Common Name: Mercurous Oxide CAS Number: 15829-53-5 DOT Number: UN 1641 Date: August, 1987 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Mercurous Oxide can affect you when breathed and by passing through skin. * Overexposures can damage the kidneys. * Mercury poisoning can cause "shakes," irritability, sore gums, increased saliva, personality change and brain damage. * Eye contact can cause irritation and possible damage. Skin contact can cause irritation or skin allergy. * Heating or contact with acid or acid mist releases toxic Mercury vapors. * Mercury accumulates in the body. Health effects have been reported below NIOSH recommended exposure levels. IDENTIFICATION Mercurous Oxide is a black to grayish powder used in the manufacture of other chemicals. REASON FOR CITATION * Mercurous Oxide is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT and NIOSH. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.20. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. ----------------------------------------- WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS These exposure limits for inorganic Mercury compounds or Mercury vapor are measured as Mercury. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.1 mg/m3 for Mercury and inorganic compounds, not to be exceeded at any time. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.05 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift for Mercury, inorganic. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.1 mg/m3 for inorganic compounds and 0.05 mg/m3 of Mercury vapor averaged over an 8-hour workshift. * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Mercurous Oxide and at the end of the workshift. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Mercurous Oxide to potentially exposed workers. This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. ------------------------------------------ HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Mercurous Oxide: * Mercurous Oxide can affect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin. * Direct contact causes eye irritation and possible damage and may irritate skin. * Heating or contact with acid or acid mist causes release of toxic Mercury vapors, and lung effects of bronchitis and phlegm and/or lung irritation. * Breathing Mercurous Oxide causes irritation of the throat and air passages. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Mercurous Oxide and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Mercurous Oxide has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Reproductive Hazard * Mercurous Oxide has not been tested for its ability to cause reproductive damage but it should be HANDLED WITH CAUTION since some related Mercury compounds damage the developing fetus and decrease fertility in males and females. * Organic Mercury substances (organic substances are those which contain carbon) have been identified as human teratogens. While inorganic Mercury substances (those without carbon), such as Mercurous Oxide have not been shown to be human teratogens, they still should be handled with caution as they may cause reproductive problems in males and females. Other Long-Term Effects * High or repeated exposure can cause kidney damage or Mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning causes sore gums, "shakes" (often with shaky handwriting), clumsiness, irritability, and increased saliva. Other changes may include memory loss, extreme shyness, weakness, loss of teeth, poor appetite, "pins and needles" feeling, and metallic taste. Serious personality changes and brain damage can occur, especially if exposure continues. * Repeated skin contact may make the skin turn gray. * Exposure can also cause kidney damage, brown staining in the eye, and may affect peripheral vision (ability to see to the side). * Skin contact may cause allergy to develop. Once allergy develops, even low future exposures can cause a rash and itching. * Repeated exposure causes Mercury to accumulate in the body. It can take months or years for the body to get rid of excess Mercury. MEDICAL Medical Testing Before first exposure and every 6 to 12 months after, a complete medical history and exam is strongly recommended, with: * Exam of the nervous system, including handwriting. * Routine urine test (UA). * Urine test for Mercury (should be less than 0.02 mg/Liter). * Eye exam. After suspected illness or overexposure, repeat the tests above and get a blood test for Mercury. * Consider nerve conduction tests, urinary enzymes and neuro- behavioral testing. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.20. Mixed Exposures Creams to whiten or bleach skin may contain Mercury; if so, their use increases risk. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. In addition, the following controls are recommended: * Where possible, automatically transfer Mercurous Oxide from drums or other storage containers to process containers. * Vigorous, periodic cleaning of all work surfaces. * Specific engineering controls are recommended for this chemical by NIOSH. Refer to the NIOSH criteria document: Inorganic Mercury #73-11024. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Mercurous Oxide should change into clean clothing promptly. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Mercurous Oxide. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Mercurous Oxide, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Mercurous Oxide, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Mercurous Oxide is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating or smoking. * For clean-up use a specialized charcoal-filtered vacuum or suction pump to avoid generating Mercury vapor. Care should be taken not to disturb spilled material. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be appropriate. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Mercurous Oxide. