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Right to Know
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
Common Name: MERCURIC OXIDE
Synonyms: Yellow Oxide of Mercury; Mercury Monoxide Chemical Name: Mercuric Oxide Date: April 2008 Revision: January 2017 CAS Number: 21908 - 53 - 2 RTK Substance Number: 2537 DOT Number: UN 1641
Description and Use
Mercuric Oxide is a yellow to orange-yellow, odorless, crystalline powder. It is used in alkaline batteries and pigments, as a seed protectant, and as a preservative in cosmetics.
Reasons for Citation
Mercuric Oxide is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, IARC, and EPA. This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List.
SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5.
FIRST AID
Eye Contact Immediately flush with large amounts of cool water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention immediately. Skin Contact Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. Inhalation Remove the person from exposure. Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Poison Control: 1- 800 - 222 - 1222 CHEMTREC: 1- 800 - 424 - 9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1- 877 - 927 - 6337 National Response Center: 1- 800 - 424 - 8802
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE
Hazard Summary
Hazard Rating NJDHSS NFPA HEALTH 3 - FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY (^) 0 - TERATOGEN POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE DOES NOT BURN Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe Mercuric Oxide can affect you when inhaled and by passing through the skin. Mercuric Oxide should be handled as a TERATOGEN-- WITH EXTREME CAUTION. Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Inhaling Mercuric Oxide can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. Exposure can cause metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Mercuric Oxide may cause a skin allergy and make the skin turn gray. Repeated exposure can cause Mercury poisoning with tremors, personality changes, trouble remembering and concentrating, and gum problems. Mercuric Oxide may damage the kidneys.
Workplace Exposure Limits
The following exposure limits are for inorganic Mercury compounds (measured as Mercury ): OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.1 mg/m^3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 0.05 mg/m^3 (as Mercury vapor ) averaged over a 10- hour workshift and 0.1 mg/m^3 (as other Mercury compounds ), not to be exceeded during any 15- minute work period. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0 .025 mg/m^3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Mercuric Oxide may be a teratogen in humans. All contact with this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible level.
(Workplace Exposure Limits Continued) The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above.
Determining Your Exposure
Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK Program website (http://nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to- know/) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker. The New Jersey Right to Know Act and the PEOSH Hazard Communication Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires private employers to provide similar information and training to their employees. This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below.
Health Hazard Information
Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Mercuric Oxide : Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Inhaling Mercuric Oxide can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. Exposure can cause metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Mercuric Oxide and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard While Mercuric Oxide has been tested, it is not classifiable as to its potential to cause cancer. Reproductive Hazard Mercuric Oxide may be a TERATOGEN in humans since it is a teratogen in animals. There is limited evidence that Mercuric Oxide may affect male fertility. Other Effects Mercuric Oxide may cause a skin allergy. If allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a skin rash. Repeated contact can cause the skin to turn gray, brown staining in the eyes, and may affect peripheral vision (ability to see to the sides). Repeated exposure or a very high single exposure can cause Mercury poisoning. Symptoms include tremors (shaking), trouble remembering and concentrating, gum problems, increased salivation, loss of appetite and weight, and changes in mood and personality. These can be severe and cause hallucinating and psychosis. Mercuric Oxide may damage the kidneys.
Medical
Medical Testing For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the TLV or greater), the following are recommended before beginning work and at regular times after that: Exam of the nervous system (including handwriting test to detect early hand tremor) Urine Mercury level (usually less than 0.02 mg/liter ) Kidney function tests If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following are recommended: Lung function tests Exam of the eyes and vision Evaluation by a qualified allergist can help diagnose skin allergy. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Mixed Exposures Creams to whiten or bleach skin may contain Mercury. If you use them, you may be at increased risk of Mercury poisoning. A high fish diet, especially of marine predatory fish (fish-eating fish), also may increase your blood Mercury levels.
For more information, please contact: New Jersey Department of Health Right to Know Program PO Box 368 Trenton, NJ 08625- 0368 Phone: 609- 984 - 2202 Fax: 609- 984 - 7407 E-mail: rtk@doh.nj.gov Web address: http://nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to- know/ The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets are not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes.
Fire Hazards
If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard (29 CFR 1910.156). Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. Mercuric Oxide itself does not burn but may intensify a fire. POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Mercury vapor. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Mercuric Oxide may ignite combustibles (wood, paper and oil).
Spills and Emergencies
If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR 1910.120) may apply. If Mercuric Oxide is spilled, take the following steps: Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the area. Eliminate all ignition sources. Use special Mercury vapor suppressants or special vacuums for spill collection. Kits specific for clean-up of Mercury spills are available. Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. DO NOT wash into sewer. It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Mercuric Oxide as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations.
Handling and Storage
Prior to working with Mercuric Oxide you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. Mercuric Oxide reacts violently with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); COMBUSTIBLES; PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS; HYDROGEN PEROXIDE; DISULFUR DICHLORIDE; HYDROGEN TRISULFIDE; ACETYL NITRATE; and DIBORON TETRAFLUORIDE. Mercuric Oxide forms shock-sensitive compounds with METALS (such as POTASSIUM, SODIUM, MAGNESIUM and ZINC). Mercuric Oxide is not compatible with STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); ETHANOL; and HYDRAZINE HYDRATE. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from LIGHT and AIR as Mercuric Oxide decomposes.
Occupational Health Information
Resources
The New Jersey Department of Health, Occupational Health Service, offers multiple services in occupational health. These services include providing informational resources, educational materials, public presentations, and industrial hygiene and medical investigations and evaluations.
GLOSSARY
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals. Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can change its physical state from a liquid to a gas. A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical. CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the regulations of the United States government. A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency that regulates the transportation of chemicals. EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for emergency responders for transportation emergencies involving hazardous substances. Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values are intended to provide estimates of concentration ranges where one reasonably might anticipate observing adverse effects. A fetus is an unborn human or animal. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a scientific group. Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured in electron volts. IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database maintained by federal EPA. The database contains information on human health effects that may result from exposure to various chemicals in the environment. LEL or Lower Explosive Limit , is the lowest concentration of a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of continuing an explosion. mg/m^3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer. OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards in public workplaces. Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective materials. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison Inhalation Hazards. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a measure of concentration by volume in air. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy under certain conditions. STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15- minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a work day. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus. UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a reaction or explosion. Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of one gas to the weight of another (usually Hydrogen ), at the same temperature and pressure. The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
