Gunnar Nordberg
There are three major groups of arsenic (As) compounds:
Occurrence and Uses
Arsenic is found widely in nature and most abundantly in sulphide ores. Arsenopyrite (FeAsS) is the most abundant one.
Elemental arsenic
Elemental arsenic is utilized in alloys in order to increase their hardness and heat resistance (e.g., alloys with lead in shot-making and battery grids). It is also used in the manufacture of certain types of glass, as a component of electrical devices and as a doping agent in germanium and silicon solid-state products.
Trivalent inorganic compounds
Arsenic trichloride (AsCl3) is used in the ceramics industry and in the manufacturing of chlorine-containing arsenicals. Arsenic trioxide (As2O3), or white arsenic, is useful in the purification of synthesis gas and as a primary material for all arsenic compounds. It is also a preservative for hides and wood, a textile mordant, a reagent in mineral flotation, and a decolourizing and refining agent in glass manufacture. Calcium arsenite (Ca(As2H2O4)) and cupric acetoarsenite (usually considered Cu(COOCH3)2 3Cu(AsO2)2) are insecticides. Cupric acetoarsenite is also used for painting ships and submarines. Sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) is employed as a herbicide, a corrosion inhibitor, and as a drying agent in the textile industry. Arsenic trisulphide is a component of infrared-transmitting glass and a dehairing agent in the tanning industry. It is also used in the manufacturing of pyrotechnics and semiconductors.
Pentavalent inorganic compounds
Arsenic acid (H3AsO4·½H2O) is found in the manufacture of arsenates, glass making and wood-treating processes. Arsenic pentoxide (As2O5), an herbicide and a wood preservative, is also used in the manufacture of coloured glass.
Calcium arsenate (Ca3(AsO4)2) is used as an insecticide.
Organic arsenic compounds
Cacodylic acid ((CH3)2AsOOH) is used as a herbicide and a defoliant. Arsanilic acid (NH2C6H4AsO(OH)2) finds use as a grasshopper bait and as an additive in animal feeds. Organic arsenic compounds in marine organisms occur in concentrations corresponding to a concentration of arsenic in the range 1 to 100 mg/kg in marine organisms such as shrimp and fish. Such arsenic is mainly made up of arsenobetaine and arsenocholine, organic arsenic compounds of low toxicity.
Arsine gas and the substituted arsines. Arsine gas is used in organic syntheses and in the processing of solid-state electronic components. Arsine gas may also be generated inadvertently in industrial processes when nascent hydrogen is formed and arsenic is present.
The substituted arsines are trivalent organic arsenical compounds which, depending on the number of alkyl or phenyl groups that they have attached to the arsenic nucleus, are known as mono-, di- or tri-substituted arsines. Dichloroethylarsine (C2H5AsCl2), or ethyldichloroarsine, is a colourless liquid with an irritant odour. This compound, like the following one, was developed as a potential chemical warfare agent.
Dichloro(2-chlorovinyl-)arsine (ClCH:CHAsCl2), or chlorovinyldichloroarsine (lewisite), is an olive-green liquid with a germanium-like odour. It was developed as a potential warfare agent but never used. The agent dimercaprol or British anti-lewisite (BAL) was developed as an antidote.
Dimethyl-arsine (CH3)2AsH, or cacodyl hydride and trimethylarsine (CH3)3As), or trimethylarsenic, are both colourless liquids. These two compounds can be produced after metabolic transformation of arsenic compounds by bacteria and fungi.
Hazards
Inorganic arsenic compounds
General aspects of toxicity. Although it is possible that very small amounts of certain arsenic compounds may have beneficial effects, as indicated by some animal studies, arsenic compounds, particularly the inorganic ones, are otherwise regarded as very potent poisons. Acute toxicity varies widely among compounds, depending on their valency state and solubility in biological media. The soluble trivalent compounds are the most toxic. Uptake of inorganic arsenic compounds from the gastrointestinal tract is almost complete, but uptake may be delayed for less soluble forms such as arsenic trioxide in particle form. Uptake after inhalation is also almost complete, since even less soluble material deposited on the respiratory mucosa, will be transferred to the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently taken up.
Occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic compounds through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact with subsequent absorption may occur in industry. Acute effects at the point of entry may occur if exposure is excessive. Dermatitis may occur as an acute symptom but is more often the result of toxicity from long-term exposure, sometimes subsequent to sensitization (see the section “Long-term exposure (chronic poisoning)”).
Acute poisoning
Exposure to high doses of inorganic arsenic compounds by a combination of inhalation and ingestion may occur as a result of accidents in industries where large amounts of arsenic (e.g., arsenic trioxide), are handled. Depending on dose, various symptoms may develop, and when doses are excessive, fatal cases may occur. Symptoms of conjunctivitis, bronchitis and dyspnoea, followed by gastrointestinal discomfort with vomiting, and subsequently cardiac involvement with irreversible shock, may occur in a time course of hours. Arsenic in blood was reported to be above 3 mg/l in a case with fatal outcome.
With exposure to sub-lethal doses of irritant arsenic compounds in air (e.g., arsenic trioxide), there may be symptoms related to acute damage to the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and acute symptoms from exposed skin. Severe irritation of the nasal mucosae, larynx and bronchi, as well as conjunctivitis and dermatitis, occur in such cases. Perforation of the nasal septum can be observed in some individuals only after a few weeks following exposure. A certain tolerance against acute poisoning is believed to develop upon repeated exposure. This phenomenon, however, is not well documented in the scientific literature.
Effects due to accidental ingestion of inorganic arsenicals, mainly arsenic trioxide, have been described in the literature. However, such incidents are rare in industry today. Cases of poisoning are characterized by profound gastrointestinal damage, resulting in severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which may result in shock and subsequent oliguria and albuminuria. Other acute symptoms are facial oedema, muscular cramps and cardiac abnormalities. Symptoms may occur within a few minutes following exposure to the poison in solution, but may be delayed for several hours if the arsenic compound is in solid form or if it is taken with a meal. When ingested as a particulate, toxicity is also dependent on solubility and particle size of the ingested compound. The fatal dose of ingested arsenic trioxide has been reported to range from 70 to 180 mg. Death may occur within 24 hours, but the usual course runs from 3 to 7 days. Acute intoxication with arsenic compounds is usually accompanied by anaemia and leucopenia, especially granulocytopenia. In survivors these effects are usually reversible within 2 to 3 weeks. Reversible enlargement of the liver is also seen in acute poisoning, but liver function tests and liver enzymes are usually normal.
In individuals surviving acute poisoning, peripheral nervous disturbances frequently develop a few weeks after ingestion.
Long-term exposure (chronic poisoning)
General aspects. Chronic arsenic poisoning may occur in workers exposed for a long time to excessive concentrations of airborne arsenic compounds. Local effects in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and the skin are prominent features. Involvement of the nervous and circulatory system and the liver may also occur, as well as cancer of the respiratory tract.
With long-term exposure to arsenic via ingestion in food, drinking water or medication, symptoms are partly different from those after inhalation exposure. Vague abdominal symptoms—diarrhoea or constipation, flushing of the skin, pigmentation and hyperkeratosis—dominate the clinical picture. In addition, there may be vascular involvement, reported in one area to have given rise to peripheral gangrene.
Anaemia and leucocytopenia often occur in chronic arsenic poisoning. Liver involvement has been more commonly seen in persons exposed for a long time via oral ingestion than in those exposed via inhalation, particularly in vineyard workers considered to have been exposed mainly through drinking contaminated wine. Skin cancer occurs with excess frequency in this type of poisoning.
Vascular disorders. Long-term oral exposure to inorganic arsenic via drinking water may give rise to peripheral vascular disorders with Raynaud’s phenomenon. In one area of Taiwan, China, peripheral gangrene (so-called Blackfoot disease) has occurred. Such severe manifestations of peripheral vascular involvement have not been observed in occupationally exposed persons, but slight changes with Raynaud’s phenomenon and an increased prevalence of low peripheral blood presssure on cooling have been found in workers exposed for a long time to airborne inorganic arsenic (doses of absorbed arsenic are given below.