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. * Non-absorbent materials are recommended. Eye Protection * Wear dust-proof goggles and face shield when working with powders or dust, unless full facepiece respiratory protection is worn. Respiratory Protection IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a written program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. * Where the potential exists for exposures over 0.05 mg/m3 to solid Mercurous Oxide, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with a high efficiency particulate filter. Greater protection is provided by a powered-air purifying respirator. Particulate filters must be checked every day before work for physical damage, such as rips or tears, and replaced as needed. * Where the potential exists for exposure to Mercury vapor over 0.05 mg/m3 8-hour average airborne exposure, but less than 0.5 mg/m3, use a MSHA half-mask facepiece with belt-mounted "Mersorb" cartridges. These cartridges have end of service life indicators which usually indicate when filters must be changed. For this reason, filters are belt-mounted for visibility. This is the only commercially available air filtering respirator approved by MSHA/NIOSH for Mercury. * If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator, you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect Mercurous Oxide, or in the case of a full facepiece respirator you experience eye irritation, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter, cartridge, or canister. If the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters, cartridges, or canisters to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. * Where the potential for exposures above 0.5 mg/m3 exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in the positive pressure mode or with a full facepiece, hood, or helmet in the continuous flow mode. * Exposure to 28 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposures above 28 mg/m3 exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in continuous flow or other positive pressure mode. Common Name: Mercurous Oxide DOT Number: UN1641 DOT Emergency Guide code: CAS Number: 15829-53-5 ----------------------------------------- Hazard rating NJ DOH NFPA FLAMMABILITY Not Rated REACTIVITY Not Rated MAY BURN POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE --------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Mercurous Oxide may burn, but does not readily ignite. * Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray, or foam extinguishers. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Mercury vapors. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES If Mercurous Oxide is spilled, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Spills should be collected with special Mercury vapor suppressants or special vacuums. Kits specific for clean-up of Mercury spills are available. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Mercurous Oxide as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. ========================================== FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department. ========================================== HANDLING AND STORAGE * Prior to working with Mercurous Oxide you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Mercurous Oxide must be stored to avoid contact with HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, POTASSIUM, SODIUM, SULFUR and a MIXTURE OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE, BARIUM OXIDE and AIR since violent reactions occur. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from LIGHT, ALKALI METALS, CHLORINE and ETHYLENE. FIRST AID Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention. Skin Contact * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Breathing * Remove the person from exposure. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility if signs of illness are present. Antidotes and Special Procedures * The drug NAP (N-Acetyl Penicillamine) has been used to treat Mercury poisoning, with mixed success. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Insoluble Chemical Name Mercury (I) Oxide ------------------------------------------ Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes. ------------------------------------------ NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Right to Know Program CN 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION Elemental mercury is a heavy and relatively inert liquid which is oxidized to inorganic mercury (II) under natural conditions. Mercury (II) may combine with an organic fraction to from methylmercury. Both mercury (II) and methylmercury are of environmental concern. Mercury (II) may enter the environment in industrial or municipal waste treatment discharges, from previously contaminated sediments, and from the weathering of natural rocks. Bacteria may then convert it into methylmercury. The concentration of mercury (II) in bodies of water may be elevated with acid rain due to the scouring of mercury from the air and increased partitioning from the sediment into the water. ACUTE (SHORT TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Acute effects are seen two to four days after animals or plants come in contact with a toxic chemical substance. Mercury(II) and methylmercury has high acute toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short term effects of mercury (II) or methylmercury to plants, birds, or land animals. CHRONIC (LONG-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Chronic toxic effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behavior. Chronic effects can be seen long after first exposure(s) to a toxic chemical. Mercury (II) and methylmercury have high chronic toxicity to aquatic life. Eating fish contaminated with mercury residues has caused secondary poisoning in humans: birds or land animals similarly exposed to mercury and its compounds could also be subject to such effects. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long-term effects of mercury and its compounds to plants. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Mercury is highly persistent in water, with a half-life greater than 200 days. The half-life of a pollutant is the amount of time it takes for one-half of the chemical to be degraded. BIOACCUMULATION IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS Some substances increase in concentration, or bioaccumulate, in living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. These chemicals can become concentrated in the tissues and internal organs of animals and humans. The concentration of mercury(II) and methylmercury found in fish tissues is expected to be considerably higher than the average concentration of mercury(II) or methylmercury in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL, Duluth, U.S.EPA, Phytotox.