Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Right to Know

Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: NITROCELLULOSE

CAS Number: 9004-70-0 Synonyms: Collodion; Cellulose Nitrate Solution; Pyroxylin Solution RTK Substance Number: 1366 Chemical Name: Cellulose, Nitrate DOT Number: UN 2556 (solid) Date: April 2001 Revision: February 2010 UN 2059 (solution)

Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Nitrocellulose is a white, granular chip or fibrous material, Hazard Summary which is usually kept wet in water or an alcohol solution. It is Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA used for automobile lacquers, and in printing inks, explosives HEALTH - 2 and rocket propellants. 3 (Nitrocellulose) FLAMMABILITY - 4 (Collodion) 3 (Nitrocellulose) REACTIVITY - 0 (Collodion) FLAMMABLE AND REACTIVE Reasons for Citation EXPLOSIVE WHEN DRY POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE f Nitrocellulose is on the Right to Know Hazardous CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Substance List because it is cited by DOT and NFPA. f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; List. 4=severe

f Nitrocellulose can affect you when inhaled. f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Nitrocellulose can irritate the nose and throat. f Exposure can cause headache, dizziness, difficulty SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. breathing and loss of consciousness. f Nitrocellulose may affect the nervous system. f Nitrocellulose is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE and a FIRST AID DANGEROUS FIRE and EXPLOSION HAZARD. Eye Contact f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact lenses, if worn, while rinsing. Workplace Exposure Limits No occupational exposure limits have been established for Skin Contact Nitrocellulose. However, it may pose a health risk. Always f Remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with soap and water. follow safe work practices.

Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. f Transfer promptly to a medical facility.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802

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Determining Your Exposure Other Effects f Nitrocellulose may affect the nervous system. f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Medical Medical Testing f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact following is recommended: Sheet, available on the RTK website (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK f Exam of the nervous system Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act exposure. if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right are a private worker. to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). f 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 concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29

CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication

Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide similar information and training to their employees.

This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below.

Health Hazard Information

Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Nitrocellulose: f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Nitrocellulose can irritate the nose and throat. f Exposure can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Nitrocellulose and can last for months or years:

Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Nitrocellulose has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals.

Reproductive Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Nitrocellulose has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction.

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Workplace Controls and Practices f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or f Wear protective clothing made of material that does not sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less generate static electricity. toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Eye Protection ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single f For solid Nitrocellulose wear eye protection with side exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control shields or goggles. exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on f Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control when working with liquids. Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. Respiratory Protection The following work practices are also recommended: Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators should only be used if the employer has implemented a written f Label process containers. program that takes into account workplace conditions, f Provide employees with hazard information and training. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed recommended exposure levels. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous f For solid Nitrocellulose, use a NIOSH approved negative material. pressure, air-purifying, particulate filter respirator with an N, f Always wash at the end of the workshift. R or P95 filter. More protection is provided by a full f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes facepiece respirator than by a half-mask respirator, and even contaminated. greater protection is provided by a powered-air purifying f Do not take contaminated clothing home. respirator. f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect being handled, processed or stored. Nitrocellulose, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation applying cosmetics or using the toilet. occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, In addition, the following may be useful or required: replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator.

f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. f Before entering a confined space where Nitrocellulose may You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges be present, check to make sure that an explosive to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as concentration does not exist. vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. f Where possible, transfer Nitrocellulose from drums or other f Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH containers to process containers in an enclosed system. approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an Personal Protective Equipment auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an emergency escape air cylinder. The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train Fire Hazards employees on how and when to use protective equipment. If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard The following recommendations are only guidelines and may (29 CFR 1910.156). not apply to every situation. f Nitrocellulose is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID, or an Gloves and Clothing EXPLOSIVE when dry, and can be ignited or exploded with f Avoid skin contact with Nitrocellulose. Wear personal HEAT, SPARKS, or FRICTION. protective equipment made from material which can not be f For Nitrocellulose in solution, use dry chemical or CO2 as permeated or degraded by this substance. Safety extinguishing agents. equipment suppliers and manufacturers can provide f For dry Nitrocellulose, use water spray or fog. recommendations on the most protective glove and clothing f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including material for your operation. Nitrogen Oxides and Hydrogen Cyanides. f Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Silver f CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Shield®/4H® and Barrier® for gloves, and Tychem® f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Responder®, and Trellchem® VPS, or the equivalent, as protective materials for clothing.

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Spills and Emergencies Occupational Health Information If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be Resources properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR The New Jersey Department of Health offers multiple services 1910.120) may apply. in occupational health. These services include providing informational resources, educational materials, public If Nitrocellulose is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: presentations, and industrial hygiene and medical investigations and evaluations. f Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the area. f Eliminate all ignition sources. For more information, please contact: f Absorb liquids in dry sand, earth, or a similar material and

place into sealed containers for disposal. f For dry Nitrocellulose, thoroughly wet with water, sweep- New Jersey Department of Health up, and place into tightly closed, water tight containers. Right to Know f Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. PO Box 368 f Keep Nitrocellulose out of confined spaces, such as Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 sewers, because of the possibility of an explosion. Phone: 609-984-2202 f It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Fax: 609-984-7407 Nitrocellulose as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your E-mail: [email protected] regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Web address: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations.

