Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

ZINC SULFITE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Reducing agent. Reagent. Preservation of anatomical specimens. Intermediate As
antifermentative in breweries and wineries; bleaching straw; preservative for fruits and
vegetables. Not advised for use in foods recognised as a source of Vitamin B- 1 or
consumed raw. As reducing agent, particularly in dyeing with indigo and vat dyes. Used as
a bleach, for soap, straw; removing dyes from dyed fabric. Part of a redox catalyst system
for synthetic rubber production. Oxygen scavenger in water treatment, reduction of metals
in waste treatment. Brightening groundwood, kraft and other paper pulps; treatment of beet
and cane sugar juices; depressant in mining flotations, bleaching textiles, vegetable
oils, straw, hemp, vegetable tannins, animal glues. Pulp and paper bleaching. As reducing
agent, particularly in dyeing with indigo and vat dyes. Used as a bleach, for soap, straw;
removing dyes from dyed fabric. Part of a redox catalyst system for synthetic rubber
production. Oxygen scavenger in water treatment, reduction of metals in waste treatment.
As disinfectant and bleach, particularly for wool; in dyeing for preparing hot and cold
indigo vats; in paper- making, in place of sodium hyposulfite, to remove Cl from bleached
fibres; as stripper (reducer) in laundering; to remove permanganate stains from skin and
clothing; to render certain dyes soluble; in the manufacture of sodium hydrosulfite;
coagulating rubber latex; as preservative for liquids or solutions used for technical
purposes; as antiseptic in fermentation industries. As a preservative and bleach in food.
Pharmaceutic aid (antioxidant). Widely used in food as preservative; as Food Additive 223.
Amounts in foods are subject to regulation. Usually only 0.01 to 0.10%. Used as a reagent
and as a source of sulfur dioxide. Used to deactivate isothiazolone biocides.

SYNONYMS

ZnSO3, "zinc sulphite"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Contact with acids liberates toxic gas.
Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Soluble zinc salts produces irritation and corrosion of the alimentary tract with pain, and vomiting. Death can occur due to insufficiency of food intake due to severe narrowing of the esophagus and pylorus.  Ingestion of sulfite salts may cause gastric irritation. Large doses may produce violent colic, diarrhea, circulatory disturbance, depression of vital functions and, sometimes, death.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  

SKIN

  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Welding or flame cutting of metals with zinc or zinc dust coatings may result in inhalation of zinc oxide fume; high concentrations of zinc oxide fume may result in "metal fume fever"; also known as "brass chills", an industrial disease of short duration. [I.L.O] Symptoms include malaise, fever, weakness, nausea and may appear quickly if operations occur in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.  Sulfites and bisulfites can cause narrowing of the airways, stomach upset, flushing, low blood pressure. tingling sensation, itchy wheal, swelling and shock, and asthmatics are especially prone. They induce allergic-like reactions which can occur on first contact with the material.