Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: AMMONIUM ACETATE Synonyms: None CAS Number: 631-61-8 Chemical Name: Acetic Acid, Ammonium Salt RTK Substance Number: 0085 Date: April 2002 Revision: March 2011 DOT Number: UN 9079 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Ammonium Acetate is a white, crystalline (sand-like) solid Hazard Summary with a slight vinegar-like odor. It is used in chemical analysis, Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA textile dyeing, and preserving meats. HEALTH 2 - FLAMMABILITY 1 - REACTIVITY 0 - POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Reasons for Citation f Ammonium Acetate is on the Right to Know Hazardous Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe Substance List because it is cited by DOT and IRIS. f Ammonium Acetate can affect you when inhaled. f Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Ammonium Acetate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. FIRST AID Eye Contact Workplace Exposure Limits f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30 No occupational exposure limits have been established for minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact Ammonium Acetate. However, it may pose a health risk. lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. Always follow safe work practices. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. 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. EMERGENCY NUMBERS Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 AMMONIUM ACETATE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Other Effects f Ammonium Acetate can irritate the lungs. Repeated f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New Medical Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Medical Testing Sheet, available on the RTK website Before beginning employment and at regular times thereafter, (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK (at least annually), the following are recommended: Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f Lung function tests f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the damage already done are not a substitute for controlling federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you exposure. are a private worker. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee employers to label chemicals in the workplace and Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. Mixed Exposures The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce similar information and training to their employees. your risk of developing health problems. This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Ammonium Acetate: f Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Ammonium Acetate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Ammonium Acetate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Ammonium Acetate has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Reproductive Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Ammonium Acetate has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. AMMONIUM ACETATE Page 3 of 6 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 Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely f Do not wear contact lenses when working with this irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust substance. ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Respiratory Protection exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control should only be used if the employer has implemented a written Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and The following work practices are also recommended: medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Label process containers. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Provide employees with hazard information and training. f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. f Where the potential exists for exposure overexposure to f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed Ammonium Acetate, use a NIOSH approved negative recommended exposure levels. pressure, air-purifying, particulate filter respirator with an N, f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. R, or P95 filter. More protection is provided by a full f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous facepiece respirator than by a half-mask respirator, and even material. greater protection is provided by a powered-air purifying f Always wash at the end of the workshift. respirator. f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or contaminated. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Do not take contaminated clothing home. Ammonium Acetate, (2) while wearing particulate filters f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are irritation occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. being handled, processed or stored. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer applying cosmetics or using the toilet. good, you may need a new respirator. f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. In addition, the following may be useful or required: You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as f Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. f Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an Personal Protective Equipment auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an emergency escape air cylinder. The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 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 Ammonium Acetate may burn, but does not readily ignite. Gloves and Clothing f Use dry chemical, water spray or foam as extinguishing f Avoid skin contact with Ammonium Acetate. Wear agents. personal protective equipment made from material which f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including can not be permeated or degraded by this substance. Ammonia and Nitrogen Oxides. Safety equipment suppliers and manufacturers can provide f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. recommendations on the most protective glove and clothing material for your operation. f The recommended glove materials for Ammonium Acetate are Nitrile and Neoprene. f The recommended protective clothing material for Ammonium Acetate is Tyvek®, or the equivalent. f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. AMMONIUM ACETATE Page 4 of 6 Spills and Emergencies Occupational Health Information If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be Resources properly trained and equipped.