Common Name: Silver Nitrate CAS Number: 7761-88-8 DOT Number: UN 1493 Date: November, 1986 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Silver Nitrate can affect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin. * Silver Nitrate may cause mutations. Handle with extreme caution. * Eye contact can cause severe burns, with permanent blindness. * Skin contact can cause severe irritation and burns. * Exposure over a period of years can slowly cause the eyes, inner nose, throat, skin and body organs to turn a blue-grey color. This is permanent, and can be very disfiguring. IDENTIFICATION Silver Nitrate is a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid. It is used in photography, silver plating, chemical reactions, mirror manufacturing, as an antiseptic. REASON FOR CITATION * Silver 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 OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.01 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.01 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. * This exposure limit is recommended for all soluble Silver compounds and measured as Silver. * 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. * Silver Nitrate may cause mutations. 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 Silver Nitrate 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 Silver 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. ------------------------------------------ HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Silver Nitrate: * Eye contact can cause severe burns, with permanent blindness. * Skin contact can cause severe irritation or burns. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Silver Nitrate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * Silver Nitrate may cause mutations (genetic changes) in living cells. Whether or not it poses a cancer or reproductive hazard needs further study. Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Silver Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. Other Long Term Effects * Exposure to Silver Nitrate dust or fumes can very gradually cause the eyes, nails, inner nose, throat, body organs and skin to turn a blue-grey color. This usually takes 2 to 20 years to develop but is permanent, and can be very disfiguring. * High repeated exposure may cause kidney damage. * Very irritating substances may affect the lungs. It is not known whether Silver Nitrate causes lung damage. Medical Testing Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, for those with frequent or potentially high exposures, the following are recommended: * Lung function tests. * Exam of the eyes, nose, throat and skin for changes in color. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may be useful: * Kidney 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. 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 Silver Nitrate 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 Silver 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 Silver 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 Silver 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 Silver Nitrate, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Silver 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 Silver 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 splash-proof chemical goggles and face shield when working with working with solutions containing Silver Nitrate. * 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 0.01 mg/m3 as Silver, 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. * If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator, you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect Silver 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 to Silver Nitrate solutions 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 mo de, 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: Silver Nitrate DOT Number: UN 1493 DOT Emergency Guide code: 45 CAS Number: 7761-88-8 ---------------------------------------- NJ DOH Hazard rating FLAMMABILITY Not Found REACTIVITY Not Found ---------------------------------------- MAY IGNITE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE STRONG OXIDIZING MATERIAL ---------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Silver Nitrate may ignite other combustible materials, such as wood, paper and/or oils. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Oxides of Nitrogen. * Use water only. Do not use 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 Silver Nitrate is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. * Shovel crystalline material into a clean, dry container. Keep away from combustibles. Flush area with water. * Keep Silver 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 Silver 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 Silver Nitrate you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Silver Nitrate must be stored to avoid contact with OILS and FUELS since violent reactions occur. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool well-ventilated area away from OXIDIZERS and ALKALIES. * Silver Nitrate should not be stored in plastic containers. FIRST AID Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. Skin Contact * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention immediately. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Soluble OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Chemical Name: Nitric Acid, Silver (1+) Salt Other Names and Formulations: Lunar Caustic. ------------------------------------------ Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes. ------------------------------------------ NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Right to Know Project CN 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 (609) 984-2202 ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION Silver is a naturally occurring metal in the earth's crust. It is used to make coins, tableware, mirrors, jewelry, electroplating and in electrical conductors. Silver containing compounds are used in photography, as an anti-infective, as a reagent, and to seed clouds causing precipitation. Because of its wide use, silver enters the environment in non-point as well as specific discharges such as industrial and municipal effluents. 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. The toxicity of silver to aquatic life is probably dependent on water hardness - the harder the water, the higher the concentration of silver needed to be toxic. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short-term effects of silver and its compounds 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. Silver and its compounds have high chronic toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long-term effects of silver to plants, birds, or land animals. WATER SOLUBILITY Some silver compounds are highly soluble in water and others less soluble. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Silver 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 silver found in fish tissues is expected to be much higher than the average concentration of silver in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.