Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: SILVER NITRATE Synonyms: Argerol; Lunar Caustic CAS Number: 7761-88-8 Chemical Name: Nitric Acid Silver (1+) Salt RTK Substance Number: 1672 Date: May 2000 Revision: May 2009 DOT Number: UN 1493 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Silver Nitrate is an odorless, colorless or white, crystalline Hazard Summary (sand-like) solid. It is used in photography, medicines, hair Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA dyes, making mirrors and silver plating, and as a chemical HEALTH 3 - intermediate. FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY 0 - CORROSIVE AND STRONG OXIDIZER POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Reasons for Citation Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; f Silver Nitrate is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance 4=severe List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP and EPA. f Silver Nitrate can affect you when inhaled and by passing f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance through the skin. List. f Silver Nitrate is CORROSIVE and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. f Inhaling Silver Nitrate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. f Exposure to Silver Nitrate can cause headache, dizziness, SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. nausea and vomiting. f High levels of this substance may reduce the blood’s ability to transport Oxygen, causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, FIRST AID and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). Eye Contact f Repeated exposures to Silver Nitrate can cause blue-gray f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30 discoloration (argyria) of the eyes, skin, inner nose, mouth, minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact throat and internal body organs. This may take years to lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention develop but is permanent. immediately. f Silver Nitrate may affect the kidneys. f Silver Nitrate is not combustible, but it is a STRONG Skin Contact OXIDIZER that enhances the combustion of other f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash substances. contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention immediately. Workplace Exposure Limits Inhalation The following exposure limits are for soluble Silver compounds f Remove the person from exposure. (measured as Silver): f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. 0.01 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is EMERGENCY NUMBERS 3 Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 0.01 mg/m averaged over a 10-hour workshift. CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.01 mg/m3 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 f The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above. SILVER NITRATE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data some time after exposure to Silver Nitrate and can last for Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product months or years: ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New Jersey Department of Health, Silver Nitrate has not been Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Sheet, available on the RTK website (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK Reproductive Hazard Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f While Silver Nitrate has been tested, further testing is required to assess its potential to cause reproductive harm. f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Other Effects Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act f Silver Nitrate can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you and/or shortness of breath. are a private worker. f Repeated exposures to Silver Nitrate can cause blue-gray discoloration (argyria) of the eyes, skin, inner nose, mouth, f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most throat and internal body organs. This may take years to employers to label chemicals in the workplace and develop but is permanent. requires public employers to provide their employees with f Silver Nitrate may affect the kidneys. information concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication Medical Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide Medical Testing similar information and training to their employees. For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or greater), the following are recommended before beginning This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information work and at regular times after that: 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 f Kidney function tests effects described below. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following are recommended: Health Hazard Information f Lung function tests Acute Health Effects f Examine the eyes, inner nose, throat and skin periodically to The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur detect early changes in body color. immediately or shortly after exposure to Silver Nitrate: Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin with rash and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for blisters. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling f Silver Nitrate can irritate and burn the eyes with possible exposure. eye damage. f Inhaling Silver Nitrate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee f Exposure to Silver Nitrate can cause headache, dizziness, Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). nausea and vomiting. f High levels of this substance may reduce the blood’s ability Mixed Exposures to transport Oxygen, causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen Exposure to very high levels can cause trouble breathing, respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if collapse and even death. you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. SILVER NITRATE 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 irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Respiratory Protection ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control should only be used if the employer has implemented a written exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on program that takes into account workplace conditions, workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory The following work practices are also recommended: Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). 3 f Label process containers. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.01 mg/m (as f Provide employees with hazard information and training. Silver), use a NIOSH approved negative pressure, air- f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. purifying, particulate filter respirator with an N, R or P100 f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed filter. More protection is provided by a full facepiece recommended exposure levels. respirator than by a half-mask respirator, and even greater f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. protection is provided by a powered-air purifying respirator. f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or material. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Always wash at the end of the workshift. Silver Nitrate, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation contaminated. occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to f Do not take contaminated clothing home. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are you may need a new respirator. being handled, processed or stored.