CAS Number: 506-64-9 RTK Substance number: 1671 DOT Number: UN 1684 Date: June 1986 Revision: June 2000 ------
HAZARD SUMMARY * Silver Cyanide can affect you when breathed in and by * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely passing through your skin. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Breathing Silver Cyanide can irritate the nose, throat and from your employer. You have a legal right to this lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of information under OSHA 1910.1020. breath. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * High exposure to Silver Cyanide can cause headache, problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of consciousness and diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. death. * Repeated exposure can cause a blue-grey discoloration of WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS the skin, eyes, inner nose, mouth, throat and internal body The following exposure limits are for Hydrogen Cyanide: organs. This may take years to develop but is permanent.
* Repeated exposure can interfere with thyroid function and OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit cause nosebleeds. (PEL) is 11 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour * Heating Silver Cyanide releases deadly Hydrogen workshift. Cyanide gas. CONSULT THE NEW JERSEY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is SERVICES HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE FACT SHEET 5 mg/m3, which should not be exceeded at any ON HYDROGEN CYANIDE. time.
IDENTIFICATION ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is Silver Cyanide is a white or grayish, odorless powder which 5 mg/m3, which should not be exceeded at any darkens when exposed to light. It is primarily used in silver time. plating.
* The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When REASON FOR CITATION skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even * Silver Cyanide is on the Hazardous Substance List though air levels are less than the limits listed above. because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, HHAG and EPA. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Definitions are provided on page 5. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be EXPOSED worn. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Wear protective work clothing. to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Silver employers to provide their employees with information and Cyanide and at the end of the workshift. training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, addition, as part of an ongoing education and training requires private employers to provide similar training and effort, communicate all information on the health and information to their employees. safety hazards of Silver Cyanide to potentially exposed workers.
SILVER CYANIDE page 2 of 6
This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the potential and most severe health hazards that may result from following are recommended: exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to * Blood Cyanide test. any of the potential effects described below. * Evaluation of thyroid function. ------Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Acute Health Effects exposure. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Silver Cyanide: Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. * Breathing Silver Cyanide can irritate the nose, throat and Mixed Exposures lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of * A few medications contain Silver. Caution is needed in breath. use of these medications for persons exposed to Silver * High exposure to Silver Cyanide can cause headache, Cyanide. nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of consciousness and death. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
Chronic Health Effects Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most some time after exposure to Silver Cyanide and can last for effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to months or years: enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also Cancer Hazard reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is * There is no evidence that Silver Cyanide causes cancer in less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is animals. This is based on test results presently available to sometimes necessary. the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services from published studies. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the Reproductive Hazard substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * There is no evidence that Silver Cyanide affects harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls reproduction. This is based on test results presently should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when available to the New Jersey Department of Health and significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Senior Services from published studies. In addition, the following control is recommended: Other Long-Term Effects * Repeated exposure can cause a blue-grey discoloration of * Where possible, automatically transfer Silver Cyanide the skin, eyes, inner nose, mouth, throat and internal body from drums or other storage containers to process organs. This may take years to develop but is permanent. containers. * Repeated exposure can interfere with thyroid function and cause nosebleeds. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: MEDICAL * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Silver Medical Testing Cyanide should change into clean clothing promptly. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, members could be exposed. the following are recommended: * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by
individuals who have been informed of the hazards of * Urine Thiocyanate test. exposure to Silver Cyanide. * To detect early changes in body color, careful periodic * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate exams of the skin, eyes, inner nose and throat are useful. work area for emergency use.