Dermatological disorders. Arsenical skin lesions differ somewhat, depending on the type of exposure. Eczematoid symptoms of varying degrees of severity do occur. In occupational exposure to mainly airborne arsenic, skin lesions may result from local irritation. Two types of dermatological disorders may occur:
Dermatitis is primarily localized on the most heavily exposed areas, such as the face, back of the neck, forearms, wrists and hands. However, it may also occur on the scrotum, the inner surfaces of the thighs, the upper chest and back, the lower legs and around the ankles. Hyperpigmentation and keratoses are not prominent features of this type of arsenical lesions. Patch tests have demonstrated that the dermatitis is due to arsenic, not to impurities present in the crude arsenic trioxide. Chronic dermal lesions may follow this type of initial reaction, depending on the concentration and duration of exposure. These chronic lesions may occur after many years of occupational or environmental exposure. Hyperkeratosis, warts and melanosis of the skin are the conspicuous signs.
Melanosis is most commonly seen on the upper and lower eyelids, around the temples, on the neck, on the areolae of the nipples and in the folds of the axillae. In severe cases arsenomelanosis is observed on the abdomen, chest, back and scrotum, along with hyperkeratosis and warts. In chronic arsenic poisoning, depigmentation (i.e., leukoderma), especially on the pigmented areas, commonly called “raindrop” pigmentation, also occurs. These chronic skin lesions, particularly the hyperkeratoses, may develop into pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions. A transverse striation of the nails (so-called Mees lines) also occurs in chronic arsenical poisoning. It should be noted that the chronic skin lesions may develop long after cessation of exposure, when arsenic concentrations in skin have returned to normal.
Mucous membrane lesions in chronic arsenic exposure is most classically reported as perforation of the nasal septum after inhalation exposure. This lesion is a result of irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose. Such irritation also extends to the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Both in inhalation exposure and in poisoning caused by repeated ingestion, dermatitis of the face and eyelids sometimes extends to keratoconjunctivitis.
Peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral nervous disturbances are frequently encountered in survivors of acute poisoning. They usually start within a few weeks after the acute poisoning, and recovery is slow. The neuropathy is characterized by both motor dysfunction and paresthaesia, but in less severe cases only sensory unilateral neuropathy may occur. Often the lower extremities are more affected than the upper ones. In subjects recovering from arsenical poisoning, Mees lines of the fingernails may develop. Histological examination has revealed Wallerian degeneration, especially in the longer axons. Peripheral neuropathy also may occur in industrial arsenic exposure, in most cases in a subclinical form that can be detected only by neurophysiological methods. In a group of smelter workers with long-term exposure corresponding to a mean cumulative total absorption of approximately 5 g (maximal absorption of 20 g), there was a negative correlation between cumulative absorption of arsenic and nerve conduction velocity. There were also some light clinical manifestations of peripheral vascular involvement in these workers (see above). In children exposed to arsenic, hearing loss has been reported.
Carcinogenic effects. Inorganic arsenic compounds are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as lung and skin carcinogens. There is also some evidence to suggest that persons exposed to inorganic arsenic compounds suffer a higher incidence of angiosarcoma of the liver and possibly of stomach cancer. Cancer of the respiratory tract has been reported in excess frequency among workers engaged in the production of insecticides containing lead arsenate and calcium arsenate, in vine-growers spraying insecticides containing inorganic copper and arsenic compounds, and in smelter workers exposed to inorganic compounds of arsenic and a number of other metals. The latency time between onset of exposure and the appearance of cancer is long, usually between 15 and 30 years. A synergistic action of tobacco smoking has been demonstrated for lung cancer.
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic via drinking water has been associated with an increased incidence of skin cancer in Taiwan and in Chile. This increase has been shown to be related to concentration in drinking water.
