Common Name: CHROMIUM OXYCHLORIDE CAS Number: 14977-61-8 RTK Substance number: 0436 DOT Number: UN 1758 Date: December 1994 Revision: January 2001 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Chromium Oxychloride can affect you when breathed in requires private employers to provide similar training and and by passing through your skin. information to their employees. * Chromium Oxychloride is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely with possible eye damage. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Chromium Oxychloride can irritate the nose, throat and air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results lungs with coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Breathing Chromium Oxychloride can cause a sore or a information under OSHA 1910.1020. hole in the "bone" dividing the inner nose (septum), * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health sometimes with bleeding, discharge or crusting. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Chromium Oxychloride may cause a skin allergy. If diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Chromium Oxychloride may cause an asthma-like The following exposure limits are for hexavalent Chromium allergy. Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with compounds (measured as Chromium): shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest tightness. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * Repeated or severe exposure may damage the liver and (PEL) is 0.1 mg/m3, not to be exceeded at any kidneys. time. * Chromium Oxychloride is a REACTIVE CHEMICAL and an EXPLOSION HAZARD. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.001 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift. IDENTIFICATION Chromium Oxychloride is a dark red, fuming liquid with a ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit for musty, burning odor. It is used in making Chromium Chromium Oxychloride is 0.16 mg/m3 complexes and dyes and in various organic oxidation and averaged over an 8-hour workshift. chlorination reactions * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When REASON FOR CITATION skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even * Chromium Oxychloride is on the Hazardous Substance though air levels are less than the limits listed above. List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, NFPA and EPA. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance * Enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the List because it is CORROSIVE and REACTIVE. site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or * Definitions are provided on page 5. enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. * Wear protective work clothing. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to EXPOSED Chromium Oxychloride and at the end of the workshift. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public addition, as part of an ongoing education and training employers to provide their employees with information and effort, communicate all information on the health and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The safety hazards of Chromium Oxychloride to potentially federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, exposed workers. 1910.1200, CHROMIUM OXYCHLORIDE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all * Exam of the nose and skin. potential and most severe health hazards that may result from * Lung function tests. These may be normal if the person is exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the not having an attack at the time of the test. substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to * Liver and kidney function tests. any of the potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following are recommended: HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION * Evaluation by a qualified allergist, including careful Acute Health Effects exposure history and special testing, may help diagnose The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur skin allergy. immediately or shortly after exposure to Chromium * Check you skin daily for little bumps or blisters, the first Oxychloride: sign of "chrome ulcers." If not treated early, these can last for years after exposure. * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and * Chromium Oxychloride can irritate the nose, throat and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for lungs with coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal some time after exposure to Chromium Oxychloride and can right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. last for months or years: Mixed Exposures Cancer Hazard * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung * While Chromium Oxychloride has not been identified as cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may a carcinogen, certain kinds of Chromium compounds, worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical known as hexavalent Chromium or Chromium VI exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, compounds, have been determined to be human stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health carcinogens. Chromium Oxychloride is such a problems. compound and should be handled with extreme caution. * Because more than light alcohol consumption can cause liver damage, drinking alcohol can increase the liver Reproductive Hazard damage caused by Chromium Oxychloride. * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Conditions Made Worse By Exposure Chromium Oxychloride has not been tested for its ability * Persons with any cuts or scratches on their hands or other to affect reproduction. skin surfaces are at increased risk of developing ulcers on skin contact. Work practices, protective clothing or Other Long-Term Effects removal from exposure is essential to prevent serious * Breathing Chromium Oxychloride can cause a sore or a ulcers. hole in the "bone" dividing the inner nose (septum), * Persons allergic to Chromium compounds may be more sometimes with bleeding, discharge or crusting. likely to develop a skin allergy to Chromium * Chromium Oxychloride may cause a skin allergy. If Oxychloride. allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * Prolonged skin contact can cause burns, blisters and deep ulcers. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous * Chromium Oxychloride may cause an asthma-like substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most allergy. Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at tightness. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * Repeated or severe exposure may damage the liver and reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is kidneys. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. MEDICAL In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Medical Testing (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, substance is released into the workplace and (3) the following are recommended: whether CHROMIUM OXYCHLORIDE page 3 of 6 harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Clothing should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * Avoid skin contact with Chromium Oxychloride. Wear significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. acid-resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on In addition, the following controls are recommended: the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Chromium * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) Oxychloride from drums or other storage containers to should be clean, available each day, and put on before process containers. work. * Before entering a confined space where Chromium Oxychloride may be present, check to make sure that an Eye Protection explosive concentration does not exist. * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles when working with liquids. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with exposures. The following work practices are recommended: corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by substance. Chromium Oxychloride should change into clean clothing promptly. Respiratory