Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UNITOR OXYGEN

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Gas for welding and cutting.

SYNONYMS

O2

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Contact with combustible material may cause fire.
Irritating to eyes.
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Overexposure is unlikely in this form.  Not normally a hazard due to physical form of product.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  

SKIN

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can cause inflammation of the skin on contact in some persons.  Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions.  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 vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Inhalation of non-toxic gases may cause:  ·  CNS effects: headache, confusion, dizziness, stupor, seizures and coma;  ·  respiratory: shortness of breath and rapid breathing;  ·  cardiovascular: collapse and irregular heart beats;  ·  gastrointestinal: mucous membrane irritation, nausea and vomiting.  Material is highly volatile and may quickly form a concentrated atmosphere in confined or unventilated areas. Vapor is heavier than air and may displace and replace air in breathing zone, acting as a simple asphyxiant. This may happen with little warning of overexposure.  Symptoms of asphyxia (suffocation) may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscular weakness, drowsiness and ringing in the ears. If the asphyxia is allowed to progress, there may be nausea and vomiting, further physical weakness and unconsciousness and, finally, convulsions, coma and death. Significant concentrations of the non-toxic gas reduce the oxygen level in the air. As the amount of oxygen is reduced from 21 to 14 volume %, the pulse rate accelerates and the rate and volume of breathing increase. The ability to maintain attention and think clearly is diminished and muscular coordination is somewhat disturbed. As oxygen decreases from 14-10% judgement becomes faulty; severe injuries may cause no pain. Muscular exertion leads to rapid fatigue. Further reduction to 6% may produce nausea and vomiting and the ability to move may be lost. Permanent brain damage may result even after resuscitation at exposures to this lower oxygen level. Below 6% breathing is in gasps and convulsions may occur. Inhalation of a mixture containing no oxygen may result in unconsciousness from the first breath and death will follow in a few minutes.  Nitrogen is non-toxic but may replace oxygen in the inhaled air producing asphyxiation.  As the amount of inhaled oxygen is reduced from 21% to 14% (by volume), pulse rate and volume of breathing, increase.  Nitrogen inhaled under increased atmospheric pressure (>1.5 atmospheres), may dissolve in fat-containing brain-cells producing anaesthesia and causing narcosis. Individuals exposed to increased pressures for some time and who are suddenly released from the pressure may develop decompression sickness. Repeated exposures, without complete decompression, may result in decompression sickness.  In oxygen-enriched atmospheres both the respiratory and central nervous systems may be affected. No health effects have been observed in humans exposed to concentrations of up to 80 vol% oxygen for a few hours or up to 50 vol% for 24 hours. At pressures above one atmosphere, hyperoxia may appear after 2-6 hours. Symptoms of hyperoxia include cramps, nausea, dizziness, hypothermia, amblyopia (loss of vision), bradycardia, fainting spells and convulsions capable of causing death.  Irritation of the mucous membranes may occur after prolonged exposures to oxygen-rich atmospheres (above 60 vol%).  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal route of occupational exposure to the gas is by inhalation.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There is some evidence that human exposure to the material may result in developmental toxicity. This evidence is based on animal studies where effects have been observed in the absence of marked maternal toxicity, or at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects but which are not secondary non-specific consequences of the other toxic effects.  A variety of central nervous system effects can occur following prolonged exposure to oxygen at partial pressures in excess of 200 kPa: these include dizziness, impaired coordination, visual and hearing disturbances, and seizures. Prolonged exposure at/ or normal elevated pressure may cause severe thickening and scarring of tissue.