Calcium Phosphide Hazard Summary Identification Reason for Citation How to Determine If You Are Being Exposed Workp

CAS Number: 1305-99-3 RTK Substance number: 0329 DOT Number: UN 1360 Date: February 1987 Revision: October 2000 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY * Calcium Phosphide can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Breathing Calcium Phosphide can irritate the nose and air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results throat. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * High exposure to Calcium Phosphide can cause information under OSHA 1910.1020. headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tremors, fatigue * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health and convulsions. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Breathing Calcium Phosphide can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs No occupational exposure limits have been established for (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe Calcium Phosphide. This does not mean that this substance shortness of breath. is not harmful. Safe work practices should always be * High exposure to Calcium Phosphide may affect the followed. heart, liver and kidneys. * Calcium Phosphide is a REACTIVE CHEMICAL and a WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE DANGEROUS EXPLOSION HAZARD. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Calcium Phosphide when wet or in contact with moisture ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust can release highly toxic Phosphine gas. CONSULT THE ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND worn. SENIOR SERVICES HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE * Wear protective work clothing. FACT SHEET ON PHOSPHINE. * Dry brush or vacuum material thoroughly from skin immediately after exposure to Calcium Phosphide and IDENTIFICATION follow with large amounts of water. Calcium Phosphide is a reddish-brown crystalline (sand-like) * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In or gray granular solid. It is used to kill rodents and in addition, as part of an ongoing education and training explosives and fireworks. effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Calcium Phosphide to potentially REASON FOR CITATION exposed workers. * Calcium Phosphide is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is REACTIVE. * Definitions are provided on page 5.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees.

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This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the damage already done are not a substitute for controlling substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to exposure. any of the potential effects described below. ------Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may immediately or shortly after exposure to Calcium Phosphide: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health * Breathing Calcium Phosphide can irritate the nose and problems. throat. * High exposure to Calcium Phosphide can cause WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tremors, fatigue and convulsions. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous * Breathing Calcium Phosphide can irritate the lungs substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also shortness of breath. reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Chronic Health Effects sometimes necessary. The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Calcium Phosphide and can last In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: for months or years: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether Cancer Hazard harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls * According to the information presently available to the should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Calcium Phosphide has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. In addition, the following controls are recommended:

Reproductive Hazard * Where possible, automatically transfer Calcium * According to the information presently available to the Phosphide from drums or other storage containers to New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, process containers. Calcium Phosphide has not been tested for its ability to * Before entering a confined space where Calcium affect reproduction. Phosphide may be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Other Long-Term Effects * High exposure to Calcium Phosphide may affect the Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous heart, liver and kidneys. exposures. The following work practices are recommended:

MEDICAL * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Calcium Phosphide should change into clean clothing Medical Testing promptly. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family following are recommended: members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of * EKG. exposure to Calcium Phosphide. * Liver and kidney function tests. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use.

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* If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency * NIOSH has established new testing and certification shower facilities should be provided. requirements for negative pressure, air purifying, * On skin contact with Calcium Phosphide, immediately particulate filter and filtering facepiece respirators. The wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the filter classifications of dust/mist/fume, paint spray or workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have pesticide prefilters, and filters for radon daughters, have contacted Calcium Phosphide, whether or not known skin been replaced with the N, R, and P series. Each series has contact has occurred. three levels of filtering efficiency: 95%, 99%, and 99.9%. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Calcium Phosphide is Check with your safety equipment supplier or your handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be respirator manufacturer to determine which respirator is swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, appropriate for your facility. smoking, or using the toilet. * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can * Use a vacuum to reduce dust during clean-up. DO NOT smell, taste, or otherwise detect Calcium Phosphide, or if DRY SWEEP. while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace workplace. You may need a combination of filters, controls are being installed), personal protective equipment prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of may be appropriate. a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full to train employees on how and when to use protective facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- equipment. pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing The following recommendations are only guidelines and may apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- not apply to every situation. pressure mode.

