Common Name: SODIUM CHLORITE CAS Number: 7758-19-2 RTK Substance number: 1689 DOT Number: UN 1496 Date: February 1988 Revision: March 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Sodium Chlorite can affect you when breathed in. No occupational exposure limits have been established for * Contact can irritate and burn the skin. Sodium Chlorite. This does not mean that this substance is * Exposure to Sodium Chlorite can irritate the eyes, nose, not harmful. Safe work practices should always be followed. and throat and may cause nosebleeds, hoarseness, and/or sore throat. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Breathing Sodium Chlorite can irritate the lungs causing * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of worn. breath. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Sodium IDENTIFICATION Chlorite. Sodium Chlorite is a white, crystalline powder or flake. It is * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In used for improving the taste and odor of potable water, and as addition, as part of an ongoing education and training a bleaching agent for textiles, paper pulp, varnishes, waxes effort, communicate all information on the health and and straw products. safety hazards of Sodium Chlorite to potentially exposed workers. REASON FOR CITATION * Sodium Chlorite is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT and NFPA. * 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. * 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. * 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. SODIUM CHLORITE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Mixed Exposures potential and most severe health hazards that may result from * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical any of the potential effects described below. exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous immediately or shortly after exposure to Sodium Chlorite: substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to * Contact can irritate and burn the skin. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at * Exposure to Sodium Chlorite can irritate the eyes, nose, the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also and throat and may cause nosebleeds, hoarseness, and/or reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is sore throat. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * Breathing Sodium Chlorite can irritate the lungs causing sometimes necessary. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the breath. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Chronic Health Effects should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. some time after exposure to Sodium Chlorite and can last for months or years: In addition, the following controls is recommended: Cancer Hazard * Where possible, automatically transfer Sodium Chlorite * There is no evidence that Sodium Chlorite causes cancer from drums or other storage containers to process in animals. This is based on test results presently available containers. to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services from published studies. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Reproductive Hazard * Sodium Chlorite may decrease sperm motility. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Sodium Chlorite should change into clean clothing Other Long-Term Effects promptly. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family * Sodium Chlorite can irritate the lungs. Repeated members could be exposed. exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of MEDICAL exposure to Sodium Chlorite. * 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 If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the shower facilities should be provided. following is recommended: * On skin contact with Sodium Chlorite, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Sodium Chlorite is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for smoking, or using the toilet. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during exposure. clean-up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. SODIUM CHLORITE page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace. You may need a combination of filters, WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs chemicals. done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a controls are being installed), personal protective equipment MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full may be appropriate. facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- pressure mode. For increased protection use in OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- to train employees on how and when to use protective pressure mode. equipment. HANDLING AND STORAGE The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. * Prior to working with Sodium Chlorite you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. Clothing * Sodium Chlorite will react with AMMONIA; AMINES; * Avoid skin contact with Sodium Chlorite. Wear and STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment SULFURIC and NITRIC) to form explosive compounds. suppliers/ manufacturers can provide recommendations on * Sodium Chlorite is a STRONG OXIDIZER which is not the most protective glove/clothing material for your compatible with AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS; operation. CYANIDES; IODIDES; SULFUR COMPOUNDS; * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) NATURAL RUBBER; ALDEHYDES; KETONES; IRON should be clean, available each day, and put on before and its ALLOYS; NICKEL and its ALLOYS; and work. STRONG REDUCING AGENTS. * When mixed with ORGANIC MATERIALS, Sodium Eye Protection Chlorite is SHOCK and FRICTION SENSITIVE. * Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well- goggles. ventilated area away from HEAT, SPARKS, OPEN * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with FLAME and COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibited where Sodium Chlorite is used, handled, or Respiratory Protection stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or explosion