Common Name: HYDRIODIC ACID CAS Number: 10034-85-2 DOT Number: UN 1787 RTK Substance number: 1009 UN 2197 (anhydrous) Date: December 1995 Revision: June 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Hydriodic Acid can affect you when breathed in. No occupational exposure limits have been established for * Hydriodic Acid is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and Hydriodic Acid. This does not mean that this substance is contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes not harmful. Safe work practices should always be followed. with possible eye damage. * Breathing Hydriodic Acid can irritate the nose and throat. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Breathing Hydriodic Acid can irritate the lungs causing * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of worn. breath. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to IDENTIFICATION Hydriodic Acid. Hydriodic Acid is a colorless to pale yellow liquid. It is used * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In as a disinfectant, analytical reagent, raw material for addition, as part of an ongoing education and training pharmaceuticals, and to make Iodine salts. effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Hydriodic Acid to potentially exposed REASON FOR CITATION workers. * Hydriodic Acid is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT and NFPA. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is CORROSIVE. * Definitions are provided on page 5. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public 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. HYDRIODIC 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 Hydriodic Acid: effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also with possible eye damage. reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is * Breathing Hydriodic Acid can irritate the nose and throat. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * Breathing Hydriodic Acid can irritate the lungs causing sometimes necessary. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether Chronic Health Effects harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when some time after exposure to Hydriodic Acid and can last for significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. months or years: In addition, the following control is recommended: Cancer Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Hydriodic Acid Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, from drums or other storage containers to process Hydriodic Acid has not been tested for its ability to cause containers. cancer in animals. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Reproductive Hazard exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Hydriodic Acid has not been tested for its ability to affect Hydriodic Acid should change into clean clothing reproduction. promptly. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by Other Long-Term Effects individuals who have been informed of the hazards of * Hydriodic Acid can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure exposure to Hydriodic Acid. may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate and/or shortness of breath. work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency MEDICAL shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Hydriodic Acid, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. Medical Testing * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Hydriodic Acid is If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be following is recommended: swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet. * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN damage already done are not a substitute for controlling PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for exposure. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right controls are being installed), personal protective equipment to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. may be appropriate. HYDRIODIC ACID page 3 of 6 OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic equipment. health effects? A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from The following recommendations are only guidelines and may repeated exposures to a chemical. not apply to every situation. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- Clothing term effects? * Avoid skin contact with Hydriodic Acid. Wear acid- A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most you immediately sick. protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been should be clean, available each day, and put on before exposed to chemicals? work. A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is Eye Protection determined by the length of time and the amount of * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles material to which someone is exposed. when working with liquids. * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with Q: When are higher exposures more likely? corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring, substance. spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas such as open containers), and "confined space" exposures Respiratory Protection (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.). IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for written program that takes into account workplace conditions, community residents? requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in medical exams, as