Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

ZINC FLUOROSILICATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used in the production of concrete hardeners, moth- proofing agents, as a laundry sour and
preservative Regeant

SYNONYMS

F6-Si.Zn, "silicate (2-), hexafluoro-, zinc", "silicon zinc fluoride", "zinc
hexafluorosilicate", "zinc silicofluoride", Fungol, "Fungonit GF2"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

None

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

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.  Ingestion may cause excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, difficulty in speaking, thirst, weakness of pulse, disturbed colour vision, muscular weakness, tremors, convulsions, weak pulse, loss of consciousness and death. Kidney injury and bleeding from injury may occur. There have occasionally been cases of accidental or suicidal poisonings by ingestion of known or unknown amounts of fluosilicate (or silicofluorides), for the most part, sodium fluosilicate, sometimes magnesium, zinc or other fluosilicates. Acute poisonings with salts of fluosilicic acid are relatively uncommon. A lethal dose for sodium fluorosilicate is approximately 1-4 g. Pathology is typical of fluoride poisoning. The main symptoms: headache, gastro-intestinal irritant, corrosion of gastric mucosa, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hypocalcaemia, convulsions, shock, coma and death, which may occur within 15 min (the most often within 1 to 14 hrs) due to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. Ingestion of sodium hexafluosilicate has produced acute respiratory failure, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, hypocalcaemia, facial numbness, diarrhea, tachycardia, enlarged liver, and cramps of the palms, feet, and legs.  Mice given sodium hexafluosilicate (70 mg/kg; 0.37 mmol/kg) exhibited toxic effects in the peripheral nerves, sensation, and in behavior. In rats, an oral dose (248 mg/kg; 1.32 mmol/kg) administered intermittently for one month produced toxic effects in the kidney, ureter, and/or bladder, as well as musculoskeletal and biochemical effects.  Fluoride causes severe loss of calcium in the blood, with symptoms appearing several hours later including painful and rigid muscle contractions of the limbs. Cardiovascular collapse can occur and may cause death with increased heart rate and other heart rhythm irregularities. The brain and kidneys may be affected. Other toxic effects include headache, increased saliva output, jerking of the eyeball and dilated pupils, lethargy, stupor, coma and rarely, convulsions.  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.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  Fluosilicates may produce severe irritation of the eyes; effects may be delayed.  

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.  Local lesions may arise as a result of contact with fluosilicates. Contact with skin causes rash, redness, and burning, sometimes followed by ulcer formation.  Sodium hexafluosilicate is pustulogen in animal tests. When rabbits received topical application of a 1, 5, 10, and 25% solution of sodium hexafluorosilicate in petroleum, pustules occurred on normal skin only with the high concentration, while all concentrations produced pustules on stabbed skin  The intact and abraded skin of New Zealand white rabbits, were exposed to 0.5 m (4 mol) sodium hexafluosilicate for 1, 24, or 72 h Severe erythema and edema were observed, indicating the material to be a primary irritant.  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 may produce health damage*.  The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  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.  Inhalation of small amounts of dust or fume over long periods may causepoisoning.  Inhalation of fluosilicate-containing dusts or mists may cause severe mucous membrane irritation and burns. Effects may not be immediately apparent, especially with diluted solutions. Symptoms of exposure include coughing, sneezing, tightness of chest, difficulty in breathing. Excessive inhalation may cause severe pulmonary inflammation which may be fatal.  Acute effects of fluoride inhalation include irritation of nose and throat, coughing and chest discomfort. A single acute over-exposure may even cause nose bleed. Pre-existing respiratory conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis may be aggravated by exposure. Occupational asthma may result from exposure.  

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.  Chronic over-exposure to fluosilicates may result in fluorosis.  Extended exposure to inorganic fluorides causes fluorosis, which includes signs of joint pain and stiffness, tooth discoloration, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, anemia, weakness and general unwellness. There may also be frequent urination and thirst. Redness, itchiness and allergy-like inflammation of the skin and mouth cavity can occur. The central nervous system may be involved.  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.  Chronic inhalation exposure may result in nasal ulceration and/orperforation of nasal septum.