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Safety Data Sheet

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Safety Data Sheet SAFETY DATA SHEET PLUTONIUM NITRATE SECTION 1: CHEMICAL PRODUCTS & COMPANY IDENTIFICATION New Brunswick Laboratory U. S. Department of Energy 9800 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 1-630-252-2442 Emergency Phone Numbers: 1-630-252-6131 or 1-630-252-5731 Chemical Name: Plutonium Nitrate, 100% Other Identifiers: Plutonium in Nitrate Form; Plutonium Isotopic Standard; CRM 128; CRM 130; CRM 131; CRM 144 Use and Restriction: This material is prepared for use as a standard or inter-laboratory comparison programs at analytical laboratories, which routinely handle uranium and/or plutonium. NBL expects that recipients of their material are in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(h) which requires employers to provide employees with effective information and training in hazardous chemicals in their work area. Chemical Family: Metal nitrate. Radioactive. SECTION 2: HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION Radiological Hazard (Pu) Warning: THIS MATERIAL SHOULD ONLY BE USED BY PERSONS QUALIFIED TO HANDLE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL! This product contains licensed radioactive material and is therefore subject to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 20 (e.g., public and occupational exposure limits, waste disposal). At a minimum, the basic radiation safety principles of time, distance, and shielding, and appropriate radiation contamination control should be practiced to avoid/minimize any external and/or internal exposure. Consult with your Radiation Safety office for your facility’s radiation safety requirements/precautions specific to the radionuclide(s) (including its activity and chemical/physical form) in this Radioactive CRM. This CRM is a radioactive material. The specific activities of the various plutonium isotopes (and 241Am) are described in Section 9. The CRM is in a nitric acid solution. During the decay of plutonium, three types of radiation are released—alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha radiation Page 1 of 12 can travel only a short distance and cannot travel through the outer, dead layer of human skin. Beta radiation can penetrate human skin, but cannot go all the way through the body. Gamma radiation can go all the way through the body. Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are all forms of ionizing radiation. Either acute or longer-term exposure carries a danger of serious health outcomes including radiation sickness, genetic damage, cancer, and death. The danger increases with the amount of exposure Chemical Hazard (Nitric Acid) Health Hazard: Skin Corrosion/Irritation Category 1 Serious Eye Damage/Irritation Category 1 GHS Label Elements Pictogram: Signal Word: DANGER Hazard Statement(s) H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Precautionary Statement(s) P280 Wear Protective gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection. P305 + P351 + P338 If in eyes: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. P303 + P353 If on skin (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower. P310 Immediately call a doctor. P410 Store locked up. CERCLA Ratings (SCALE 0-3): HEALTH=U FIRE=0 REACTIVITY=0 RERSISTENCE=3 NFPA RATINGS (SCALE 0-4): HEALTH=U FIRE=0 REACTIVITY=0 SECTION 3: COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS Chemical Name: Plutonium in nitric acid solution (HNO3.xPu) Page 2 of 12 Common Names/Synonyms: Nitric Acid: Auqa fortis, hydronitrate; azotic acid; engraver’s acid. Plutonium: Not applicable. CAS Number: 14913-29-2. Component: Plutonium Nitrate Percentage: 100% Other Contaminants: None SECTION 4: FIRST AID MEASURES INHALATION: Remove from exposure area to a restricted area with fresh air as quickly as possible. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration, preferably by administering oxygen; alternatively, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may be performed, however this may result in exposure to the person rendering first aid. SKIN CONTACT: Remove victim to a suitable area for decontamination as quickly as possible. Remove clothing and shoes immediately. Thoroughly wash the victim with soap and water, paying particular attention, to the head, fingernails and palms of the hands. EYE CONTACT: Remove victim to a restricted area for decontamination. Thoroughly wash eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the upper and lower lids (approximately 15 minutes). INGESTION: In the case of ingestion of radioactive substances, the mouth should be rinsed out immediately after the accident, care being taken not to swallow the water used for this purpose. Vomiting should be induced either mechanically, or with syrup of ipecac. Do not induce vomiting in an unconscious person. Lavage may be useful. Care should be taken to avoid aspiration. SECTION 5: FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD: Dangerous due to fire or explosion hazard in bulk form. Dusts, powders, or vapors are flammable or explosive when exposed to heat or flames. