Common Name: Barium Nitrate CAS Number: 10022-31-8 DOT Number: UN 1446 Date: July, 1987 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Barium Nitrate can affect you when breathed in. * Contact can irritate and even burn the eyes and skin. * Exposure can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. * Repeated high exposure can irritate the lungs, causing cough and phlegm and may cause an abnormal chest x-ray. * Very high exposures (such as swallowing or extremely high dust exposure) can cause Barium poisoning with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, irregular heart beat, paralysis, and death. IDENTIFICATION Barium Nitrate is an odorless, shiny, white crystalline (sugar or sand-like) solid. It is used in fireworks, ceramics, and in the electronics industry. REASON FOR CITATION * Barium Nitrate is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT and NFPA. 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 * These exposure limits are recommended for Soluble Barium compounds and are measured as Barium. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.5 mg/m3 averaged over an 8 hour workshift. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.5 mg/m3 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 immediately after exposure to Barium 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 Barium 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 Barium Nitrate: * Skin or eye contact causes severe irritation and even burns. * Breathing the dust or mist can irritate the nose, throat and bronchial tubes, causing cough and phlegm. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Barium Nitrate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Barium 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, Barium Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. Other Long-Term Effects * Repeated exposure may cause Barium to show up as spots in the lungs on a chest x-ray. This usually takes 1 to 2 years to develop and can remain for years after exposure. It is not in itself believed to affect lung function but dust irritation could affect lung function. * Repeated skin contact can cause chronic dryness and cracking. * Very high exposures (such as swallowing or extremely high dust exposure) can cause Barium poisoning with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, irregular heart beat, paralysis and death. Medical Testing If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may be useful: * Lung 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. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Barium Nitrate should change into clean clothing promptly. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Barium Nitrate. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. * On skin contact with Barium Nitrate, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Barium 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. 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 Barium 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 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 0.5 mg/m3 of Barium, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved full facepiece 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 Barium 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. * Exposure to 250 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposures above 250 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: Barium Nitrate DOT Number: UN 1446 DOT Emergency Guide code: 42 CAS Number: 10022-31-8 ---------------------------------------- NJ DOH Hazard rating FLAMMABILITY 0 REACTIVITY 0 ---------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. Barium Nitrate itself does not burn. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Oxides of Nitrogen. * Contact with organic or combustible materials such as wood, paper or oil, can cause fires or explosions. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES If Barium Nitrate is spilled, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Ventilate the area of spill. * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Barium 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 Barium Nitrate you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Barium Nitrate must be stored to avoid contact with ORGANIC and COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS (such as wood, paper, oil and fuels); and ALUMINUM and MAGNESIUM ALLOYS since violent reactions occur. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool well-ventilated area. 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: Soluble OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Chemical Name: Nitric Acid, Barium Salt Other Names and Formulations: Barium Dinitrate. ------------------------------------------ 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 (609) 984-2202 ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION Barium is a yellowish-white solid which exists in a variety of salt forms. Barium and its salts have a wide variety of applications, including uses in nuclear reactors, electronic tubes, as additives in lubricating oils, in the manufacture of pyrotechnics and explosives, in tanning and finishing leathers, as a mordant for fabrics and dyes, in electroplating, aluminum refining, and rubber manufacture; and in the production of paints and enamels. Barium may enter the environment from industrial and municipal waste treatment plant discharges, or spills. 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. Barium and its salts have moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short- term effects of barium or its salts 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. Barium and its salts have moderate chronic toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long-term effects of barium or its salts to plants, birds, or land animals. WATER SOLUBILITY Most of the barium salts are either highly or moderately soluble in water. Concentrations of 1 to 1,000 milligrams and more will mix with a liter of water. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Barium 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 barium found in fish tissues is expected to be about the same as the average concentration of in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.