Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

ZEOCHEM ZEOLITES

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Molecular sieve. Drying agent. General used to remove dissolved water from non- aqueous
products.

SYNONYMS

zeolite, "potassium aluminosilicate", "sodium aluminosilicate", "magnesium
aluminosilicate", "molecular sieve"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Not normally a hazard due to the physical form of product. The material is a physical irritant to the gastrointestinal tract.  The material has NOT been classified as "harmful by ingestion". This is because of the lack of corroborating animal or human evidence. 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, unintentional ingestion is not thought to be cause for concern.  

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.  Dehydrated zeolites may cause thermal burns with corneal damage.  

SKIN

  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.  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Dehydrated zeolites generate heat in contact with moisture and may produce thermal burns.  

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.  Intratracheal instillation of one species of zeolite, mordenite, in rats produced a mild fibrosis and hyperplasia. No significant pulmonary inflammation or interstitial fibrosis was seen in inhalation studies.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Exposure to large doses of Aluminum has been connected with the degenerative brain disease Alzheimer's Disease.  Repeated exposures, in an occupational setting, to high levels of fine- divided dusts may produce a condition known as pneumoconiosis which is the lodgement of any inhaled dusts in the lung irrespective of the effect. This is particularly true when a significant number of particles less than 0.5 microns (1/50,000 inch), are present. Lung shadows are seen in the X-ray. Symptoms of pneumoconiosis may include a progressive dry cough, shortness of breath on exertion, increased chest expansion, weakness and weight loss. As the disease progresses the cough produces a stringy mucous, vital capacity decreases further and shortness of breath becomes more severe. Pneumoconiosis is the accumulation of dusts in the lungs and the tissue reaction in its presence. It is further classified as being of noncollagenous or collagenous types. Noncollagenous pneumoconiosis, the benign form, is identified by minimal stromal reaction, consists mainly of reticulin fibres, an intact alveolar architecture and is potentially reversible.  All workers involved in the production and use of zeolite-containing products are potentially exposed to erionite, a fibrous form of zeolite, which is mined with deposits of other zeolites. When administered by inhalation erionite induced pleural mesotheliomas in rats of both sexes. When administered by intraperitoneal injection, erionite induced peritoneal mesotheliomas in male mice. When introduced by intrapleural injection erionite induced pleural mesotheliomas in male and female rats.  Descriptive studies have demonstrated a very high mortality from malignant mesotheliomas, mainly of the pleura, in three Turkish villages where there has been contamination from erionite and where the population had been exposed from birth. Erionite fibres were identified in lung tissue samples in cases of pleural mesotheliomas; ferruginous bodies were found in a much higher proportion of inhabitants in contaminated villages than those of control villages.  Intratracheal instillation of another species of zeolite, mordenite, in rats, produced a mild fibrosis and hyperplasia. No significant pulmonary inflammation or interstitial fibrosis was seen in inhalation studies. Mordenite exhibits low cytotoxicity, in vitro.  A sample of natural zeolite particles induced aberrant metaphase in human whole blood cultures in vitro. This zeolite sample also induced aberrant metaphases in cells collected by peritoneal lavage of mice after intraperitoneal injection.  Breathing of dust may aggravate asthma and inflammatory or fibrotic pulmonary  disease.