Sodium Selenite Hazard Summary Identification

Common Name: SODIUM SELENITE

CAS Number: 10102-18-8 RTK Substance number: 1727 DOT Number: UN 2630 Date: January 2002 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY * Sodium Selenite can affect you when breathed in and by * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health passing through your skin. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Sodium Selenite may cause mutations. Handle with diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. extreme caution. * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS with possible eye damage. The following exposure limits are for Selenium compounds * Breathing Sodium Selenite can irritate the nose, throat and (measured as Selenium): lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * High exposure can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, (PEL) is 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour coated tongue, metallic taste, and a garlic odor of the workshift. breath. * Repeated exposures can cause pallor, dizziness, NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is nervousness, and mood changes. 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift. * Sodium Selenite may damage the liver and kidneys. * Long-term exposure can damage the red blood cells ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is causing anemia (low blood count). 0.2 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift.

IDENTIFICATION * Sodium Selenite may cause mutations. All contact with Sodium Selenite is a white, sand-like solid. It is used to this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible remove green color from glass, as a laboratory chemical and level. as a medication. * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even REASON FOR CITATION though air levels are less than the limits listed above.

* Sodium Selenite is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE DOT, NIOSH, DEP, and EPA. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Definitions are provided on page 5. ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING worn. * Wear protective work clothing. EXPOSED * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Sodium The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers Selenite and at the end of the workshift. to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In employers to provide their employees with information and addition, as part of an ongoing education and training training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The effort, communicate all information on the health and federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and safety hazards of Sodium Selenite to potentially exposed information to their employees. workers.

* 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 1910.1020. SODIUM SELENITE page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the potential and most severe health hazards that may result from following are recommended: exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the * Complete blood count. potential effects described below. * Liver and kidney function tests. ------Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Acute Health Effects exposure. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Sodium Selenite: Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Mixed Exposures * Breathing Sodium Selenite can irritate the nose, throat and * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may breath. worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will Chronic Health Effects reduce your risk of developing health problems. The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at * Because more than light alcohol consumption can cause some time after exposure to Sodium Selenite and can last for liver damage, drinking alcohol can increase the liver months or years: damage caused by Sodium Selenite.

Cancer Hazard WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * Sodium Selenite may cause mutations (genetic changes). * There is no evidence that Sodium Selenite causes cancer in Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous animals. This is based on test results presently available to substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to from published studies. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also Reproductive Hazard reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is * Sodium Selenite may damage the developing fetus. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * Sodium Selenite may damage the testes (male reproductive sometimes necessary. glands). In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Other Long-Term Effects (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * High exposure can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether coated tongue, metallic taste, and a garlic odor of the harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls breath. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * Repeated exposures can cause pallor, dizziness, significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. nervousness, and mood changes. In addition, the following control is recommended: * Sodium Selenite may damage the liver and kidneys.

* Long-term exposure can damage the red blood cells causing * Where possible, automatically transfer Sodium Selenite anemia (low blood count). from drums or other storage containers to process

containers. MEDICAL Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Medical Testing exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, the following is recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Sodium Selenite should change into clean clothing promptly. * Urine test for Selenium (should be less than 100 * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family micrograms per liter of urine). members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Sodium Selenite. SODIUM SELENITE page 3 of 6

* Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate * NIOSH has established new testing and certification work area for emergency use. requirements for negative pressure, air purifying, particulate * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency filter and filtering facepiece respirators. The filter shower facilities should be provided. classifications of dust/mist/fume, paint spray or pesticide * On skin contact with Sodium Selenite, immediately wash prefilters, and filters for radon daughters, have been or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the replaced with the N, R, and P series. Each series has three workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have levels of filtering efficiency: 95%, 99%, and 99.9%. contacted Sodium Selenite, whether or not known skin Check with your safety equipment supplier or your contact has occurred. respirator manufacturer to determine which respirator is * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Sodium Selenite is appropriate for your facility. handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smell, taste, or otherwise detect Sodium Selenite, or if applying cosmetics, smoking, or using the toilet. while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for workplace. You may need a combination of filters, some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of controls are being installed), personal protective equipment chemicals. may be appropriate. * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH

approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and mode. For increased protection use in combination with an to train employees on how and when to use protective auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a equipment. pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. 3 The following recommendations are only guidelines and may * Exposure to 1 mg/m (as Selenium) is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure not apply to every situation. 3 above 1 mg/m (as Selenium) exists, use a NIOSH Clothing approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- * Avoid skin contact with Sodium Selenite. Wear protective pressure mode. gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/

manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic work. health effects? A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from Eye Protection repeated exposures to a chemical. * Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or goggles. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with term effects? corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make substance. you immediately sick.

Respiratory Protection Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. exposed to chemicals? Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is written program that takes into account workplace conditions, increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and determined by the length of time and the amount of medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. material to which someone is exposed.

SODIUM SELENITE page 4 of 6

Q: When are higher exposures more likely? ------A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust The following information is available from: releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping, etc.), other physical and mechanical processes (heating, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large Occupational Health Service surface areas such as open containers), and "confined PO Box 360 space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 small rooms, etc.). (609) 984-1863 (609) 292-5677 (fax) Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for community residents? Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/ A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those Industrial Hygiene Information found in the workplace. However, people in the Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions community may be exposed to contaminated water as regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including may be a problem for children or people who are already respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of ill. industrial hygiene survey data.

Q: Can men as well as women be affected by chemicals that Medical Evaluation cause reproductive system damage? If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to A: Yes. Some chemicals reduce potency or fertility in both chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the men and women. Some damage sperm and eggs, possibly Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational leading to birth defects. Health Service, who can help you find the information you

need. Q: Who is at the greatest risk from reproductive hazards?

A: Pregnant women are at greatest risk from chemicals that Public Presentations harm the developing fetus. However, chemicals may Presentations and educational programs on occupational health affect the ability to have children, so both men and or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, women of childbearing age are at high risk. trade associations and other groups.

Q: What are the likely health problems from chemicals which Right to Know Information Resources cause mutations? The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer A: There are two primary health concerns associated with questions about the identity and potential health effects of mutagens: (1) cancers can result from changes induced in chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, cells and, (2) adverse reproductive and developmental references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the outcomes can result from damage to the egg and sperm Right to Know Survey, education and training programs, cells. labeling requirements, and general information regarding the Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-2202. ------

SODIUM SELENITE page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.

A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards that regulates the transportation of chemicals. to OSHA.

EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.

A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison Inhalation Hazards. HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a measure of concentration by volume in air. IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases cancer-causing potential. energy under certain conditions.

A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by in another. damaging the fetus.

mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). limit recommended by ACGIH.

A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.

page 6 of 6 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Common Name: SODIUM SELENITE HANDLING AND STORAGE DOT Number: UN 2630 NAERG Code: 151 * Prior to working with Sodium Selenite you should be CAS Number: 10102-18-8 trained on its proper handling and storage. * Sodium Selenite is not compatible with STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC). Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well- FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated ventilated area away from MOISTURE. REACTIVITY Not Found Not Rated DOES NOT BURN FIRST AID POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE For POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-222-1222

Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; Eye Contact 3=serious; 4=severe * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally FIRE HAZARDS lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. * Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. Sodium Selenite itself does not burn. Skin Contact * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash including Selenium and Selenium Oxide fumes. contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. * Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Breathing * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be * Remove the person from exposure. trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES * Transfer promptly to a medical facility.

If Sodium Selenite is spilled, take the following steps: PHYSICAL DATA

o o * Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from Vapor Pressure: 0.001 mm Hg at 68 F (20 C) area of spill until clean-up is complete. Water Solubility: Soluble * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES * Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Sodium Chemical Name: Selenite as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Selenious Acid, Disodium Salt Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your Other Names: regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Disodium Selenite; Sodium Selenium Oxide Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be ------properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial applicable. purposes. ======------FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND department. You can request emergency information from the SENIOR SERVICES following: Right to Know Program PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 (609) 984-2202 NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP ------======