Common Name: THIONYL CHLORIDE CAS Number: 7719-09-7 RTK Substance number: 1850 DOT Number: UN 1836 Date: April 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Thionyl Chloride can affect you when breathed in. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Thionyl Chloride is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Exposure to Thionyl Chloride can irritate the nose and NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is throat. 1 ppm, which should not be exceeded at any * Breathing Thionyl Chloride can irritate the lungs causing time. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of 1 ppm, which should not be exceeded at any breath. time. * Thionyl Chloride is a REACTIVE CHEMICAL and an EXPLOSION HAZARD. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust IDENTIFICATION ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust Thionyl Chloride is a colorless to pale yellow or red liquid ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be with a pungent odor. It is used as a chlorinating agent in the worn. manufacture of organic compounds, as a solvent in Lithium * Wear protective work clothing. batteries, and in making pesticides. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Thionyl Chloride and at the end of the workshift. REASON FOR CITATION * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In * Thionyl Chloride is on the Hazardous Substance List addition, as part of an ongoing education and training because it is cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH and NFPA. effort, communicate all information on the health and * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance safety hazards of Thionyl Chloride to potentially exposed List because it is REACTIVE and CORROSIVE. workers. * Definitions are provided on page 5. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. THIONYL CHLORIDE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Mixed Exposures potential and most severe health hazards that may result from * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical any of the potential effects described below. exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous immediately or shortly after exposure to Thionyl Chloride: substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at with possible eye damage. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * Exposure to Thionyl Chloride can irritate the nose and reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is throat. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * Breathing Thionyl Chloride can irritate the lungs causing sometimes necessary. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the breath. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Health Effects should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. some time after exposure to Thionyl Chloride and can last for months or years: In addition, the following controls are recommended: Cancer Hazard * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Thionyl * According to the information presently available to the Chloride from drums or other storage containers to New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, process containers. Thionyl Chloride has not been tested for its ability to * Before entering a confined space where Thionyl Chloride cause cancer in animals. may be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Thionyl Chloride has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Thionyl Chloride should change into clean clothing Other Long-Term Effects promptly. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * Thionyl Chloride can irritate the lungs. Repeated individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, exposure to Thionyl Chloride. phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. MEDICAL * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. Medical Testing * On skin contact with Thionyl Chloride, immediately wash If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the following is recommended: workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Thionyl Chloride, whether or not known skin * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Thionyl Chloride is Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, damage already done are not a substitute for controlling smoking, or using the toilet. exposure. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. THIONYL CHLORIDE page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT HANDLING AND STORAGE WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Prior to working with Thionyl Chloride you should be PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for trained on its proper handling and storage. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Thionyl Chloride must be stored to avoid contact with done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace WATER; MOISTURE; STRONG ACIDS (such as controls are being installed), personal protective equipment HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); STRONG may be appropriate. BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); ALCOHOLS; AMINES; OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE; DIMETHYL FORMAMIDE; appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and AMMONIA; and METALS since violent reactions occur. to train employees on how and when to use protective * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well- equipment. ventilated area away from HEAT and LIGHT as Thionyl Chloride decomposes above 284oF (140oC). The following recommendations are only guidelines and may * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are not apply to every situation. prohibited where Thionyl Chloride is used, handled, or stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or Clothing explosion hazard. * Avoid skin contact with Thionyl Chloride. Wear solvent- * Wherever Thionyl Chloride is used, handled, resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electrical manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most equipment and fittings. protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic health effects? Eye Protection A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles from repeated exposures to a chemical. when working with liquids. *