The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets

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Handling and Storage for commercial purposes. Prior to working with Nitrocellulose you should be trained on its proper handling and storage.

f Nitrocellulose, when dry, is shock sensitive and can ignite spontaneously and explode when exposed to HEAT; FLAMES; IGNITION SOURCES; AIR; SUNLIGHT or OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE). f Nitrocellulose is not compatible with ACETYL PEROXIDE; BROMOAZIDE; STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); METALS; METAL SALTS; METAL OXIDES; and AMINES. f Nitrocellulose attacks some RUBBER, COATINGS and PLASTICS. f Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from COMBUSTIBLES, SUNLIGHT, HEAT and any IGNITION SOURCE. f Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibited where Nitrocellulose is used, handled, or stored. f Metal containers involving the transfer of Nitrocellulose should be grounded and bonded. f Use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings wherever Nitrocellulose is used, handled, manufactured, or stored. f Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closing containers of Nitrocellulose. f Nitrocellulose may accumulate static electricity when being filled into properly grounded containers.

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GLOSSARY

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. continuing an explosion.

mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals. A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation

is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. change its physical state from a liquid to a gas.

NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.

The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical. Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves

respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the proposes standards to OSHA. regulations of the United States government.

NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. and reviews evidence for cancer.

A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers. Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety

standards. The critical temperature is the temperature above which a gas cannot be liquefied, regardless of the pressure applied. PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational

Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental safety standards in public workplaces. Protection.

Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency materials. that regulates the transportation of chemicals.

ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal measure of concentration by volume in air. agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards.

Protective Action Criteria (PAC) are values established by ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for the Department of Energy and are based on AEGLs and emergency responders for transportation emergencies ERPGs. They are used for emergency planning of chemical involving hazardous substances. release events.

Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases provide estimates of concentration ranges where one energy under certain conditions. reasonably might anticipate observing adverse effects.

STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15- A fetus is an unborn human or animal. minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time

during a work day. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by

damaging the fetus. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in

air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a reaction or explosion. scientific group.

Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to one gas to the weight of another (usually Air), at the same remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured temperature and pressure. in electron volts.

The vapor pressure is a force exerted by the vapor in IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database on equilibrium with the solid or liquid phase of the same human health effects that may result from exposure to various substance. The higher the vapor pressure the higher chemicals, maintained by federal EPA. concentration of the substance in air.

Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: NITROCELLULOSE Synonyms: Collodion; Cellulose Nitrate Solution; Pyroxylin Solution CAS No: 9004-70-0 Molecular Formula: Varies RTK Substance No: 1366 Description: White, granular chip or fibrous material, which is usually in a water or alcohol solution HAZARD DATA Hazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity 2 - Health Nitrocellulose is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID, or an Nitrocellulose, when dry, is shock sensitive and can ignite EXPLOSIVE when dry, and can be ignited or spontaneously and explode when exposed to HEAT; FLAMES; 3 - Fire (Nitrocellulose) exploded with HEAT, SPARKS, or FRICTION. IGNITION SOURCES; AIR; SUNLIGHT or OXIDIZING AGENTS 4 - Fire (Collodion) For Nitrocellulose in solution, use dry chemical (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, 3 - Reactivity or CO2 as extinguishing agents. CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE). (Nitrocellulose) For dry Nitrocellulose, use water spray or fog. Nitrocellulose is not compatible with ACETYL PEROXIDE; 0 - Reactivity POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, BROMOAZIDE; STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, including Nitrogen Oxides and Hydrogen SULFURIC and NITRIC); STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM (Collodion) Cyanides. HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); METALS; METAL DOT#: CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. SALTS; METAL OXIDES; and AMINES. UN 2556 (Solid) Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers Nitrocellulose attacks some RUBBER, COATINGS and PLASTICS. UN 2059 (Solution) cool. Nitrocellulose may accumulate static electricity when being filled into ERG Guide #: properly grounded containers. 113 (Solid) 127 (Solution) Hazard Class: 4.1 (Flammable solid) 3 (Flammable liquid) SPILL/LEAKS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Isolation Distance: Odor Threshold: Odorless to Ether or Alcohol-like Small Spill: 100 meters (330 feet) Flash Point: 55oF (13oC) (Solid) <0oF (<-18oC) (Solution) Large Spill: 500 meters (1/3 mile) LEL: 1.9% (Solution) Fire: 800 meters (1/2 mile) UEL: 48% (Solution) Absorb liquids in dry sand, earth, or a similar material and o o place into sealed containers for disposal. Auto Ignition Temp: 338 F (170 C) (Solution) For dry Nitrocellulose, thoroughly wet with water, sweep-up, Vapor Density: 2.6 (Solution) air = 1 and place into tightly closed, water tight containers. Specific Gravity: 1.66 (Solid) 0.8 (Solution) (water = 1) Keep Nitrocellulose out of confined spaces, such as sewers, o o because of the possibility of an explosion. Boiling Point: 95 F (35 C) (Solution) Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when Molecular Weight: 459 to 594 opening and closing containers of Nitrocellulose. EXPOSURE LIMITS PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Gloves: SilverShield®/4H® and Barrier® (>8-hr breakthrough for Nitro The Protective Action Criteria values are: compounds and Ethyl Ether) 3 PAC-1 = 60 mg/m Coveralls: Tychem® Responder and Trellchem VPS (>8-hr breakthrough PAC-2 = 400 mg/m3 for Nitro compounds and Ethyl Ether) PAC-3 = 500 mg/m3 (Use safety shoes with antistatic base and flash protection at >10% of the LEL) Respirator: SCBA HEALTH EFFECTS FIRST AID AND DECONTAMINATION Eyes: Irritation Remove the person from exposure. Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove Skin: Irritation contact lenses if worn. Inhalation: Nose and throat irritation Remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with soap Headache, dizziness, difficulty and water. breathing and loss of consciousness Begin artificial respiration if breathing has stopped and CPR if necessary. Transfer promptly to a medical facility.

February 2010