Teratogenic effects. High doses of trivalent inorganic arsenic compounds may cause malformations in hamsters when injected intravenously. With regard to human beings there is no firm evidence that arsenic compounds cause malformations under industrial conditions. Some evidence, however, suggests such an effect in workers in a smelting environment who were exposed simultaneously also to a number of other metals as well as other compounds.
Organic arsenic compounds
Organic arsenicals used as pesticides or as drugs may also give rise to toxicity, although such adverse effects are incompletely documented in humans.
Toxic effects on the nervous system have been reported in experimental animals following feeding with high doses of arsanilic acid, which is commonly used as a feed additive in poultry and swine.
The organic arsenic compounds that occur in foodstuffs of marine origin, such as shrimp, crab and fish, are made up of arsinocholine and arsinobetaine. It is well known that the amounts of organic arsenic that are present in fish and shellfish can be consumed without ill effects. These compounds are quickly excreted, mainly via urine.
Arsine gas and the substituted arsines. Many cases of acute arsine poisoning have been recorded, and there is a high fatality rate. Arsine is one of the most powerful haemolytic agents found in industry. Its haemolytic activity is due to its ability to cause a fall in erythrocyte-reduced glutathion content.
Signs and symptoms of arsine poisoning include haemolysis, which develops after a latent period that is dependent on the intensity of exposure. Inhalation of 250 ppm of arsine gas is instantly lethal. Exposure to 25 to 50 ppm for 30 minutes is lethal, and 10 ppm may be lethal after longer exposures. The signs and symptoms of poisoning are those characteristic of an acute and massive haemolysis. Initially there is a painless haemoglobinuria, gastrointestinal disturbance such as nausea and possibly vomiting. There may also be abdominal cramps and tenderness. Jaundice accompanied by anuria and oliguria subsequently occurs. Evidence of bone marrow depression may be present. After acute and severe exposure, a peripheral neuropathy may develop and can still be present several months after poisoning. Little is known about repeated or chronic exposure to arsine, but since the arsine gas is metabolized to inorganic arsenic in the body, it can be assumed that there is a risk for symptoms similar to those in long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic compounds.
The differential diagnosis should take account of acute haemolytic anaemias that could be caused by other chemical agents such as stibine or drugs, and secondary immunohaemolytic anaemias.
The substituted arsines do not give rise to haemolysis as their main effect, but they act as powerful local and pulmonary irritants and systemic poisons. The local effect on the skin gives rise to sharply circumscribed blisters in the case of dichloro(2-chlorovinyl-)arsine (lewisite). The vapour induces marked spasmodic coughing with frowzy or blood-stained sputum, progressing to acute pulmonary oedema. Dimercaprol (BAL) is an effective antidote if given in the early stages of poisoning.
Safety and Health Measures
The most common type of occupational arsenic exposure is to inorganic arsenic compounds, and these safety and health measures are mainly related to such exposures. When there is a risk of exposure to arsine gas, particular attention needs to be paid to accidental leaks, since peak exposures for short intervals may be of special concern.
The best means of prevention is to keep exposure well below accepted exposure limits. A programme of measurement of air-concentrations of arsenic is thus of importance. In addition to inhalation exposure, oral exposure via contaminated clothes, hands, tobacco and so on should be watched, and biological monitoring of inorganic arsenic in urine may be useful for evaluation of absorbed doses. Workers should be supplied with suitable protective clothing, protective boots and, when there is a risk that the exposure limit for airborne arsenic will be exceeded, respiratory protective equipment. Lockers should be provided with separate compartments for work and personal clothes, and adjacent sanitary facilities of a high standard should be made available. Smoking, eating and drinking at the workplace should not be allowed. Pre-employment medical examinations should be carried out. It is not recommended to employ persons with pre-existing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, anaemia, allergic or other skin diseases, neurologic, hepatic or renal lesions, in arsenic work. Periodic medical examinations of all arsenic-exposed employees should be performed with special attention to possible arsenic-related symptoms.