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray or regular foam. Refer to most recent Emergency Response Guidebook, (ERG), developed jointly by Transport Canada (TC), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Secretariat of Transportation and Communications of Mexico (SCT).) Contact the local, State, or Department of Energy radiological response team. Use suitable agent for surrounding fire. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water applied from as Page 3 of 12 far a distance as possible. Avoid breathing dusts or vapors, keep upwind. Keep unnecessary people out of area until declared safe by proper authorities. SECTION 6: ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES OCCUPATIONAL SPILL: Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material. Call radiation safety personnel for assistance. For small liquid spills, use absorbent pads or other non-dispersible absorbent materials. Isolate the area to prevent unnecessary access by nonessential personnel. Enter spill area only to save life; use all practical means to control the spread of possibly contaminated materials. Uninjured persons and possibly contaminated equipment and materials should be kept from leaving until monitored by qualified radiation authority. Cleanup should not be attempted except at the instruction of qualified radiation authority. SECTION 7: HANDLING AND STORAGE Precautions for Safe Handling: Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing. Avoid breathing. Observe all local regulations when handling and storing this substance. Store in accordance with 10 CFR 20. Conditions for Safe Storage: Store in radioactive materials area. SECTION 8: EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION Exposure Limits: Pu NRC: See NRC 10 CFR 20 ACGIH: See International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines. Nitric Acid: NIOSH (REL) 5 mg/m3 (2ppm; TWA) 10 mg/m3 (4 ppm; STEL) 65 mg/m3 (25 ppm, IDLH) ACGIH (TLVE) 5 mg/m3 (2ppm, TWA) 10 mg/m3 (4ppm, STEL) OSHA (PEL) 5mg/m3 (2ppm; TWA) Page 4 of 12 VENTILATION: At a minimum, provide process enclosure ventilation. Depending upon work place activities, a more stringent ventilation system may be necessary to comply with exposure limits set forth by law (10 CFR 20.103). In particular, a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration system may be required for handling and storing this material. RADIATION EXPOSURE: Radiation exposure is typically lessened by reducing the time one spends in proximity to radioactive materials, increasing one's distance from the source of radiation, or shielding one's self from the source of radiation. While time and distance are self-explanatory, the proper material and thickness used for shielding is dependent on the type of radiation, its energy, and the dimensions of the source. Plutonium nitrate (as Pu239, 242 or 242), in gram quantities is considered an alpha emitter for most radiation protection purposes. Over a period of years however, any Pu-241 (a beta emitter) present will cause a buildup of Americium (Am-241), which is both an alpha and gamma radiation emitter. See the Certificate of Analysis provided with each Certified Reference Material for details on isotopic composition. ALPHA PARTICLES: For the energy range of alpha particles usually encountered, a fraction of a millimeter of any ordinary material or a few inches of air is sufficient for absorbance. BETA PARTICLES: Beta particles are more penetrating than alpha, and require more shielding. Materials composed mostly of elements of low atomic number such as acrylic, and thick rubber are most appropriate for the absorption of beta particles. Except in the case of Pu-241, plutonium does not emit significant amounts of Beta particles. GAMMA RAYS: The most suitable materials for shielding gamma radiation are lead and iron. In gram quantities, plutonium is not a usually considered a gamma emitter. However, if Pu-241 is present, it will, over a period of years, decay via beta emissions to Americium 241 (Am-241). Am241 is considered an alpha as well as a gamma emitter (approximately 60 KeV gamma). Consult a radiation protection specialist or health physicist for more information. EYE PROTECTION: Employee must wear appropriate eye protection that will not allow the introduction of foreign material into the eyes. The use of contact lenses, even when worn under appropriate eye protection equipment, is prohibited by some laboratories. Their use should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by an experienced Industrial Hygienist. CLOTHING: Disposable overgarments, including foot covering (and head covering as necessary), should be worn by any employee engaged in handling plutonium-containing materials. These garments are recommended
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