Common Name: OSMIUM TETROXIDE CAS Number: 20816-12-0 RTK Substance number: 1441 DOT Number: UN 2471 Date: September 1996 Revision: August 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Osmium Tetroxide can affect you when breathed in. * ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.0019 ppm. * Skin contact can cause irritation, burns and rash. * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite * The odor can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing broad. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as wheezing, nosebleeds, cough, tightness in the chest, sore a warning of potentially hazardous exposures. throat and hoarseness. * Osmium Tetroxide can severely irritate and burn the eyes WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS causing redness and swelling of the eyes, blurred vision, OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit and may lead to permanent vision loss. (PEL) is 0.002 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour * Osmium Tetroxide may damage the kidneys. workshift. IDENTIFICATION NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is Osmium Tetroxide is a colorless to pale yellow solid with a 0.002 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift strong, unpleasant odor. It is used as a catalyst in chemical and 0.006 mg/m3, not to be exceeded during any reactions, in photography, and in microscopic tissue staining. 15 minute work period. REASON FOR CITATION ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Osmium Tetroxide is on the Hazardous Substance List 0.002 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift 3 because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, and 0.006 mg/m as a STEL (short term DOT, NIOSH, DEP and EPA. exposure limit). * Definitions are provided on page 5. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust EXPOSED ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public worn. employers to provide their employees with information and * Wear protective work clothing. training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Osmium federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, Tetroxide and at the end of the workshift. requires private employers to provide similar training and * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In information to their employees. addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely safety hazards of Osmium Tetroxide to potentially evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area exposed workers. 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. OSMIUM TETROXIDE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure. potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may immediately or shortly after exposure to Osmium Tetroxide: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will * Skin contact can cause irritation, burns and rash, and a reduce your risk of developing health problems. green to black stain on the skin. * The odor can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES wheezing, nosebleeds, cough, tightness in the chest, sore throat and hoarseness. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous * Osmium Tetroxide can severely irritate and burn the eyes substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most causing redness and swelling of the eyes, blurred vision, effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to and may lead to permanent vision loss. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also Chronic Health Effects reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is some time after exposure to Osmium Tetroxide and can last sometimes necessary. for months or years: In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Cancer Hazard (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * Osmium Tetroxide may cause mutations (genetic substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether changes). Whether or not it poses a cancer or reproductive harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls hazard needs further study. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New In addition, the following control is recommended: Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Osmium * Where possible, automatically transfer Osmium Tetroxide Tetroxide has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Other Long-Term Effects * Osmium Tetroxide can irritate the lungs. Repeated Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by * Osmium Tetroxide may damage the kidneys. Osmium Tetroxide should change into clean clothing promptly. MEDICAL * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family members could be exposed. Medical Testing * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, individuals who have been informed of the hazards of the following are recommended: exposure to Osmium Tetroxide. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate * Lung function tests. work area for emergency use. * Complete eye exam. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * On skin contact with Osmium Tetroxide, immediately following are recommended: wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have * Kidney function tests. contacted Osmium Tetroxide, whether or not known skin * Chest x-ray. contact has occurred. OSMIUM TETROXIDE page 3 of 6 * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Osmium Tetroxide is * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be smell, taste, or otherwise detect Osmium Tetroxide, or if swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to smoking, or using the toilet. breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN workplace. You may need a combination of filters, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace chemicals. controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH may be appropriate. approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the mode. For increased protection use in combination with an appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a to train employees on how and when to use protective pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. equipment. * Exposure to 1 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure above 1 mg/m3 exists, The following recommendations are only guidelines and may use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained