Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HACH MONOCHLORAMINE POWDER PILLOWS - CHLORAMINE & AMMONIA

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used for the determination of monochloramine and ammonia.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful by inhalation and if swallowed.
Irritating to eyes and skin.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Ingestion of alkaline corrosives may produce burns around the mouth, ulcerations and swellings of the mucous membranes, profuse saliva production, with an inability to speak or swallow. Both the esophagus and stomach may experience burning pain; vomiting and diarrhea may follow. Epiglottal swelling may result in respiratory distress and asphyxia; shock can occur. Narrowing of the esophagus, stomach or stomach valve may occur immediately or after a long delay (weeks to years). Severe exposure can perforate the esophagus or stomach leading to infections of the chest or abdominal cavity, with low chest pain, abdominal stiffness and fever. All of the above can cause death.  High oral doses of salicylates, such as aspirin, may cause a mild burning pain in the throat and stomach, causing vomiting. This is followed (within hours) by deep, rapid breathing, tiredness, nausea and further vomiting, thirst and diarrhea. The central nervous system is first stimulated, and then depression from failure occurs. Stimulation produces vomiting, hyperventilation, headache, ringing in the ears, confusion, behavior and mood changes, and generalized convulsions. Respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse can result in death. There may also be sweating, skin eruptions, internal bleeding, kidney failure and inflamed pancreas. There may be bloody stools, purple skin spots or blood in the vomit. Many of these symptoms are due to disturbances in blood chemistry. A dose of 300 mg/kg can cause serious effects while 500 mg/kg can be lethal.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) overdose may produce nausea, vomiting, indigestion and upper abdominal pain. Other effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, disorientation, lethargy, "pins and needles", intense headache, blurred vision , ringing in the ears, muscle twitching, convulsions, stupor and coma. There have been other reported effects, such as sweating, decreased urination frequency or absence of urine, increased heart rate, low or high blood pressure and kidney damage.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  Direct eye contact with corrosive bases can cause pain and burns. There may be swelling, epithelium destruction, clouding of the cornea and inflammation of the iris. Mild cases often resolve; severe cases can be prolonged with complications such as persistent swelling, scarring, permanent cloudiness, bulging of the eye, cataracts, eyelids glued to the eyeball and blindness.  

SKIN

  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Skin contact with alkaline corrosives may produce severe pain and burns; brownish stains may develop. The corroded area may be soft, gelatinous and necrotic; tissue destruction may be deep.  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 normalhandling, may be harmful.  Inhaling corrosive bases may irritate the respiratory tract. Symptoms include cough, choking, pain and damage to the mucous membrane. In severe cases, lung swelling may develop, sometimes after a delay of hours to days. There may be low blood pressure, a weak and rapid pulse, and crackling sounds.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  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 inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  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.  Chronic intoxication with ionic bromides, historically, has resulted from medical use of bromides but not from environmental or occupational exposure; depression, hallucinosis, and schizophreniform psychosis can be seen in the absence of other signs of intoxication. Bromides may also induce sedation, irritability, agitation, delirium, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, forgetfulness (aphasias), dysarthria, weakness, fatigue, vertigo, stupor, coma, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, hallucinations,  an acne like rash on the face, legs and trunk, known as bronchoderma (seen in 25-30% of case involving bromide ion), and a profuse discharge from the nostrils (coryza). Ataxia and generalised hyperreflexia have also been observed. Correlation of neurologic symptoms with blood levels of bromide is inexact. The use of substances such as brompheniramine, as antihistamines, largely reflect current day usage of bromides; ionic bromides have been largely withdrawn from therapeutic use due to their toxicity. Several cases of foetal abnormalities have been described in mothers who took large doses of bromides during pregnancy.  Chronic exposure to salicylates produce problems with metabolism, central system disturbances, or kidney damage. Those with pre-existing damage to the eye, skin or kidney are especially at risk. Hypersensitive reactions can occur, especially in people with asthma. These symptoms include itchy wheals and other skin eruptions, an inflamed nose, shortness of breath and serious narrowing of the airways (which can even cause death). Chronic exposure to parabens by skin contact, ingestion or injection can cause hypersensitive reactions. There may be cross-sensitivity between different species, so people can be develop allergic symptoms if they were sensitized by other chemicals. Symptoms include acute narrowing of the airways, hives (itchy wheal), swelling, running nose and blurred vision. There may be anaphylactic shock and rash.  Repeated or prolonged exposure to corrosives may result in the erosion of teeth, inflammatory and ulcerative changes in the mouth and necrosis (rarely) of the jaw. Bronchial irritation, with cough, and frequent attacks of bronchial pneumonia may ensue. Gastrointestinal disturbances may also occur. Chronic exposures may result in dermatitis and/or conjunctivitis.  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.  Exposure to the material for prolonged periods may cause physical defects in the developing embryo (teratogenesis).