Common Name: Cupric Sulfate CAS Number: 7758-98-7 DOT Number: NA 9109 Date: January, 1986 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Cupric Sulfate can affect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin. * Cupric Sulfate may damage the developing fetus and decrease female fertility. * Repeated exposure to Cupric Sulfate dust or fumes can damage the liver, and/or cause scarring of the lungs. * Exposure can irritate the throat and air passages, causing cough. * Contact can cause irritation of the skin and repeated contact may cause thickening of the skin. * Eye contact may cause burns. * Repeated exposure can cause a shrinking of the inner lining of the nose. IDENTIFICATION Cupric Sulfate is a blue solid. It is used in agriculture, food additives, germicides, leather industry and pigments. REASON FOR CITATION * Cupric Sulfate is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by DOT, DEP and EPA. 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 occupational exposure limits have been established for this substance. This does not mean that this substance is not harmful. Safe work practices should always be followed. There are exposure standards recommended for different forms of Copper. They are: OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 1.0 mg/m3 for Copper dusts and mists and 0.1 mg/m3 for Copper fume averaged over an 8-hour workshift, measured as Copper. (Final Rule, January 1989). ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 1.0 mg/m3 for Copper dusts and mists and 0.2 mg/m3 for Copper fume averaged over an 8-hour workshift, measured as Copper. * Cupric Sulfate may be a teratogen in humans. All contact with this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible level. 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 Sulfate 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 Cupric Sulfate 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 Cupric Sulfate: * Exposure to Cupric Sulfate dust or fumes can irritate the eyes, throat and air passages. * Contact may burn the skin or eyes. * Exposure to fresh fumes from heated Cupric Sulfate can cause a flu-like illness with fever, chills and aching lasting 1 to 2 days. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Cupric Sulfate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * There is insufficient evidence available to evaluate Cupric Sulfate for its ability to cause cancer. Reproductive Hazard * Cupric Sulfate may damage the developing fetus in animals. * Cupric Sulfate may decrease fertility in female animals. Other Long Term Effects * Repeated exposure to the dust or fumes can damage the liver and/or the lungs. It can also cause Copper to deposit in skin and hair, leaving a green color. Metallic taste may also occur. * Repeated exposure can cause shrinking of the lining of the inner nose, with a watery discharge, or thickening of the skin. * Exposure may cause skin allergy. If allergy develops, even low future exposures may trigger a rash. * Very irritating substances may affect the lungs. It is not known whether Cupric Sulfate causes 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: * Liver function tests. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may be useful: * Lung function tests. * 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. 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 with 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. In addition, the following control is recommended: * Where possible, automatically transfer Cupric Sulfate from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Cupric Sulfate 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 Sulfate. * Eye wash fountains in the immediate work area should be provided for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Cupric Sulfate, 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 Sulfate, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Cupric Sulfate is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating or smoking. * Do not dry sweep for clean-up. Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean-up. * 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 Sulfate. 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 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. * Engineering controls must be effective to ensure that exposure to Cupric Sulfate does not occur. * Where the potential exists for exposures near or over 1.0 mg/m3 Copper dusts and mists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved respirator equipped with high efficiency particulate (dust/fume/mist) filter, or where the potential exists for exposures to Copper fume over 0.1 mg/m3 of copper fume, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with a high efficiency particulate filter. More protection is provided by a full facepiece respirator than by a halfmask respirator, and even 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. * If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator, you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect Cupric Sulfate, 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 exits for higher exposures, 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 Sulfate DOT Number: NA 9109 DOT Emergency Guide code: 31 CAS Number: 7758-98-7 ---------------------------------------- Hazard rating NJ DOH NFPA FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated REACTIVITY Not Found Not Rated ----------------------------------------- POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE TOXIC FUMES RELEASED ON DECOMPOSITION ---------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Cupric Sulfate may burn, but does not readily ignite. * Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray, or foam extinguishers. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Oxides of Sulfur. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES If Cupric Sulfate is spilled, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete. * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Cupric Sulfate 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 Cupric Sulfate you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Cupric Sulfate must be stored to avoid contact with 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 HYDROXYLAMINE and ACETYLENE GAS. 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. Breathing * Remove the person from exposure. * Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Slightly soluble OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Chemical Name: Sulfuric Acid, Copper (II) Salt (1:1) Other Names and Formulations: Blue Copper; Blue Vitriol. ------------------------------------------ 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.