Common Name: PHOSPHORIC ACID CAS Number: 7664-38-2 RTK Substance number: 1516 DOT Number: UN 1805 Date: May 1997 Revision: April 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Phosphoric Acid can affect you when breathed in. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * Phosphoric Acid is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and (PEL) is 1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour contact can irritate and burn the eyes. workshift. * Breathing Phosphoric Acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing and wheezing. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Long-term exposure to the liquid may cause drying and 1 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift and cracking of the skin. 3 mg/m3, not to be exceeded during any 15 minute work period. IDENTIFICATION Phosphoric Acid is a colorless, odorless solid or a thick, clear ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 1 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift and liquid. It is used in rustproofing metals, fertilizers, detergents, 3 foods, beverages, and water treatment. 3 mg/m as a STEL (short term exposure limit). REASON FOR CITATION WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Phosphoric Acid is on the Hazardous Substance List * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust DOT, NIOSH, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance worn. List because it is CORROSIVE. * Wear protective work clothing. * Definitions are provided on page 5. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Phosphoric Acid and at the end of the workshift. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training EXPOSED effort, communicate all information on the health and The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers safety hazards of Phosphoric Acid to potentially exposed to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public workers. 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. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. PHOSPHORIC ACID 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 substance cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. potential effects described below. 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 Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most immediately or shortly after exposure to Phosphoric Acid: effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at * Contact can irritate and burn the eyes. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * Breathing Phosphoric Acid can irritate the nose and throat reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is causing coughing and wheezing. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: some time after exposure to Phosphoric Acid and can last for (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the months or years: substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Cancer Hazard should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * According to the information presently available to the New significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Phosphoric Acid has not been tested for its ability to cause In addition, the following control is recommended: cancer in animals. * Where possible, automatically transfer solid Phosphoric Reproductive Hazard Acid or pump liquid Phosphoric Acid from drums or other * According to the information presently available to the New storage containers to process containers. Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Phosphoric Acid has not been tested for its ability to affect Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous reproduction. exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Other Long-Term Effects * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by * Phosphoric Acid can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure Phosphoric Acid should change into clean clothing may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, promptly. and/or shortness of breath. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family * Long-term exposure to the liquid may cause drying and members could be exposed. cracking of the skin. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of MEDICAL exposure to Phosphoric Acid. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. Medical Testing * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the shower facilities should be provided. following are recommended: * On skin contact with Phosphoric Acid, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the * Lung function tests. workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Phosphoric Acid, whether or not known skin Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and contact has occurred. present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Phosphoric Acid is damage already done are not a substitute for controlling handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be exposure. swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right * For solid Phosphoric Acid, use a vacuum to reduce dust to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. during clean-up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. PHOSPHORIC ACID page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs health effects? done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from controls are being installed), personal protective equipment repeated exposures to a chemical. may be appropriate. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the term effects? appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated to train employees on how and when to use protective exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make equipment. you immediately sick. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been not apply to every situation. exposed to chemicals? A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is Clothing increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is * Avoid skin contact with Phosphoric Acid. Wear acid- determined by the length of time and the amount of resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment material to which someone is exposed. suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your Q: When are higher exposures more likely? operation. A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping, should be clean, available each day, and put on before etc.), other physical and mechanical processes (heating, work. pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large * Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Natural Rubber, Nitrile Rubber, Polyvinyl Chloride, Viton or surface areas such as open containers), and "confined Neoprene as protective materials. space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.). Eye Protection * For solid Phosphoric Acid wear impact resistant eye Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for protection