Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HACH HGEX TM REAGENT 3 ALKALINE REAGENT

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used for the determination of mercury.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Heating may cause an explosion.
Contact with combustible material may cause fire.
Toxic if swallowed.
Very toxic by inhalation.
Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  In humans, inorganic nitrites produce smooth muscle relaxation, methaemoglobinaemia (MHG) and cyanosis. Fatal poisonings in infants, resulting from ingestion of nitrates in water or spinach, have been reported. The primary effect of nitrite intoxication in animals is MHG whilst secondary effects include vasodilation, relaxation of smooth muscle and lowering of blood pressure. Other nitrite-induced toxic effects include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, atrophied intestinal villi and apoptopic cell death in the intestinal crypts. When sodium nitrite was administered in drinking water for 6 weeks (0.06-1%), mice showed a slight degeneration and spotty necrosis of hepatocytes and haemosiderin deposition in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes, indicating haemolysis. At 2%, mice died within 3 weeks. In rats, subject to the same treatment regime, abnormal blood and spleen colours, due to MHG, were seen in 0.5% and 1.0% treatment groups. Hepatic microsomal lipoperoxidation (as measured by malondialdehyde formation) was increased in male rats given 0.2% sodium nitrite in drinking water. Liver lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase aaand cathepsin) and superoxide dismutase activities were also increased. This data suggests that the nitrite stimulates generation of superoxide radicals in the liver causing damage to cellular and subcellular membranes. Decreased plasma vitamin E and greater reduced glutathione-per erythrocyte were also reported in male rats receiving sodium nitrite in drinking water.  The substance and/or its metabolites may bind to hemoglobin inhibiting normal uptake of oxygen. This condition, known as "methemoglobinemia", is a form of oxygen starvation (anoxia).  Symptoms include cyanosis (a bluish discoloration skin and mucous membranes) and breathing difficulties. Symptoms may not be evident until several hours after exposure.  At about 15% concentration of blood methemoglobin there is observable cyanosis of the lips, nose and earlobes. Symptoms may be absent although euphoria, flushed face and headache are commonly experienced. At 25-40%, cyanosis is marked but little disability occurs other than that produced on physical exertion. At 40-60%, symptoms include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, increasingly severe headache, ataxia, rapid shallow respiration, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and stupor. Above 60% symptoms include dyspnea, respiratory depression, tachycardia or bradycardia, and convulsions. Levels exceeding 70% may be fatal.  

EYE

  There is evidence that material may produce eye irritation in some persons and produce eye damage 24 hours or more after instillation. Severe inflammation may be expected with pain. There may be damage to the cornea. Unless treatment is prompt and adequate there may be permanent loss of vision. Conjunctivitis can occur following repeated exposure.  Alkaline salts may be intensely irritating to the eyes and precautions should be taken to ensure direct eye contact is avoided.  

SKIN

  The material may cause mild but significant inflammation of the skin either following direct contact or after a delay of some time. Repeated exposure can cause contact dermatitis which is characterized by redness, swelling and blistering.  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 produce severely toxic effects; these may be fatal.  The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material, during the course of normalhandling, may be harmful.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  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.  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 sodium nitrite in drinking water resulted in an increased incidence of epithelial hyperplasia in the forestomach of male and female rats and in the glandular stomach of male mice.There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of sodium nitrite in female B6C3F1 mice based on the positive trend in the incidences of squamous cell papillomas or carcinomas (combined) of the forestomach. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female F344/N rats or B6C3F1 male mice exposed to 750, 1500 or 3000 ppm.  NTP Technical Report Series No. 495, May 2001Under certain conditions, nitrites can react with secondary amines, either alone or in biological systems, to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.Sodium nitrite (60 mg/kg) administered in drinking water to pregnant guinea pigs produced maternal anaemia and increased the incidences of abortion and foetal mortality. Administration of 2000-3000 mg/l sodium nitrite in drinking water, to pregnant rats, produced 30-53% foetal mortality. In rat dams given 0.025-0.5% in feed, sodium nitrite caused an increase in foetal and pup mortality and decreases in pre-weanling body weights.