Determination of the level of inorganic arsenic and its metabolites in urine allows estimation of the total dose of inorganic arsenic taken up by various exposure routes. Only when inorganic arsenic and its metabolites can be specifically measured is this method useful. Total arsenic in urine may often give erroneous information about industrial exposure, since even a single meal of fish or other marine organisms (containing considerable amounts of non-toxic organic arsenic compound) may cause greatly elevated urinary arsenic concentrations for several days.
Treatment
Arsine gas poisoning. When there is reason to believe that there has been considerable exposure to arsine gas, or upon observation of the first symptoms (e.g., haemoglobinuria and abdominal pain), immediate removal of the individual from the contaminated environment and prompt medical attention are required. The recommended treatment, if there is any evidence of impaired renal function, consists of total-replacement blood transfusion associated with prolonged artificial dialysis. Forced diuresis has proved useful in some cases, whereas, in the opinion of most authors, treatment with BAL or other chelating agents seems to have only limited effect.
Exposure to the substituted arsines should be treated in the same way as inorganic arsenic poisoning (see below).
Poisoning by inorganic arsenic. If there has been exposure to doses that can be estimated to give rise to acute poisoning, or if severe symptoms from the respiratory system, the skin or the gastrointestinal tract occur in the course of long-term exposures, the worker should immediately be removed from exposure and treated with a complexing agent.
The classical agent which has been used most widely in such situations is 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol or British anti-lewisite (BAL, dimercaprol). Prompt administration in such cases is vital: to obtain maximal benefit such treatment should be given within 4 hours of poisoning. Other pharmaceuticals which may be used are sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropanesulphonate (DMPS or unithiol) or meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). These drugs are less likely to give side effects and are believed to be more effective than BAL. Intravenous administration of N-acetylcysteine has been reported in one case to be of value; in addition, general treatment, such as prevention of further absorption by removal from exposure and minimizing absorption from the gastrointestinal tract by gastric lavage and administration by gastric tube of chelating agents or charcoal, is mandatory. General supportive therapy, such as maintenance of respiration and circulation, maintenance of water and electrolyte balance, and control of nervous system effects, as well as elimination of absorbed poison through haemodialysis and exchange transfusion, may be used if feasible.
Acute skin lesions such as contact dermatitis and mild manifestations of peripheral vascular involvement, such as Raynaud’s syndrome, usually do not require treatment other than removal from exposure.
Gunnar Nordberg
Antimony is stable at room temperature but, when heated, burns brilliantly, giving off dense white fumes of antimony oxide (Sb2O3) with a garlic-like odour. It is closely related, chemically, to arsenic. It readily forms alloys with arsenic, lead, tin, zinc, iron and bismuth.
Occurrence and Uses
In nature, antimony is found in combination with numerous elements, and the most common ores are stibnite (SbS3), valentinite (Sb2O3), kermesite (Sb2S2O) and senarmontite (Sb2O3).
High-purity antimony is employed in the manufacture of semiconductors. Normal-purity antimony is used widely in the production of alloys, to which it imparts increased hardness, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and a low coefficient of friction; alloys combining tin, lead and antimony are used in the electrical industry. Among the more important antimony alloys are babbitt, pewter, white metal, Britannia metal and bearing metal. These are used for bearing shells, storage battery plates, cable sheathing, solder, ornamental castings and ammunition. The resistance of metallic antimony to acids and bases is put to effect in the manufacture of chemical plants.
Hazards
The principal hazard of antimony is that of intoxication by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption. The respiratory tract is the most important route of entry since antimony is so frequently encountered as a fine airborne dust. Ingestion may occur through swallowing dust or through contamination of beverages, food or tobacco. Skin absorption is less common, but may occur when antimony is in prolonged contact with skin.
The dust encountered in antimony mining may contain free silica, and cases of pneumoconiosis (termed silico-antimoniosis) have been reported among antimony miners. During processing, the antimony ore, which is extremely brittle, is converted into fine dust more rapidly than the accompanying rock, leading to high atmospheric concentrations of fine dust during such operations as reduction and screening. Dust produced during crushing is relatively coarse, and the remaining operations—classification, flotation, filtration and so on—are wet processes and, consequently, dust free. Furnace workers who refine metallic antimony and produce antimony alloy, and workers setting type in the printing industry, are all exposed to antimony metal dust and fumes, and may present diffuse miliar opacities in the lung, with no clinical or functional signs of impairment in the absence of silica dust.
Inhalation of antimony aerosols may produce localized reactions of the mucous membrane, respiratory tract and lungs. Examination of miners and concentrator and smelter workers exposed to antimony dust and fumes has revealed dermatitis, rhinitis, inflammation of upper and lower respiratory tracts, including pneumonitis and even gastritis, conjunctivitis and perforations of the nasal septum.
Pneumoconiosis, sometimes in combination with obstructive lung changes, has been reported following long-term exposure in humans. Although antimony pneumoconiosis is regarded as benign, the chronic respiratory effects associated with heavy antimony exposure are not considered harmless. In addition, effects on the heart, even fatal, have been related to long-term occupational exposure to antimony trioxide.
Pustular skin infections are sometimes seen in persons working with antimony and antimony salts. These eruptions are transient and primarily affect the skin areas in which heat exposure or sweating has occurred.
Toxicology
In its chemical properties and metabolic action, antimony has a close resemblance to arsenic, and, since the two elements are sometimes found in association, the action of antimony may be blamed on arsenic, especially in foundry workers. However, experiments with high-purity metallic antimony have shown that this metal has a completely independent toxicology; different authors have found the average lethal dose to be between 10 and 11.2 mg/100 g.
Antimony may enter the body through the skin, but the principal route is through the lungs. From the lungs, antimony, and especially free antimony, is absorbed and taken up by the blood and tissues. Studies on workers and experiments with radioactive antimony have shown that the major part of the absorbed dose enters the metabolism within 48 hours and is eliminated in the faeces and, to a lesser extent, the urine. The remainder stays in the blood for some considerable time, with the erythrocytes containing several times more antimony than the serum. In workers exposed to pentavalent antimony, the urinary excretion of antimony is related to the intensity of exposure. It has been estimated that after 8 hours exposure to 500 µg Sb/m3, the increase in concentration of antimony excreted in the urine at the end of a shift amounts on average to 35 µg/g creatinine.
Antimony inhibits the activity of certain enzymes, binds sulphydryl groups in the serum, and disturbs protein and carbohydrate metabolism and the production of glycogen by the liver. Prolonged animal experiments with antimony aerosols have led to the development of distinctive endogenous lipoid pneumonia. Cardiac injury and cases of sudden death have also been reported in workers exposed to antimony. Focal fibrosis of the lung and cardiovascular effects have also been observed in animal trials.
The therapeutic use of antimonial drugs has made it possible to detect, in particular, the cumulative myocardial toxicity of the trivalent derivatives of antimony (which are excreted more slowly than pentavalent derivatives). Reduction in amplitude of T wave, increase of QT interval and arrhythmias have been observed in the electrocardiogram.
Symptoms
The symptoms of acute poisoning include violent irritation of the mouth, nose, stomach and intestines; vomiting and bloody stools; slow, shallow respiration; coma sometimes followed by death due to exhaustion and hepatic and renal complications. Those of chronic poisoning are: dryness of throat, nausea, headaches, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and dizziness. Gender differences in the effects of antimony have been noted by some authors, but the differences are not well established.
Compounds
Stibine (SbH3), or antimony hydride (hydrogen antimonide), is produced by dissolving zinc-antimony or magnesium-antimony alloy in dilute hydrochloric acid. However, it occurs frequently as a by-product in the processing of metals containing antimony with reducing acids or in overcharging storage batteries. Stibine has been used as a fumigating agent. High-purity stibine is used as an n-type gas-phase dopant for silicon in semiconductors. Stibine is an extremely hazardous gas. Like arsine it may destroy blood cells and cause haemoglobinuria, jaundice, anuria and death. Symptoms include headache, nausea, epigastric pain and passage of dark red urine following exposure.
Antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) is the most important of the antimony oxides. When airborne, it tends to remain suspended for an exceptionally long time. It is obtained from antimony ore by a roasting process or by oxidizing metallic antimony and subsequent sublimation, and is used for the manufacture of tartar emetic, as a paint pigment, in enamels and glazes, and as a flameproofing compound.
Antimony trioxide is both a systemic poison and a skin disease hazard, although its toxicity is three times less than that of the metal. In long-term animal experiments, rats exposed to antimony trioxide via inhalation showed a high frequency of lung tumours. An excess of deaths due to cancer of the lung among workers engaged in antimony smelting for more than 4 years, at an average concentration in air of 8 mg/m3, has been reported from Newcastle. In addition to antimony dust and fumes, the workers were exposed to zircon plant effluents and caustic soda. No other experiences were informative on the carcinogenic potential of antimony trioxide. This has been classified by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) as a chemical substance associated with industrial processes which are suspected of inducing cancer.
Antimony pentoxide (Sb2O5) is produced by the oxidation of the trioxide or the pure metal, in nitric acid under heat. It is used in the manufacture of paints and lacquers, glass, pottery and pharmaceuticals. Antimony pentoxide is noted for its low degree of toxic hazard.
Antimony trisulphide (Sb2S3) is found as a natural mineral, antimonite, but can also be synthesized. It is used in the pyrotechnics, match and explosives industries, in ruby glass manufacture, and as a pigment and plasticizer in the rubber industry. An apparent increase in heart abnormalities has been found in persons exposed to the trisulphide. Antimony pentasulphide (Sb2S5) has much the same uses as the trisulphide and has a low level of toxicity.
Antimony trichloride (SbCl3), or antimonous chloride (butter of antimony), is produced by the interaction of chlorine and antimony or by dissolving antimony trisulphide in hydrochloric acid. Antimony pentachloride (SbCl5) is produced by the action of chlorine on molten antimony trichloride. The antimony chlorides are used for blueing steel and colouring aluminium, pewter and zinc, and as catalysts in organic synthesis, especially in the rubber and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, antimony trichloride is used in the match and petroleum industries. They are highly toxic substances, act as irritants and are corrosive to the skin. The trichloride has an LD50 of 2.5 mg/100 g.
Antimony trifluoride (SbF3) is prepared by dissolving antimony trioxide in hydrofluoric acid, and is used in organic synthesis. It is also employed in dyeing and pottery manufacture. Antimony trifluoride is highly toxic and an irritant to the skin. It has an LD50 of 2.3 mg/100 g.
Safety and Health Measures
The essence of any safety programme for the prevention of antimony poisoning should be the control of dust and fume formation at all stages of processing.
In mining, dust prevention measures are similar to those for metal mining in general. During crushing, the ore should be sprayed or the process completely enclosed and fitted with local exhaust ventilation combined with adequate general ventilation. In antimony smelting the hazards of charge preparation, furnace operation, fettling and electrolytic cell operation should be eliminated, where possible, by isolation and process automation. Furnace workers should be provided with water sprays and effective ventilation.
Where complete elimination of exposure is not possible, the hands, arms and faces of workers should be protected by gloves, dustproof clothing and goggles, and, where atmospheric exposure is high, respirators should be provided. Barrier creams should also be applied, especially when handling soluble antimony compounds, in which case they should be combined with the use of waterproof clothing and rubber gloves. Personal hygiene measures should be strictly observed; no food or beverages should be consumed in the workshops, and suitable sanitary facilities should be provided so that workers can wash before meals and before leaving work.
Gunner Nordberg
Occurrence and uses
Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust, where it is found in combination with oxygen, fluorine, silica, etc., but never in the metallic state. Bauxite is the principal source of aluminium. It consists of a mixture of minerals formed by the weathering of aluminium-bearing rocks. Bauxites are the richest form of these weathered ores, containing up to 55% alumina. Some lateritic ores (containing higher percentages of iron) contain up to 35% Al2O3· Commercial deposits of bauxite are mainly gibbsite (Al2O3·3H2O) and boehmite (Al2O3·H2O) and are found in Australia, Guyana, France, Brazil, Ghana, Guinea, Hungary, Jamaica and Suriname. World production of bauxite in 1995 was 111,064 million tonnes. Gibbsite is more readily soluble in sodium hydroxide solutions than boehmite and is therefore preferred for aluminium oxide production.