Clothing HANDLING AND STORAGE * Avoid skin contact with Calcium Phosphide. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment * Prior to working with Calcium Phosphide you should be suppliers/ manufacturers can provide recommendations on trained on its proper handling and storage. the most protective glove/clothing material for your * Calcium Phosphide reacts violently with WATER to operation. produce poisonous and flammable Phosphine gas. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) * Calcium Phosphide must be stored to avoid contact with should be clean, available each day, and put on before OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, work. PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); Eye Protection STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, * Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or SULFURIC and NITRIC); DICHLORINE OXIDE; goggles. SULFUR; or MOIST AIR since violent reactions occur. * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry area. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibited where Calcium Phosphide is used, handled, or Respiratory Protection stored. IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a when opening and closing containers of Calcium written program that takes into account workplace conditions, Phosphide. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and * Wherever Calcium Phosphide is used, handled, medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings. * For field applications check with your supervisor and your * Do not store large amounts of this material in a room safety equipment supplier regarding the appropriate protected by WATER sprinkler systems. respiratory equipment. * Protect containers against physical damage.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ------The following information is available from:

Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services health effects? Occupational Health Service A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from repeated exposures to a chemical. PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- (609) 984-1863 term effects? (609) 292-5677 (fax) A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/ make you immediately sick. Industrial Hygiene Information Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions exposed to chemicals? regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment determined by the length of time and the amount of including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret material to which someone is exposed. the results of industrial hygiene survey data.

Q: When are higher exposures more likely? Medical Evaluation A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the dumping, etc.), other physical and mechanical processes Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational (heating, pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from Health Service, who can help you find the information you large surface areas such as open containers), and need. "confined space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.). Public Presentations Presentations and educational programs on occupational Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor community residents? unions, trade associations and other groups. A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those Right to Know Information Resources found in the workplace. However, people in the The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer community may be exposed to contaminated water as questions about the identity and potential health effects of well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, may be a problem for children or people who are already references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the ill. Right to Know survey, education and training programs, labeling requirements, and general information regarding the Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-2202. ------

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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, TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. the United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. It is a 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 NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that burn. determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals.

A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. 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 that regulates the transportation of chemicals. standards 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. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid employees. gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Inhalation Hazards. EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a measure of concentration by volume in air. scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy under certain conditions. A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus. mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure limit recommended by ACGIH. MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a approves respirators. solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in. is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.

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Common Name: CALCIUM PHOSPHIDE ======DOT Number: UN 1360 FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire NAERG Code: 139 department. You can request emergency information from the CAS Number: 1305-99-3 following:

CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP FLAMMABILITY 0 - ======(When dry) REACTIVITY 3 - HANDLING AND STORAGE (See page 3) DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM EXTINGUISHERS POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE FIRST AID CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE In NJ, for POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-764-7661 Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least FIRE HAZARDS 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. * Calcium Phosphide is nonflammable but will ignite spontaneously when wet and produce flammable Phosphine Skin Contact gas. * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash * Use dry chemical extinguishers, soda ash, lime, or sand. contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. * DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM EXTINGUISHERS. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, Breathing including Phosphine and Phosphorus Oxide fumes. * Remove the person from exposure. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if * Use water spray only to keep fire-exposed containers cool. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Do not get water inside containers. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. * FIRE MAY RESTART AFTER IT HAS BEEN * Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours EXTINGUISHED. after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained delayed. and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. PHYSICAL DATA SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES

If Calcium Phosphide is spilled, take the following steps: Water Solubility: Reactive

* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Remove all ignition sources. Chemical Name: * DO NOT USE WATER OR WET METHOD. Calcium Phosphide * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe Other Names: manner and deposit in sealed containers. Photophor; Calcium Photophor * Ventilate area after clean-up is complete. * Keep Calcium Phosphide out of a confined space, such as a ------sewer, because of the possibility of an explosion, unless the Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial sewer is designed to prevent the build-up of explosive purposes. concentrations. ------* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Calcium NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND Phosphide as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state SENIOR SERVICES Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your Right to Know Program regional office of the federal Environmental Protection PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. (609) 984-2202 * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be ------properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be

applicable.