Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
Right to Know
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
Common Name: TELLURIUM
Synonyms: Aurum Paradoxum; Telloy CAS Number: 13494-80-9 Chemical Name: Tellurium RTK Substance Number: 1777 Date: November 1999 Revision: April 2009 DOT Number: UN 1325
Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Tellurium is an odorless, silvery-white crystalline (sand-like) Hazard Summary solid or a dark gray to brown powder. It is used as an additive Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA to metals, in vulcanizing rubber, and in storage batteries, and HEALTH 3 - as a coloring agent in glass and ceramics. FLAMMABILITY *3 - REACTIVITY 0 - *FLAMMABLE (FINELY DIVIDED Tellurium) POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE
Reasons for Citation Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; f Tellurium is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance 4=severe List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT and NIOSH. f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List. f Tellurium can affect you when inhaled. f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. f Exposure can irritate the nose and throat. f Inhaling Tellurium can irritate the lungs. Higher exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency. f Exposure to Tellurium can cause headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness and weakness. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. f Repeated exposure can cause garlic odor to the breath, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and upset stomach, FIRST AID metallic taste and irritability. Eye Contact f Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause drying and f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 cracking of the skin with redness. minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact f Tellurium may affect the liver and kidneys. lenses, if worn, while rinsing. f High exposure may damage the nervous system. f Finely divided Tellurium is a FLAMMABLE SOLID and can Skin Contact form explosive mixtures in air. f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. Workplace Exposure Limits Inhalation OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is f Remove the person from exposure. 0.1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. 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. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is f Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after 0.1 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift. overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed.
ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.1 mg/m3 EMERGENCY NUMBERS averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
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 Reproductive Hazard f At doses that are severely toxic to the mother, Tellurium f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data produces teratogenic effects. Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product ingredients and important safety and health information Other Effects about the product mixture. f Repeated exposure can cause garlic odor to the breath, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and upset stomach, f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New metallic taste, and irritability. Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact f Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause drying and Sheet, available on the RTK website cracking of the skin with redness. (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK f Tellurium may affect the liver and kidneys. Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f High exposure may damage the nervous system.
f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey
Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Medical if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the Medical Testing federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or are a private worker. greater), the following are recommended before beginning work and at regular times after that: f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and f Liver and kidney function tests requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 following are recommended: CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication f Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide f Exam of the nervous system similar information and training to their employees. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other exposure. factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects Mixed Exposures The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, immediately or shortly after exposure to Tellurium: emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce f Exposure can irritate the nose and throat. your risk of developing health problems. f Inhaling Tellurium can irritate the lungs causing coughing f More than light alcohol consumption can cause liver and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may cause a damage. Drinking alcohol can increase the liver damage build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical caused by Tellurium. emergency, with severe shortness of breath. f Exposure to Tellurium can cause headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness and weakness.
Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Tellurium and can last for months or years:
Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Tellurium has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals.
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Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or f Wear eye protection with side shields or goggles. sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less f If additional protection is needed for the entire face, use in toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures combination with a face shield. A face shield should not be include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely used without another type of eye protection. irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Respiratory Protection exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on should only be used if the employer has implemented a written workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control program that takes into account workplace conditions, Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and
The following work practices are also recommended: medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Label process containers. 3 f Provide employees with hazard information and training. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.1 mg/m , use f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. a NIOSH approved negative pressure, air-purifying, f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed particulate filter respirator with an N, R or P95 filter. More recommended exposure levels. protection is provided by a full facepiece respirator than by a f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. half-mask respirator, and even greater protection is provided f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous by a powered-air purifying respirator. material. f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or f Always wash at the end of the workshift. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes Tellurium, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal contaminated. resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation f Do not take contaminated clothing home. occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, being handled, processed or stored. you may need a new respirator. f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. applying cosmetics or using the toilet. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. In addition, the following may be useful or required: 3 f Where the potential exists for exposure over 1 mg/m , use a f Before entering a confined space where finely divided NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece Tellurium may be present, check to make sure that an operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure explosive concentration does not exist. mode. For increased protection use in combination with an f Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. emergency escape air cylinder. f Exposure to 25 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and 3 health. If the possibility of exposure above 25 mg/m exists, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus Personal Protective Equipment with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR air cylinder. 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. Fire Hazards 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 Finely divided Tellurium is a FLAMMABLE SOLID and can Gloves and Clothing form explosive mixtures in air. f Avoid skin contact with Tellurium. Wear personal protective f Use dry chemical powder, sand, graphite or other equipment made from material which can not be permeated extinguishing agents appropriate for metal fires. or degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the Tellurium Oxide and Hydrogen Telluride. most protective glove and clothing material for your f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. operation. f Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Nitrile and Natural Rubber for gloves, and Tyvek®, or the equivalent, as a protective material for clothing. f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.
