Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: BORON TRIFLUORIDE Synonyms: Boron Fluoride; Trifluoroborane CAS Number: 7637-07-2 Chemical Name: Borane, Trifluoro- RTK Substance Number: 0246 Date: July 2002 Revision: February 2012 DOT Number: UN 1008 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Boron Trifluoride is a colorless gas, with a strong odor, that Hazard Summary forms dense, white fumes in moist air. It is used as a catalyst Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA for polymerization reactions, in soldering fluxes and fiber HEALTH - 4 optics, and as a fire extinguishing agent for Magnesium. FLAMMABILITY - 0 REACTIVITY - 1 f ODOR THRESHOLD = 1.6 ppm CORROSIVE f Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone to POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE determine potentially hazardous exposures. CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Reasons for Citation Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; f Boron Trifluoride is on the Right to Know Hazardous 4=severe Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, f Boron Trifluoride can affect you when inhaled and by NIOSH, DEP, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. passing through the skin. f Boron Trifluoride is a CORROSIVE chemical and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. f Skin contact with liquid Boron Trifluoride can cause frostbite. FIRST AID f Inhaling Boron Trifluoride can irritate the nose and throat. Eye Contact Repeated exposure can cause dryness of the nose and f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30 nosebleeds. minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact f Inhaling Boron Trifluoride can irritate the lungs. Higher lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency. Skin Contact f Exposure to Boron Trifluoride can cause headache, f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Seek f Boron Trifluoride may damage the kidneys and affect the medical attention. nervous system. f In case of contact with liquid Boron Trifluoride, immerse f Repeated very high exposure to Boron Trifluoride may affected part in warm water. Seek medical attention. cause the deposit of Fluoride in the bones and teeth, a condition called Fluorosis. The above health effects do NOT Inhalation occur at the level of Fluoride used in water to prevent f Remove the person from exposure. cavities in teeth. f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if f If Boron Trifluoride is involved in a fire it can release breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Hydrogen Fluoride. Consult the Right to Know Hazardous f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. Substance Fact Sheet on HYDROGEN FLUORIDE. f Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. Workplace Exposure Limits OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is EMERGENCY NUMBERS 1 ppm, not to be exceeded at any time. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 1 ppm, which should not be exceeded at any time. NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 1 ppm, which National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 should not be exceeded at any time. f The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above. BORON TRIFLUORIDE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Jersey Department of Health, Boron Trifluoride has not Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Other Effects f Repeated exposure can cause dryness of the nose and f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New nosebleeds. Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact f Boron Trifluoride can irritate the lungs. Repeated Sheet, available on the RTK website exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f Boron Trifluoride may damage the kidneys and affect the nervous system. f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey f Repeated, very high exposure to Boron Trifluoride can Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public cause the deposit of Fluoride in the bones and teeth, a Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act condition called Fluorosis. This may cause pain, disability if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the and mottling of the teeth. federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker. f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most Medical employers to label chemicals in the workplace and Medical Testing requires public employers to provide their employees with For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or information concerning chemical hazards and controls. greater), the following are recommended before beginning The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 work and at regular times after that: CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication f Fluoride levels in urine higher than 4 mg/liter indicate Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide overexposure similar information and training to their employees. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information following are recommended: regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other f Lung function tests factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential f Kidney function tests effects described below. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for Health Hazard Information damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur You have a legal right to request copies of your medical testing immediately or shortly after exposure to Boron Trifluoride: under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Mixed Exposures f Skin contact with liquid Boron Trifluoride can cause frostbite. f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, f Inhaling Boron Trifluoride can irritate the nose and throat. emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen f Inhaling Boron Trifluoride can irritate the lungs causing respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a your risk of developing health problems. medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. f Exposure to Boron Trifluoride can cause headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Boron Trifluoride and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Boron Trifluoride has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. BORON TRIFLUORIDE Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices f Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may occur, employees should be provided with insulated gloves Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or and special clothing designed to prevent the freezing of body sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less tissues. toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Eye Protection exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on f Wear non-vented goggles when working with liquids that workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control splash or when vapors and/or fumes are present. A face Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. shield is also required if the liquid is severely irritating or corrosive to the skin and eyes. The following work practices are also recommended: f Do not wear contact lenses when working with this substance. f Label process containers. f Provide employees with hazard information and training. Respiratory Protection f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed should only be used if the employer has implemented a written recommended exposure levels. program that takes into account workplace conditions, f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous material. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Always wash at the end of the workshift. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes contaminated. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 1 ppm, use a f Do not take contaminated clothing home. supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing.