Copper Acetoarsenite Hazard Summary Identification
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Common Name: COPPER ACETOARSENITE CAS Number: 12002-03-8 RTK Substance number: 0529 DOT Number: UN 1585 Date: September 1988 Revision: January 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Copper Acetoarsenite can affect you when breathed in The following exposure limits are for inorganic Arsenic and may be absorbed through your skin. (measured as Arsenic): * Skin contact can cause irritation, burning, itching, thickening and color changes. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * Eye contact can cause irritation and burns. (PEL) is 0.01 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour * Breathing Copper Acetoarsenite can irritate the nose and workshift. throat and can cause ulcers and a hole in the “bone” dividing the inner nose. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Repeated exposure can cause poor appetite, a metallic or 0.002 mg/m3, which should not be exceeded garlic taste, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. during any 15 minute work period. * High or repeated exposure may damage the nerves causing weakness, "pins and needles," and poor coordination in the ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is arms and legs. 0.01 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. * Copper Acetoarsenite may damage the liver and kidneys. The exposure limits for Copper fume are: IDENTIFICATION Copper Acetoarsenite is an emerald-green crystalline (sand- OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit like) powder. It is used as an insecticide, wood preservative, (PEL) is 0.1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour and paint pigment for ships and submarines. workshift. REASON FOR CITATION NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Copper Acetoarsenite is on the Hazardous Substance List 0.1 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift. because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, and EPA. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Definitions are provided on page 5. 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When EXPOSED skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers though air levels are less than the limits listed above. to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The * Enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or requires private employers to provide similar training and enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. information to their employees. * A regulated, marked area should be established where Copper Acetoarsenite is handled, used, or stored as * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely required by the OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1018. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Copper air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results Acetoarsenite and at the end of the workshift. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In information under OSHA 1910.1020. addition, as part of an ongoing education and training * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health effort, communicate all information on the health and problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational safety hazards of Copper Acetoarsenite to potentially diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. exposed workers. COPPER ACETOARSENITE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all MEDICAL potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the Medical Testing substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the any of the potential effects described below. TLV or greater), the following are recommended before --------------------------------------------------------------------------- beginning work and at regular times after that: HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION * Exam of the nose, skin, eyes, nails and nervous system. * Liver and kidney function tests. Acute Health Effects * Test for urine Arsenic. The is most accurate at the end of The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur a workday. Eating shellfish or fish may elevate Arsenic immediately or shortly after exposure to Copper levels for up to two days. At NIOSH recommended Acetoarsenite: exposure levels, urine Arsenic should not be greater than 50 to 100 micrograms per liter of urine. * Skin contact can cause irritation, burning, itching and rash. * Eye contact can cause irritation and burns. Examine your skin periodically for abnormal growths. Skin * Breathing Copper Acetoarsenite can irritate the nose and cancer from Copper Acetoarsenite can be easily cured when throat causing coughing and wheezing. detected early. * Repeated exposure can cause poor appetite, a metallic or garlic taste, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for Chronic Health Effects damage already done are not a substitute for controlling The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at exposure. some time after exposure to Copper Acetoarsenite and can last for months or years: Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. Cancer Hazard * While Copper Acetoarsenite has not been identified as a Conditions Made Worse by Exposure carcinogen, Arsenic and certain Arsenic compounds have * Many scientists believe that skin changes from Arsenic been determined to be human carcinogens. Therefore, thickening and changes in pigment make those skin areas Copper Acetoarsenite should be handled with extreme more likely to develop skin cancer. caution. * Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES to a carcinogen. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous Reproductive Hazard substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most * While Copper Acetoarsenite has not been identified as a effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to reproductive hazard, Arsenic and certain Arsenic enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at compounds have been determined to be reproductive the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also toxins. Therefore, Copper Acetoarsenite should be reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is handled with extreme caution. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. Other Long-Term Effects * Repeated exposure can cause ulcers and a hole in the In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: “bone” dividing the inner nose. Early signs are nose (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the bleeds and a crust on the inner nose. Hoarseness and sore substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether eyes also occurs. harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls * Repeated skin contact can cause thickened skin and/or should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when patchy areas of darkening and loss of pigment. Some significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. persons develop white lines on the nails. * High or repeated exposure may damage the nerves causing In addition, the following controls are recommended: weakness, "pins and needles," and poor coordination in the * Where possible, automatically transfer Copper arms and legs. Acetoarsenite from drums or other storage containers to * Copper Acetoarsenite may damage the liver and process containers. kidneys. COPPER ACETOARSENITE page 3 of 6 * Specific engineering controls are required for this * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) chemical by OSHA. Refer to the OSHA Standard: 29 should be clean, available each day, and put on before CFR 1910.1018. work. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Eye Protection exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or goggles. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with Copper Acetoarsenite should change into clean clothing corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. promptly. * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family substance. members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by Respiratory Protection individuals who have been informed of the hazards of IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. exposure to Copper Acetoarsenite. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate written program that takes into account workplace conditions, work area for emergency use. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with