* If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. SILVER CYANIDE page 3 of 6
* On skin contact with Silver Cyanide, immediately wash * Check with your safety equipment supplier or your or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the respirator manufacturer to determine which respirator is workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have appropriate for your facility. contacted Silver Cyanide, whether or not known skin * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can contact has occurred. smell, taste, or otherwise detect Silver Cyanide, or if * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Silver Cyanide is while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area smoking, or using the toilet. immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If clean-up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. the seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT workplace. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for chemicals. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Where the potential exists for exposure over 5 mg/m3 (as done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace Hydrogen Cyanide), use a MSHA/NIOSH approved controls are being installed), personal protective equipment supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a may be appropriate. pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure- appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and demand or other positive-pressure mode. to train employees on how and when to use protective * Exposure to 55 mg/m3 (as Hydrogen Cyanide) is equipment. immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure above 55 mg/m3 (as Hydrogen Cyanide) The following recommendations are only guidelines and may exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained not apply to every situation. breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Silver Cyanide. Wear protective QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic protective glove/clothing material for your operation. health effects? * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result should be clean, available each day, and put on before from repeated exposures to a chemical. work. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- Eye Protection term effects? * Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated goggles. exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with make you immediately sick. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been exposed to chemicals? Respiratory Protection A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a determined by the length of time and the amount of written program that takes into account workplace conditions, material to which someone is exposed. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. Q: When are higher exposures more likely? A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust * NIOSH has established new testing and certification releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, requirements for negative pressure, air purifying, dumping, etc.), other physical and mechanical processes particulate filter and filtering facepiece respirators. The (heating, pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from filter classifications of dust/mist/fume, paint spray or large surface areas such as open containers), and pesticide prefilters, and filters for radon daughters, have "confined space" exposures (working inside vats, been replaced with the N, R, and P series. Each series has reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.). three levels of filtering efficiency: 95%, 99%, and 99.9%. SILVER CYANIDE page 4 of 6
Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for ------community residents? The following information is available from: A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services found in the workplace. However, people in the Occupational Health Service community may be exposed to contaminated water as PO Box 360 well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 may be a problem for children or people who are already (609) 984-1863 ill. (609) 292-5677 (fax)
Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/
Industrial Hygiene Information Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of industrial hygiene survey data.
Medical Evaluation If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational Health Service, who can help you find the information you need.
Public Presentations Presentations and educational programs on occupational health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, trade associations and other groups.
Right to Know Information Resources The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer questions about the identity and potential health effects of chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the 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. ------SILVER CYANIDE page 5 of 6
DEFINITIONS
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts the United States Department of Transportation and the Service to identify a specific chemical. Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation burn. incident, and to protect themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency hazard. that regulates the transportation of chemicals. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA. A fetus is an unborn human or animal. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer. will ignite easily and burn rapidly. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public EPA. employees.
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their measure of concentration by volume in air. cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly energy under certain conditions. dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of damaging the fetus. air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the limit recommended by ACGIH. federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and approves respirators. The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
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Common Name: SILVER CYANIDE * Silver Cyanide is not compatible with ACETYLENE; DOT Number: UN 1684 AMMONIA; HYDROGEN PEROXIDE; STRONG ACIDS NAERG Code: 151 (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); CAS Number: 506-64-9 OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE and BROMINE); COPPER Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA COMPOUNDS; and PHOSPHORUS TRICYANIDE. FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area and from protect from LIGHT. REACTIVITY Not Found Not Rated
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE FIRST AID
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
FIRE HAZARDS * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. * Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of
surrounding fire. Silver Cyanide itself does not burn. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, Skin Contact including Hydrogen Cyanide and Nitrogen Oxides. * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical * Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. attention immediately. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. Breathing * Remove the person from exposure. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. If Silver Cyanide is spilled, take the following steps: * Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from Antidotes and Special Procedures area of spill until clean-up is complete. * Use Amyl Nitrate capsules if symptoms develop. All area * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe employees should be trained regularly in emergency manner and deposit in sealed containers. treatment of Cyanide poisoning and in CPR. A Cyanide * Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. antidote kit MUST be rapidly available and ingredients * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Silver replaced every 1 to 2 years to ensure freshness. Cyanide as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your PHYSICAL DATA regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. Water Solubility: Insoluble * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES applicable.
======Chemical Name: FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire Silver Cyanide department. You can request emergency information from the ------following: Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes. CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 ------NJDEP HOTLINE: (609) 292-7172 NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ======SENIOR SERVICES Right to Know Program HANDLING AND STORAGE PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 (609) 984-2202 * Prior to working with Silver Cyanide you should be trained ------on its proper handling and storage. * Silver Cyanide and FLUORINE are violently explosive at normal temperatures.