Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

MAGALDRATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Antacid for the relief of gastric hyperacidity.

SYNONYMS

Al2-H14-Mg4-O16.2H2O, also, "Al5Mg10(OH)31(SO4)2.xH2O (aluminium magnesium hydroxy
sulfate)", "hydrated magnesium aluminate",
"tetrakis(hydroxymagnesium)decahydroxydialuminate hydrate", "Monalium hydrate", AY-5710,
Riopan, Riopone, antacid

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Sulfates are not well absorbed orally, but can cause diarrhea.  Magnesium salts are generally absorbed so slowly that oral administration causes few toxic effects, as the dose is readily expelled via the bowel. If evacuation fails, mucosal irritation and absorption may result. This can result in nervous system depression, heart effects, loss of reflexes and death due to paralysis of breathing. These usually do not occur unless the bowel or kidneys are damaged.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  

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

  The material is not thought to produce either adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  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 large doses of Aluminum has been connected with the degenerative brain disease Alzheimer's Disease.  Prolonged use of magnesium hydroxide may result in faecal stones composed of magnesium hydroxide and carbonate. Magnesium-containing antacids may cause renal failure after prolonged use as a result of the precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate in the kidneys. Studies conducted in human volunteers show that prolonged excessive ingestion of nonadsorbable antacids containing magnesium-aluminium hydroxide results in depletion of body phosphorus reserves by rendering dietary phosphorus nonadsorbable (producing insoluble phosphates in the intestine). This results in hypophosphataemia, hypophosphaturia, increased absorption of skeletal calcium and phosphorus and debility with anorexia, weakness, bone pain, and malaise. Low phosphate diets are also associated with osteomalacia and proximal myopathies.