Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

VSPC CPNZA-3 CATALYST

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Catalyst.

SYNONYMS

"cerium praseodymium neodymium zirconium oxide/ alumina catalyst"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material has NOT been classified as "harmful by ingestion". This is because of the lack of corroborating animal or human evidence. 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, unintentional ingestion is not thought to be cause for concern.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  The dust may produce eye discomfort and abrasive eye inflammation.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Temporary discomfort, however, may result from prolonged dermal exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  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 may produce health damage*.  There is some evidence to suggest that this material, if inhaled, can irritate the throat and lungs of some persons.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  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.  This product is an experimental sample comprised of agglomerates of nanometer  sized primary particles. No data exists on the effects of this specific material  on the body.  The nanometer-sized particles that form the agglomerates are elongated, with an  aspect ratio up to ~6:1. There is a chance that this material may contain a  small fraction of  individual nanoparticles, i.e. not in agglomerated form, with aspect ratio ~6:1.  Although this specific material has not been tested, and  the fraction of such individual particles is low, certain respirable ceramic  fibres have been shown to produce cancer and fibrosis in laboratory animals.  These same effects have not been demonstrated in man. NTP and the International  Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classify Refractory Ceramic Fibres as  reasonably anticipated and possible human carcinogens, respectively.  The state of California, under Proposition 65, has classified refractory ceramic  fibres as known to the state of California to cause cancer.  Special care should be taken to avoid ingestion, inhalation, skin contact or eye  contact.