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Nitrous Oxide Common Name: NITROUS OXIDE CAS Number: 10024-97-2 DOT Number: UN 1070 (Compressed) RTK Substance number: 1399 UN 2201 (Refrigerated Liquid) Date: March 1998 Revision: September 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Nitrous Oxide can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Nitrous Oxide should be handled as a TERATOGEN-- evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area WITH EXTREME CAUTION. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Contact with liquefied Nitrous Oxide may cause skin from your employer. You have a legal right to this burns and/or frostbite. information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Breathing Nitrous Oxide can irritate the eyes, nose and * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health throat causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Exposure can cause you to feel lightheaded, giddy and diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. sleepy. High levels can cause you to pass out and very high levels can cause death. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Repeated exposure may damage the nervous system NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is causing numbness, “pins and needles,” and weakness in 25 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift. the arms and legs. * Nitrous Oxide may damage the blood cells. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Nitrous Oxide may damage the liver and kidneys. 50 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. IDENTIFICATION * Nitrous Oxide may be a teratogen in humans. All contact Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is a colorless gas with a slightly with this chemical should be reduced to the lowest sweet odor and taste. Nitrous Oxide can be transported as a possible level. very low temperature (cryogenic) liquid. It is used as an * Large amounts of Nitrous Oxide will decrease the amount anesthetic and a foaming agent for whipped cream. of available Oxygen. Oxygen content should be routinely tested to ensure that it is at least 19% by volume. REASON FOR CITATION * Nitrous Oxide is on the Hazardous Substance List WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE because it is cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH and IARC. * 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 * On skin contact with liquefied Nitrous Oxide, The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers immediately submerse the affected body part in warm to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public water. employers to provide their employees with information and * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The addition, as part of an ongoing education and training federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, effort, communicate all information on the health and requires private employers to provide similar training and safety hazards of Nitrous Oxide to potentially exposed information to their employees. workers. NITROUS OXIDE page 2 of 6 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 substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure. 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 more than light alcohol consumption can cause The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur liver damage, drinking alcohol can increase the liver immediately or shortly after exposure to Nitrous Oxide: damage caused by Nitrous Oxide. * Contact with liquefied Nitrous Oxide may cause skin burns WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES and/or frostbite. * Breathing Nitrous Oxide can irritate the eyes, nose and Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous throat causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most * Exposure can cause you to feel lightheaded, giddy and effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to sleepy. High levels can cause you to pass out and very high enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at levels can cause death. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is Chronic Health Effects less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at sometimes necessary. some time after exposure to Nitrous Oxide and can last for months or years: In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the Cancer Hazard substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * While Nitrous Oxide has been tested, it is not classifiable harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls as to its potential to cause cancer. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Reproductive Hazard * Nitrous Oxide may be a TERATOGEN in humans since it In addition, the following controls are recommended: has been shown to be a teratogen in animals. * Before entering a confined space where Nitrous Oxide is Other Long-Term Effects present, check to make sure sufficient Oxygen (19%) exists. * Repeated exposure may damage the nervous system causing * Specific engineering controls are required for this chemical numbness, “pins and needles,” and weakness in the arms by OSHA. Refer to the OSHA Standard: 29 CFR and legs. 1910.101 for Compressed gases. * Nitrous Oxide may damage the blood cells. * Nitrous Oxide may damage the liver and kidneys. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: MEDICAL * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. Medical Testing * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, shower facilities should be provided. for those with frequent or potentially high exposures, the * On skin contact with Nitrous Oxide, immediately wash or following is recommended: shower to remove the chemical. * Exam of the nervous system. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN following are recommended: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Complete blood count. done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace * Liver and kidney function tests. controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be appropriate. NITROUS OXIDE page 3 of 6 OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the HYDROXIDE); METAL SALTS; METAL OXIDES; and appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and PEROXIDES. to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. * Cylinders of Nitrous Oxide should be stored in a cool, fire resistant area away from HEAT SOURCES and The following recommendations are only guidelines and may COMBUSTIBLES. not apply to every situation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Nitrous Oxide. Wear protective Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ health effects? manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from protective glove/clothing material for your operation. repeated exposures to a chemical. * Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may occur, employees should be provided with special clothing Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- designed to prevent the freezing of body tissues. term effects? * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated should be clean, available each day, and put on before exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make work. you immediately sick. Eye Protection Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been * Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working exposed to chemicals? with fumes, gases, or vapors. A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is * For exposure to cryogenic liquefied Nitrous Oxide wear increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is splash-proof chemical goggles and face shield, unless full determined by the length of time and the amount of facepiece respiratory protection is worn. material to which someone is exposed. * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. Q: When are higher exposures more likely? A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include Respiratory Protection physical and mechanical
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