Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UNIMIN BARYTES GROUP 1

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

White powder used as a functional filler in adhesives and as a pigment extender in surface
coatings.

SYNONYMS

"functional filler", "pigment extender"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Sulfates are not well absorbed orally, but can cause diarrhea.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

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.  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.  

INHALED

  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  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.  Effects on lungs are significantly enhanced in the presence of respirableparticles.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation.  This material can cause serious damage if one is exposed to it for long periods. It can be assumed that it contains a substance which can produce severe defects. This has been demonstrated via both short- and long-term experimentation.  Barium compounds may cause high blood pressure, airway irritation and damage the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Prolonged exposure may cause a lung inflammation and scarring. Symptoms of this include a worsening dry cough, shortness of breath on exertion, increased chest expansion and weakness. Stringy phlegm in the cough appears later, with more difficulty in breathing and a further loss of lung capacity. Barium sulfate does not cause permanent scarring of the lungs.