Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

JOHNSON MATTHEY P4701 SERIES

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Industial colourant.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful in contact with skin.
Danger of cumulative effects.
Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Ingestion of cadmium salts rarely results in poisoning as vomiting rejects the dose. Ingestion may cause excessive salivation, nausea, persistent vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.  Acute effects of selenium poisoning include nervousness, convulsions, drowsiness, frontal headaches, and in extreme cases, death from respiratory depression. There may also be skin eruptions, tiredness, stomach upset, discoloration of teeth, an odorous garlic breath and loss of hair and nails. Selenium is rapidly absorbed in the gut and accumulates in the liver and kidneys. Selenates and selenites cause damage to the kidney, heart, spleen, stomach and bowel. Selenites might increase the rate of miscarriage.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

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). Abrasive damage however, may result from prolonged exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Reactions may not occur on exposure but response may be delayed with symptoms only appearing many hours later.  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

  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material, during the course of normal handling, may produce toxic effects.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Cadmium is absorbed more from the respiratory tract that the intestinal tract. Staging of symptoms include an initial, acute swelling of the lungs, followed by inflammation of the lungs after several days and chronic permanent scarring. 40mg of cadmium with 4mg retention in the lungs in humans will probably cause death. Accumulation of cadmium in the kidney can also cause permanent damage, even after a single intravenous dose.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  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.  Repeated or long-term occupational exposure is likely to produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Chronic cadmium poisoning causes softening of the bones, reduced bone density, kidney stones and increased blood pressure. There may be cardiovascular disease and a yellow ring in the tooth structure. Repeated or prolonged exposure can lead to loss of smell, ulcers in the nose, emphysema and mild anemia. The risk of prostate, respiratory, bowel and genito-urinary cancers may be increased in humans.  Chronic exposure to selenium and its compounds irritate the bronchi, cause gastrointestinal problems, irritation of the nasopharynx and a persistent foul garlic breath. There is often metallic tastes, pallor, irritability, extreme tiredness after years of exposure. Occasionally kidney and liver damage can occur. Selenium can cause tooth decay.  BE AWARE: Repeated minor exposures with only mild symptoms may have serious cumulative poisoning effect.