Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

KODAK BALANCED ALKALI

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Photographic chemical.

SYNONYMS

"boric acid sodium salt", "sodium metaborate octahydrate", "Balanced Alkali Kodak",
"Photographic Chemical sodium metaborate", "Kodak 10845", "10845 Kodak", "Kodak 026383",
"026383 Kodak"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre-  existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  Borate poisoning causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and pain in the upper abdomen. Often persistent vomiting occurs, and there may be blood in the feces. There may also be weakness, lethargy, headache, restlessness, tremors and convulsions. All borates cause similar effects; the lethal dose is over 30 grams. Poisoning initially stimulates the central nervous system before causing depression, as well as disturbing the digestive system, causing skin eruptions, and damage to the liver and kidneys. Borate is mostly eliminated from the body via the kidneys.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Temporary discomfort, however, may result from prolonged dermal exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Toxic effects may result from skin absorption.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  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

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Borate can accumulate in the testes and deplete germ cells and cause withering of the testicles, according to animal testing. Hair loss, skin inflammation, stomach ulcer and anemia can all occur. Repeated swallowing or inhalation irritates the stomach, causes a loss of appetite, disturbed digestion, nausea and vomiting, red rash, dry skin and mucous membranes, reddening of the tongue, cracking of the lips, inflamed conjunctiva, swelling of the eyelids and kidney injury. Prolonged ingestion causes effects to the reproductive system in both males and females.  Chronic absorption may lead to boron deposition in the liver, brain, bone  and adipose tissue. Chronic dust inhalation may lead to inflammation of  the respiratory mucous membranes and conjunctivitis (ILO Encyclopedia).