Common Name: Nickel Sulfate CAS Number: 7786-81-4 DOT Number: NA 91 Date: August, 1987 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Nickel Sulfate can affect you when breathed in. * Nickel Sulfate may cause mutations. Handle with extreme caution. * It may also cause infertility in males. * Skin contact may cause skin allergy, with itching, redness, and later rash. * High or repeated exposures can scar the lungs. * High exposure can cause cough, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This can cause death. * Nickel Sulfate can cause an asthma like lung allergy. IDENTIFICATION Nickel Sulfate is blue to blue-green crystals with a sweet taste. It is used to make other nickel compounds and as a mordant in dyeing, and printing textiles, coatings, and ceramics. REASON FOR CITATION * Nickel Sulfate is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH 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 OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour work-shift. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.015 mg/m3 averaged over an 10-hour workshift. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. * These exposure limits are recommended for soluble Nickel compounds and are measured as Nickel [Ni]. * Nickel Sulfate 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 Nickel Sulfate. * 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 Nickel 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 Nickel Sulfate: * Eye or skin contact can cause irritation. * Exposure can irritate the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath. Higher levels can cause a build-up of fluid (pulmonary edema). This can cause death. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Nickel Sulfate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * Nickel Sulfate may cause mutations (genetic changes) in living cells. Whether or not it poses a cancer hazard needs further study. Reproductive Hazard * Nickel Sulfate may cause infertility in males; this effect is usually reversible with removal from exposure. Other Long-Term Effects * Contact can cause skin allergy to develop. Symptoms include burning, itching, redness, and bumps or other rash. Rash may spread to other areas and last for weeks after the end of exposure but usually improves in about a week. * Lung allergy (asthma) occasionally occurs with wheezing and/or tightness in the chest. * Single high or repeated lower exposures may damage lungs, with scarring of lung tissues, and may cause damage to heart muscle, liver, and/or kidneys. MEDICAL Medical Testing Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, the following are recommended: * Lung function test. * Urine or plasma test for Nickel (unexposed persons have urine levels less than 10 micrograms per liter). If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may be useful: * Daily urine Nickel for several days (persons with urine Nickel over 100 micrograms per liter need medical attention. * Lung function tests. * Consider chest x-ray after acute over-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 are allergic to Nickel are more likely to develop an allergic skin rash. These persons may have a history of allergy to Nickel-coated jewelry, watchbands, and sometimes with prolonged contact to keys, coins, etc. 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: * Specific engineering controls are recommended for this chemical by NIOSH. Refer to the NIOSH criteria document: Occupational Exposure to Inorganic Nickel: #77-164. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Nickel 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 Nickel Sulfate. * On skin contact with Nickel 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 Nickel Sulfate, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Nickel Sulfate 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 Nickel 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 dust-proof goggles when working with powders or dust, unless full face-piece 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 0.015 mg/m3, 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 Nickel Sulfate, or in the case of a full face-piece 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 face- piece operated in the positive pressure mode or with a full facepiece, hood, or helmet in the continuous flow mode, or use a MSHA/NIOSH ap proved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode. Common Name: Nickel Sulfate DOT Number: NA 91 CAS Number: 7786-81-4 ----------------------------------------- Hazard rating NFPA FLAMMABILITY Not Rated REACTIVITY Not Rated ---------------------------------------- POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE --------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Nickel 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 Nickel Sulfate 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. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Nickel 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 Nickel Sulfate you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Nickel Sulfate must be stored to avoid contact with STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC, and NITRIC) and wood, and other combustibles since violent reactions occur. FIRST AID 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 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. * Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Soluble OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Chemical Name: Nickel (II) Sulfate Other Names and Formulations: Nickelous Sulfate; Sulfuric Acid; Nickel (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 Nickel is one of the most common metals occurring in surface waters. It occurs naturally in surface waters from the weathering of rocks. Other sources of nickel and compounds to the environment include the burning of coal and other fossil fuels and discharges from such industries as electroplating and smelting. 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. Water hardness affects nickel toxicity to aquatic organisms -the softer the water, the higher the toxicity. Nickel and its compounds have high acute toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short- term effects of nickel 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. Nickel and its compounds have high chronic toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long-term effects of nickel and its compounds to plants, birds, or land animals. WATER SOLUBILITY Nickel and its compounds have water solubilities ranging from low to high. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Nickel and its compounds are highly persistent in water, with half- lives greater than 200 days. 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 nickel and its compounds found in fish tissues is expected to be somewhat higher than the average concentration of nickel and its compounds in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.