Common Name: Cupric Nitrate CAS Number: 3251-23-8 DOT Number: NA 1479 Date: March, 1986 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Cupric Nitrate can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to dust and vapors can irritate the nose, throat and eyes. * Cupric Nitrate may produce fumes that can cause "metal fume fever." * Repeated exposure can cause shrinking of the inner lining of the nose and may cause runny nose and sores. IDENTIFICATION Cupric Nitrate is a blue, crystalline solid. It is used as an insecticide, in paint, varnish, enamel and in wood preservatives. REASON FOR CITATION * Cupric Nitrate is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH and DOT. 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 No specific exposure limits have been established. There are, however, exposure limits recommended for Copper dust and mists as follows: OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 1.0 mg/m3 for Copper dust and mists (measured as Copper) averaged over an 8-hour workshift. (Final Rule, January 1989). ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 1.0 mg/m3 for Copper dust and mists (measured as Copper) averaged over an 8 hour workshift. * Cupric Nitrate may form metal fumes which present different hazards than the substance itself. 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 Cupric Nitrate. * 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 Cupric Nitrate 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. ------------------------------------------ Metal, metal compounds and alloys are often used in "hot" operations in the workplace. These may include, but are not limited to, welding, brazing, soldering, plating, cutting, and metallizing. At the high temperatures reached in these operations, metals often form metal fumes which have different health effects and exposure standards than the original metal or metal compound and require specialized controls. Your workplace can be evaluated for the presence of particular fumes which may be generated. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Acute Health Effects The following acute (short term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Cupric Nitrate: * Exposure to Cupric Nitrate dust or vapors can irritate the eyes, throat, nose and air passages, causing cough. * Contact can irritate and may burn the skin and eyes. * Cupric Nitrate may produce metal fumes that can cause "metal fume fever." Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Cupric Nitrate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Cupric Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Cupric Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. Other Long Term Effects * Repeated exposure can cause copper to deposit in various parts of the body. Large deposits can make the skin and hair a green color. Excess deposits in the liver can cause liver damage. Metallic taste may also occur. * Repeated exposure can also cause shrinking of the inner lining of the nose and may cause sores in the nose or a watery nasal discharge. * Skin allergy with rash sometimes occurs. If allergy develops, even small future exposures can trigger rash. Repeated exposures can also cause thickening of the skin not caused by allergy. * Very irritating substances may affect the lungs. It is not known whether Cupric Nitrate dust and heated fumes cause lung damage. MEDICAL Medical Testing For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the TLV or greater), the following are recommended before beginning work and at regular times after that: * Lung function tests. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may be useful: * Urine test for copper can measure recent exposure. * Evaluation by a qualified allergist, including careful exposure history and special testing, may help diagnose skin allergy. * Liver function tests. 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 Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. Conditions Made Worse By Exposure Persons who have Wilson's disease (a rare hereditary condition which interferes with the body's ability to eliminate copper) are at increased risk from exposure. 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. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Cupric Nitrate 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 Cupric Nitrate. * 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 Cupric Nitrate, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Cupric Nitrate, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Cupric Nitrate is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating or smoking. * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean-up. Do not dry sweep. * When vacuuming, a high efficiency particulate absolute (HEPA) filter should be used, not a standard shop vacuum. 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 Cupric Nitrate. 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. Eye Protection * Wear dustproof 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 1.0 mg/m3, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved respirator equipped with particulate (dust/fume/mist) filters. Particulate filters must be checked every day before work for physical damage, such as rips or tears, and replaced as needed. * If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator, you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect Cupric Nitrate, 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 high exposures 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, or use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode. Common Name: Cupric Nitrate DOT Number: NA 1479 DOT Emergency Guide code: 35 CAS Number: 3251-23-8 ----------------------------------------- Hazard rating NJ DOH NFPA FLAMMABILITY - 0 REACTIVITY - 0 ----------------------------------------- POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE ---------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Oxides of Nitrogen. * Use flooding amounts of water in early stages of fire. * Use dry chemical or CO2 extinguishers. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES If Cupric Nitrate is spilled, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. * Keep Cupric Nitrate out of a confined space, such as a sewer, because of the possibility of an explosion, unless the sewer is designed to prevent the build-up of explosive concentrations. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Cupric Nitrate as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state 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 Cupric Nitrate you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Cupric Nitrate must be stored to avoid contact with COMBUSTIBLE, ORGANIC or OTHER READILY OXIDIZABLE MATERIALS, and CHEMICALLY ACTIVE METALS (such as POTASSIUM, SODIUM, MAGNESIUM, and ZINC) since violent reactions occur. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool well-ventilated area away from ACETYLENE GAS. * Protect storage containers from physical damage. 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 immediately. Skin Contact * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Soluble Chemical Name Nitric Acid, Copper (2+) salt ------------------------------------------ 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 Copper is a commonly occurring element in our natural water. At low concentrations it is an essential element for both plants and animals. At slightly higher concentrations it is toxic to aquatic life. The toxicity of copper and its compounds to aquatic life varies with the physical and chemical conditions of the water. Factors such as water hardness, alkalinity and pH influence copper toxicity. 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. Copper and its compounds have high acute toxicity to aquatic life. No data are available on the short-term effects of copper 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. Copper and its compounds have high chronic toxicity to aquatic life. No data are available on the long-term effects of copper to plants, birds, or land animals. WATER SOLUBILITY Copper and its salts are highly soluble in water. Concentrations of 1,000 milligrams and more will mix with aliter of water. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Copper 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 copper found in fish tissues is expected to be considerably higher than the average concentration of copper in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.