Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: LITHIUM NITRATE Synonyms: None CAS Number: 7790-69-4 Chemical Name: Nitric Acid, Lithium Salt RTK Substance Number: 1130 Date: September 1999 Revision: November 2008 DOT Number: UN 2722 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE Lithium Nitrate is a colorless or white, crystalline (sand-like) Hazard Summary powder or granule. It is used as a laboratory reagent and heat- Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA exchange media, and in rocket propellents, pyrotechnics, and HEALTH 2 - ceramics. FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY 0 - POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Reasons for Citation f Lithium Nitrate is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT. Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe f Lithium Nitrate can affect you when inhaled. f Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. f Inhaling Lithium Nitrate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. f Lithium Nitrate can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. f Exposure can cause headache, muscle weakness, tremor, confusion, seizures and coma. FIRST AID f High exposure may affect the thyroid gland and may damage the kidneys. Eye Contact f Lithium Nitrate is not combustible but is a STRONG f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 OXIDIZER which enhances the combustion of other minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact substances. lenses, if worn, while rinsing. f Lithium Nitrate may explode with HEAT, SHOCK, FRICTION or IMPACT. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Workplace Exposure Limits Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. No occupational exposure limits have been established for f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if Lithium Nitrate. However, it may pose a health risk. Always breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. follow safe work practices. f Transfer promptly to medical facility. EMERGENCY NUMBERS Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 LITHIUM NITRATE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f While Lithium Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data affect reproduction, it should be HANDLED WITH CAUTION Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product since several related Lithium compounds are known ingredients and important safety and health information teratogens in humans. about the product mixture. Other Effects f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New f Lithium Nitrate can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, Sheet, available on the RTK website and/or shortness of breath. (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK f High exposure may affect thyroid gland function. Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f Lithium Nitrate may damage the kidneys. f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Medical if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the Medical Testing federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, are a private worker. for frequent or potentially high exposures, the following are recommended: f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and f Blood tests for Lithium level requires public employers to provide their employees with f Kidney function tests information concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following is recommended: CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide f Evaluation of thyroid function similar information and training to their employees. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other exposure. factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Health Hazard Information Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen immediately or shortly after exposure to Lithium Nitrate: respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce f Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. your risk of developing health problems. f Inhaling Lithium Nitrate can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. f Lithium Nitrate can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. f Exposure can cause headache, muscle weakness, muscle twitching, tremor, blurred vision, loss of coordination, confusion, seizures and coma. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Lithium Nitrate and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Lithium Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. LITHIUM 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 If additional protection is needed for the entire face, use in toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures combination with a face shield. A face shield should not be include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely used without another type of eye protection. irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Respiratory Protection exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on should only be used if the employer has implemented a written workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control program that takes into account workplace conditions, Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and The following work practices are also recommended: medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Label process containers. f Provide employees with hazard information and training. f Where the potential exists for overexposure to Lithium f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. Nitrate, use a NIOSH approved negative pressure, air- f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed purifying, particulate filter respirator with an N95 filter. More recommended exposure levels. protection is provided by a full facepiece respirator than by a f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. half-mask respirator, and even greater protection is provided f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous by a powered-air purifying respirator. material. f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or f Always wash at the end of the workshift. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes Lithium Nitrate, (2) while wearing particulate filters contaminated. abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye f Do not take contaminated clothing home. irritation occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer being handled, processed or stored. good, you may need a new respirator. f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. applying cosmetics or using the toilet. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as In addition, the following may be useful or required: vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. f Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH f Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. Personal Protective Equipment The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate Fire Hazards personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained employees on how and when to use protective equipment. and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard (29 CFR 1910.156). The following recommendations are only guidelines and may f Lithium Nitrate is not combustible but is a STRONG not apply to every situation. OXIDIZER which enhances the combustion of other substances.