Common Name: Nickel Hydroxide CAS Number: 12054-48-7 DOT Number: NA 9140 Date: September 22, 1987 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Nickel Hydroxide can affect you when breathed in. * Nickel Hydroxide is a CARCINOGEN--HANDLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. * Lung damage may result from a single high or lower repeated exposures. * High exposure can cause cough, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs. This is sometimes delayed for 1 to 2 days after exposure. * Lung allergy occasionally occurs with asthma type effects. * High or repeated lower exposure may damage the heart, liver or kidneys. * Skin contact may cause skin allergy, with itching, redness and later rash. IDENTIFICATION Nickel Hydroxide is an apple-green powder. It may be present in the workplace as a dust or as a liquid in an acid solution. REASON FOR CITATION * Nickel Hydroxide is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT 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 NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.015 mg/m3 for Nickel and inorganic compounds measured as Nickel, averaged over an 10-hour workshift. * Nickel Hydroxide is a PROBABLE CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact 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. * A regulated, marked area should be established where Nickel Hydroxide is handled, used, or stored. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Nickel Hydroxide 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 Nickel Hydroxide 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 Hydroxide: * Eye or skin contact may cause irritation. * Fumes can cause a pneumonia-like illness, with cough and shortness of breath. If overexposure is suspected, medical observation for 48 hours is recommended, since a delayed fluid build-up in the lungs can occur (pulmonary edema). Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Nickel Hydroxide and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * Nickel Hydroxide is a PROBABLE CARCINOGEN in humans. There is some evidence that it causes lung and nasal sinus cancer in humans and it has been shown to cause lung cancer in animals. * Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen. Such substances may also have the potential for causing reproductive damage in humans. Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Nickel Hydroxide has not been tested for its ability to adversely affect reproduction. Other Long-Term Effects * Skin contact can cause allergy. Symptoms include burning, itching, redness and bumps or other rash. Rash may spread to other areas and last for weeks after exposure stops, 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 the 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 tests. * 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 levels for several days (persons with urine Nickel over 100 micrograms need medical attention). * 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. Conditions Made Worse By Exposure Persons who are allergic to Nickel are more likely to develop an allergic skin rash. These persons often have a history of allergy to Nickel-coated jewelry, watchbands and sometimes with prolonged contact with 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 controls are recommended: * Where possible, automatically transfer Nickel Hydroxide from drums or other storage containers to process containers. * Specific engineering controls are recommended for this chemical by NIOSH. Refer to the NIOSH criteria document: 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 Hydroxide 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 Hydroxide. * On skin contact with Nickel Hydroxide, 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 Hydroxide, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Nickel Hydroxide 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. * 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 Hydroxide. 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 * Eye protection is included in the recommended respiratory protection. 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. * At any exposure level, 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: Nickel Hydroxide DOT Number: NA 9140 DOT Emergency Guide code: 31 CAS Number: 12054-48-7 ---------------------------------------- NJ DOH Hazard rating FLAMMABILITY 1 REACTIVITY 0 ---------------------------------------- CARCINOGEN ---------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Nickel Hydroxide may burn, but does not readily ignite. * 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 Nickel Hydroxide is spilled, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material and deposit in sealed containers. * 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 Hydroxide 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 Hydroxide you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * A regulated, marked area should be established where Nickel Hydroxide is handled, used, or stored. * Store in tightly closed containers. 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 soap and water. Breathing * Remove the person from exposure. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility for medical observation up to 2 days and tests for urine Nickel. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Insoluble OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Nickelous Hydroxide. ------------------------------------------ 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 ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ 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.