Tungsten Hexafluoride Hazard Summary

CAS Number: 7783-82-6 RTK Substance number: 1961 DOT Number: UN 2196 Date: April 1986 Revision: November 2000 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY * Tungsten Hexafluoride can affect you when breathed in. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Tungsten Hexafluoride is a HIGHLY CORROSIVE problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational CHEMICAL and contact can severely irritate and burn the diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. skin and eyes with possible eye damage. * Breathing Tungsten Hexafluoride can irritate the nose, WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS throat and lungs. The following exposure limits are for soluble Tungsten * Exposure to very high levels of Tungsten Hexafluoride compounds (measured as Tungsten): may cause a condition called “FLUOROSIS”. CONSULT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is SENIOR SERVICES HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE FACT 1 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift and SHEET ON HYDROGEN FLUORIDE. 3 mg/m3, not to be exceeded during any 15 minute work period. IDENTIFICATION Tungsten Hexafluoride is a colorless gas or light yellow ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is liquid. It is used to apply Tungsten coatings to other surfaces 1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift and and in making other chemicals and electronics. 3 mg/m3 as a STEL (short term exposure limit).

REASON FOR CITATION The exposure limits for Hydrogen Fluoride are: * Tungsten Hexafluoride is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit ACGIH, DOT and NIOSH. (PEL) is 2.5 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance workshift. List because it is CORROSIVE. * Definitions are provided on page 5. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 2.5 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING and not to be exceeded during any 15 minute EXPOSED work period. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is employers to provide their employees with information and 2.5 mg/m3, which should not be exceeded at any training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The time. federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE information to their employees. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area worn. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Wear protective work clothing. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Tungsten information under OSHA 1910.1020. Hexafluoride.

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* Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal addition, as part of an ongoing education and training right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Tungsten Hexafluoride to potentially WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES exposed workers. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most potential and most severe health hazards that may result from effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also any of the potential effects described below. reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is ------less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Acute Health Effects (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether immediately or shortly after exposure to Tungsten harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Hexafluoride: should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. In addition, the following control is recommended: * Breathing Tungsten Hexafluoride can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. * Where possible, automatically transfer gaseous Tungsten Hexafluoride or pump liquid Tungsten Hexafluoride Chronic Health Effects from cylinders or other storage containers to process The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at containers. some time after exposure to Tungsten Hexafluoride and can last for months or years: Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Tungsten Hexafluoride should change into clean clothing Tungsten Hexafluoride has not been tested for its ability promptly. to cause cancer in animals. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of Reproductive Hazard exposure to Tungsten Hexafluoride. * According to the information presently available to the * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, work area for emergency use. Tungsten Hexafluoride has not been tested for its ability * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency to affect reproduction. shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Tungsten Hexafluoride, Other Long-Term Effects immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. * Exposure to very high levels of Tungsten Hexafluoride * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Tungsten may cause a condition called “FLUOROSIS.” Hexafluoride is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before MEDICAL eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet.

Medical Testing PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following is recommended: WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for * Fluoride level in urine. Levels higher than 4 mg/liter some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs indicate overexposure. done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace controls are being installed), personal protective equipment Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and may be appropriate. present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the exposure. appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. TUNGSTEN HEXAFLUORIDE page 3 of 6

The following recommendations are only guidelines and may QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS not apply to every situation. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic Clothing health effects? * Avoid skin contact with Tungsten Hexafluoride. Wear A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment from repeated exposures to a chemical. suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- operation. term effects? * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated should be clean, available each day, and put on before exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to work. make you immediately sick.

Eye Protection Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been * Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working exposed to chemicals? with fumes, gases, or vapors. A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is when working with liquids. determined by the length of time and the amount of * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with material to which someone is exposed. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this Q: When are higher exposures more likely? substance. A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring, Respiratory Protection spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. such as open containers), and "confined space" Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small written program that takes into account workplace conditions, rooms, etc.). requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for community residents? * Where the potential exists for exposure over 2.5 mg/m3 A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in (as Hydrogen Fluoride) or 10 mg/m3 (as Tungsten) use a cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full found in the workplace. However, people in the facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- community may be exposed to contaminated water as pressure mode. For increased protection use in well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing may be a problem for children or people who are already apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- ill. pressure mode. * Exposure to 25 mg/m3 (as Hydrogen Fluoride), is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure above 25 mg/m3 (as Hydrogen Fluoride) exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

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------The following information is available from:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Occupational Health Service PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 (609) 984-1863 (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. ------

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DEFINITIONS

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. the United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. It is a guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.

A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that burn. determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals.

A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes that regulates the transportation of chemicals. standards to OSHA.

EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.

A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid employees. gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Inhalation Hazards. EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a measure of concentration by volume in air. scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy under certain conditions. A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus. mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure limit recommended by ACGIH. MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a approves respirators. solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in. is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.

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Common Name: TUNGSTEN HEXAFLUORIDE ======DOT Number: UN 2196 FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire NAERG Code: 125 department. You can request emergency information from the CAS Number: 7783-82-6 following:

CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated ======Not Found Not Rated REACTIVITY HANDLING AND STORAGE CORROSIVE DO NOT USE WATER * Prior to working with Tungsten Hexafluoride you should POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE be trained on its proper handling and storage. CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE * Tungsten Hexafluoride will decompose in WATER to Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; form poisonous and corrosive Hydrogen Fluoride gas. 3=serious; 4=severe * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area. FIRE HAZARDS FIRST AID * Tungsten Hexafluoride may burn, but does not readily

ignite. In NJ, for POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-764-7661 * Use dry chemical, dry sand, or carbon dioxide to extinguish

fire. DO NOT USE WATER. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, Eye Contact including Fluorine, and Hydrogen Fluoride. * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting * Use water spray only to keep fire-exposed containers cool. upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. Skin Contact * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If liquid Tungsten Hexafluoride is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: Breathing * Remove the person from exposure. * Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. * Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. material and deposit in sealed containers. * DO NOT USE WATER OR WET METHOD. PHYSICAL DATA * Ventilate area after clean-up is complete. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Tungsten Water Solubility: Decomposes Hexafluoride as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES regional office of the federal Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. Chemical Name: If gaseous Tungsten Hexafluoride is leaked, take the following Tungsten Fluoride steps: ------* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial area of leak until clean-up is complete. purposes. * Ventilate area of leak to disperse the gas. ------* Stop flow of gas. If source of leak is a cylinder and the leak NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND cannot be stopped in place, remove the leaking cylinder to a SENIOR SERVICES safe place in the open air, and repair leak or allow cylinder Right to Know Program to empty. PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be (609) 984-2202 properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be ------applicable.