lung, with cough, and inflammation of lung tissue often occurs. Chronic exposure may inflame the skin or conjunctiva.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Asthma-like symptoms may continue for months or even years after exposure to the material ceases. This may be due to a non-allergenic condition known as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) which can occur following exposure to high levels of highly irritating compound. Key criteria for the diagnosis of RADS include the absence of preceding respiratory disease, in a non-atopic individual, with abrupt onset of persistent asthma-like symptoms within minutes to hours of a documented exposure to the irritant. A reversible airflow pattern, on spirometry, with the presence of moderate to severe bronchial hyperreactivity on methacholine challenge testing and the lack of minimal lymphocytic inflammation, without eosinophilia, have also been included in the criteria for diagnosis of RADS. RADS (or asthma) following an irritating inhalation is an infrequent disorder with rates related to the concentration of and duration of exposure to the irritating substance. Industrial bronchitis, on the other hand, is a disorder that occurs as result of exposure due to high concentrations of irritating substance (often particulate in nature) and is completely reversible after exposure ceases. The disorder is characterised by dyspnea, cough and mucus production.  Strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid can cause cancer.  Chronic exposure to silver salts may cause a permanent ashen gray discoloration to the skin, conjunctiva and internal organs. A mild chronic bronchitis can occur.  Mercury easily crosses the placenta and causes birth defects. Chronic exposure results in excess saliva production, loss of appetite, stomach upset, vague abdominal discomfort and mild diarrhea. The kidneys are rarely involved. Chronic mercury poisoning usually shows itself mainly as effects on the nervous system, especially the central nervous system. There may be tremors involving the hands and fingers, eyelids, cheeks, legs and tongue. Motor control may be impaired, leading to slurred or scanning speech and inco-ordinated walking. Disturbance with seeing or hearing may occur There may be behavior changes such as depression, despondency and fearfulness, often accompanied by sleep disturbance, headache and fatigue. Advanced cases show memory loss, hallucinations and deterioration in mental function. Other symptoms include a constant metallic taste, and various levels of gum inflammation, leading to periodontal disease and loosening of teeth. A dark blue line may occur along the gum margins. Uncommonly, a syndrome known as acrodynia ("pink disease") may occur, of which the major symptom is itchy scaling of the hands and feet.