Common Name: Selenium CAS Number: 7782-49-2 DOT Number: UN 2658 Date: October 30, 1986 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Selenium can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to the dust or concentrated mist can irritate the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Higher levels can cause difficulty breathing, lung irritation (pneumonitis) and headaches. * Eye contact can cause irritation. * Repeated overexposure can cause garlic odor on the breath, metallic taste, irritability, fatigue, increased dental cavities, upset stomach, loss of nails and hair and mood change (depression). IDENTIFICATION Selenium is a black, gray or red odorless solid. It is used in the manufacture of electrodes and as a pigment for ruby glass, paints and dyes. REASON FOR CITATION * Selenium is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH and DOT. * Definitions are attached. 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 0.2 mg/m3 for Selenium and compounds measured as Selenium averaged over an 8 hour workshift. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.2 mg/m3 for Selenium compounds measured as Selenium averaged over an 8 hour workshift. 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 after exposure to Selenium. * 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 Selenium 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 Selenium: * Eye contact can cause irritation. * The dust or a concentrated mist can irritate the nose (with dryness, nose bleeds), throat and bronchial tubes (with cough, phlegm). Higher exposures can cause headaches, trouble breathing and lung irritation (pneumonitis). Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Selenium and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Selenium has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Reproductive Hazard * There is limited evidence that Selenium may damage the developing fetus and decrease fertility in females. Other Long Term Effects * Repeated overexposure can cause metallic taste, a garlic odor to the breath, tiredness, irritability, pallor, indigestion, increased susceptibility to dental cavities and loss of nails and/ or hair. Mood changes (depression) can also occur. * Repeated higher exposures may cause liver damage (hepatic necrosis). * Very irritating substances may affect the lungs. It is not known whether Selenium causes lung damage. MEDICAL 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. * Urine test for Selenium (normal is less than 100 micrograms per liter of urine). If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may be useful: * Consider chest x ray after acute over exposure. * 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. 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 Selenium should change into clean clothing promptly. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Selenium. * Wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Selenium at the end of each workday, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Selenium 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 cleanup. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. 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 Selenium. 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 dust proof 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. * Where the potential exists for exposures over 0.2 mg/m3, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator equipped with particulate (dust/fume/ mist) filters. 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 Selenium, 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. * Exposure to 100 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposures above 100 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: Selenium DOT Number: UN 2658 DOT Emergency Guide code: 53 CAS Number: 7782-49-2 ---------------------------------------- NJ DOH Hazard rating FLAMMABILITY Not Found REACTIVITY Not Found ---------------------------------------- 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 fumes of Selenium. * Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray, or foam extinguishers. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES If Selenium is spilled, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill 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 Selenium as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Environmental Program for specific recommendations. ========================================== FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department. ========================================== HANDLING AND STORAGE * Prior to working with Selenium you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Selenium must be stored to avoid contact with STRONG OXIDIZERS (such as CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC) since violent reactions occur. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well ventilated area away from WATER. FIRST AID POISON INFORMATION Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Skin Contact * Remove contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated skin with soap and 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. Consider 24 hour observation for breathing overexposure, as symptoms may be delayed. PHYSICAL DATA Vapor Pressure: less than 0.001 mm Hg at 68oF Water Solubility: Insoluble ------------------------------------------ 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 Selenium is an element which is abundant in the drier soils of North America from the Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean. It may occur in water as a result of the natural weathering of soils and rocks and from the mining or smelting of certain ores. It is present in coal and fuel oil, and is emitted in flue gas and fly ash during combustion. It may exist in different oxidation states and as various salts. In oxygenated water, the +4 and +6 oxidation states are predominant. Trace amounts of selenium are essential for plants and animals, including humans. 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. Selenium and its compounds have high acute toxicity to aquatic life and mammals and moderate acute toxicity to birds. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short-term effects of selenium to plants. 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. Selenium and its compounds have high acute toxicity to aquatic life, birds and land animals. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long-term effects of selenium to plants. WATER SOLUBILITY Selenium and its compounds have water solubilities ranging from low to moderate. Concentrations up to 1,000 milligrams will mix with a liter of water. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Selenium 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 oranisms 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 selenium found in fish tissues is expected to be somewhat higher than the average concentration of selenium in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA. FWS Biol Rpt 85(1.5), Oct. 85 (aka Contam.Haz. Rpt. No. 5).