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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 Tellurium is spilled, 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 Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe
manner and place into sealed containers for disposal. f Keep finely divided Tellurium out of confined spaces, such New Jersey Department of Health as sewers, because of the possibility of an explosion. Right to Know f Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. PO Box 368 f DO NOT wash into sewer. Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 f It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Tellurium as Phone: 609-984-2202 a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Fax: 609-984-7407 Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific E-mail: [email protected] recommendations. Web address: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb
The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
are not intended to be copied and sold Handling and Storage Prior to working with Tellurium you should be trained on its for commercial purposes. proper handling and storage. f Tellurium may react violently with OXIDIZING AGENTS and HALOGENS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and SILICIDES. f Tellurium is not compatible with STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); CHEMICALLY ACTIVE METALS (such as POTASSIUM, SODIUM, MAGNESIUM and ZINC); and METAL SALTS. f Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from COMBUSTIBLES. f Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibited where finely divided Tellurium is used, handled, or stored.
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GLOSSARY
3 ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial mg/m means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. change its physical state from a liquid to a gas. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by proposes standards to OSHA. the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the and reviews evidence for cancer. regulations of the United States government. OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers. 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 Hydrogen), at the remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured same 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.
LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of continuing an explosion.
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
Common Name: TELLURIUM Synonyms: Aurum Paradoxum; Telloy CAS No: 13494-80-9 Molecular Formula: Te RTK Substance No: 1777 Description: Odorless, silvery-white crystalline solid or a dark gray to brown powder
HAZARD DATA Hazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity 3 - Health Finely divided Tellurium is a FLAMMABLE SOLID Tellurium may react violently with OXIDIZING AGENTS and can form explosive mixtures in air. and HALOGENS (such as PERCHLORATES, 3 - Fire Use dry chemical powder, sand, graphite or other PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and 0 - Reactivity extinguishing agents appropriate for metal fires. SILICIDES. POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, DOT#: UN 7325 including Tellurium Oxide and Hydrogen Telluride. Tellurium is not compatible with STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); ERG Guide #: 133 Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and cool. Hazard Class: 5.1 POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); CHEMICALLY ACTIVE
METALS (such as POTASSIUM, SODIUM, MAGNESIUM (Flammable solid) and ZINC); and METAL SALTS.
SPILL/LEAKS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Isolation Distance: Odor Threshold: Odorless o o Spill: 25 meters (75 feet) Auto Ignition Temp: 944 F (340 C) Fire: 800 meters (1/2 mile) Vapor Pressure: 0 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC) Collect powdered material in the most convenient and Specific Gravity: 6.1 to 6.3 (water = 1) safe manner and place into sealed containers for Water Solubility: Insoluble disposal. Boiling Point: 1,814oF (990oC) Keep finely divided Tellurium out of confined spaces, o o such as sewers, because of the possibility of an Melting Point: 842 F (450 C) explosion. Molecular Weight: 127.6 DO NOT wash into sewer.
EXPOSURE LIMITS PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 3 OSHA: 0.1 mg/m , 8-hr TWA Gloves: Nitrile and Natural Rubber NIOSH: 0.1 mg/m3, 10-hr TWA Coveralls: Tyvek® IDLH: 25 mg/m3 Respirator: >0.3 mg/m3 - SCBA The Protective Action Criteria values are: 3 3 PAC-1 = 0.3 mg/m PAC-3 = 25 mg/m PAC-2 = 20 mg/m3
HEALTH EFFECTS FIRST AID AND DECONTAMINATION Eyes: Irritation Remove the person from exposure. Skin: Irritation Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove Inhalation: Nose, throat and lung irritation, with contact lenses if worn. coughing, and severe shortness of Quickly remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with breath (pulmonary edema) large amounts of soap and water.
Headache, fatigue, dizziness, Begin artificial respiration if breathing has stopped and CPR if necessary. drowsiness and weakness Transfer promptly to a medical facility. Medical observation is recommended as symptoms may be delayed.
April 2009