Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: ARSINE Synonyms: Arsenic Hydride; Hydrogen Arsenide CAS Number: 7784-42-1 Chemical Name: Arsine RTK Substance Number: 0163 Date: June 1998 Revision: February 2008 DOT Number: UN 2188 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE Arsine is a colorless gas with a garlic-like odor. It is used in Hazard Summary making electronic components, in organic synthesis, in making Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA lead acid storage batteries, and as a military poison gas. HEALTH - 4 FLAMMABILITY - 4 Exposure to Arsine often occurs when Arsine is formed as a REACTIVITY - 2 by-product of a chemical reaction between Arsenic, or a Base CARCINOGEN Metal containing Arsenic impurities, and an acid or strong alkali FLAMMABLE AND REACTIVE (base). POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY VENT RAPIDLY AND EXPLODE IN FIRE Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; Reasons for Citation 4=severe f Arsine is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, NTP, f Arsine can affect you when inhaled. DEP, IARC, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. f Arsine is a CARCINOGEN. HANDLE WITH EXTREME f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance CAUTION. List. f Skin and eye contact with liquid can cause frostbite. f Inhaling Arsine can irritate the lungs. Higher exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency. f High exposure to Arsine can destroy red blood cells SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. (hemolysis), causing anemia. f Repeated exposure may damage the kidneys and affect liver function. FIRST AID f Arsine may damage the nervous system. Eye Contact f Arsine is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE and a f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 DANGEROUS FIRE and EXPLOSION HAZARD. minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact lenses, if worn, while rinsing. Skin Contact Workplace Exposure Limits f Immerse affected part in warm water. Seek medical OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is attention. 0.05 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if 0.0006 ppm, which should not be exceeded at any breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. time. f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. f Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.005 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. f Arsine is a CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be no EMERGENCY NUMBERS safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 be reduced to the lowest possible level. CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 ARSINE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f While Arsine has not been identified as a teratogen or a f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data reproductive hazard, Arsenic and certain Arsenic Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product compounds are teratogens and may also cause reproductive ingredients and important safety and health information damage, such as reduced fertility and interference with about the product mixture. menstrual cycles. Arsine should be handled WITH EXTREME CAUTION. f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Other Effects Sheet, available on the RTK website f Repeated exposure may damage the kidneys and affect liver (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK function. Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f High or repeated exposure may damage the nerves, causing f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey weakness, “pins and needles,” and poor coordination in the arms and legs. Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you Medical are a private worker. Medical Testing f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the TLV or employers to label chemicals in the workplace and greater), the following are recommended before beginning work and at regular times after that: requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. f Complete blood count The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 f Kidney function tests CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication f Test for urine Arsenic. This is most accurate at the end of Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide the workday. Eating shellfish or fish may elevate Arsenic similar information and training to their employees. levels for up to two days. At NIOSH recommended exposure levels, urine Arsenic should not be greater than This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information 100 micrograms per liter of urine. regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other If symptoms develop or overexposure occurs, repeat the factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential preceding tests as soon as possible. Also consider: effects described below. f Chest x-ray after acute overexposure f Exam of the nervous system f Liver function tests Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for immediately or shortly after exposure to Arsine: damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. f Skin and eye contact with liquid can cause frostbite. f Inhaling Arsine can irritate the lungs causing coughing Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may cause a to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). emergency, with severe shortness of breath. f High exposure to Arsine can destroy red blood cells Mixed Exposures (hemolysis), causing anemia with headache, weakness, f More than light alcohol consumption can cause liver nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Acute kidney failure damage. Drinking alcohol may increase the liver damage may follow, resulting in death. caused by Arsine. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Arsine and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f Arsine is a CARCINOGEN in humans. There is evidence that inorganic Arsenic compounds cause liver, kidney, lung and bladder cancer. f Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen. ARSINE Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices f Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may occur, employees should be provided with special clothing Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or designed to prevent the freezing of body tissues. sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Eye Protection exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control f Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on with fumes, gases, or vapors. workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control f Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. The following work practices are also recommended: Respiratory Protection Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators f Label process containers. should only be used if the employer has implemented a written f Provide employees with hazard information and training. program that takes into account workplace conditions, f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed recommended exposure levels. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous material. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.0006 ppm, f Always wash at the end of the workshift. use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- contaminated. pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination f Do not take contaminated clothing home. with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are mode. being handled, processed or stored. f Exposure to 3 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, health. If the possibility of exposure above 3 ppm exists, applying cosmetics or using the toilet. use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other In addition, the following may be useful or required: positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape air cylinder.