Aluminium is used widely throughout industry and in larger quantities than any other non-ferrous metal; worldwide primary metal production in 1995 was estimated at 20,402 million tonnes. It is alloyed with a variety of other material including copper, zinc, silicon, magnesium, manganese and nickel and may contain small amounts of chromium, lead, bismuth, titanium, zirconium and vanadium for special purposes. Aluminium and aluminium alloy ingots can be extruded or processed in rolling mills, wire-works, forges or foundries. The finished products are used in shipbuilding for internal fittings and superstructures; the electrical industry for wires and cables; the building industry for house and window frames, roofs and cladding; aircraft industry for airframes and aircraft skin and other components; automobile industry for bodywork, engine blocks and pistons; light engineering for domestic appliances and office equipment and in the jewellery industry. A major application of sheet is in beverage or food containers, while aluminium foil is used for packaging; a fine particulate form of aluminium is employed as a pigment in paints and in the pyrotechnics industry. Articles manufactured from aluminium are frequently given a protective and decorative surface finish by anodization.
Aluminium chloride is used in petroleum cracking and in the rubber industry. It fumes in air to form hydrochloric acid and combines explosively with water; consequently, containers should be kept tightly closed and protected from moisture.
Alkyl aluminium compounds. These are growing in importance as catalysts for the production of low-pressure polyethylene. They present a toxic, burn and fire hazard. They are extremely reactive with air, moisture and compounds containing active hydrogen and therefore must be kept under a blanket of inert gas.
Hazards
For the production of aluminium alloys, refined aluminium is melted in oil or gas-fired furnaces. A regulated amount of hardener containing aluminium blocks with a percentage of manganese, silicon, zinc, magnesium, etc. is added. The melt is then mixed and is passed into a holding furnace for degassing by passing either argon-chlorine or nitrogen-chlorine through the metal. The resultant gas emission (hydrochloric acid, hydrogen and chlorine) has been associated with occupational illnesses and great care should be taken to see that appropriate engineering controls capture the emissions and also prevent it from reaching the external environment, where it can also cause damage. Dross is skimmed off the surface of the melt and placed in containers to minimize exposure to air during cooling. A flux containing fluoride and/or chloride salts is added to the furnace to assist in separation of pure aluminium from the dross. Aluminium oxide and fluoride fumes may be given off so that this aspect of production must also be carefully controlled. Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required. The aluminium smelting process is described in the chapter Metal processing and metal working industry. In the casting shops, exposure to sulphur dioxide may also occur.
A wide range of different crystalline forms of aluminium oxide is used as smelter feed stock, abrasives, refractories and catalysts. A series of reports published in 1947 to 1949 described a progressive, non-nodular interstitial fibrosis in the aluminium abrasives industry in which aluminium oxide and silicon were processed. This condition, known as Shaver’s disease, was rapidly progressive and often fatal. The exposure of the victims (workers producing alundum) was to a dense fume comprising aluminium oxide, crystalline free-silica and iron. The particulates were of a size range that made them highly respirable. It is likely that the preponderence of disease is attributable to the highly damaging lung effects of the finely divided crystalline free-silica, rather than to the inhaled aluminium oxide, although the exact aetiology of the disease is not understood. Shaver’s disease is primarily of historical interest now, since no reports have been made in the second half of the 20th century.
Recent studies of the health effects of high level exposures (100 mg/m3) to the oxides of aluminium amongst workers engaged in the Bayer process (described in the chapter Metal processing and metal working industry) have demonstrated that workers with more than twenty years of exposure can develop pulmonary alterations. These changes are clinically characterized by minor, predominantly asymptomatic degrees of restrictive pulmonary function changes. The chest x-ray examinations revealed small, scanty, irregular opacities, particularly at the lung bases. These clinical responses have been attributed to deposition of dust in the lung paraenchyma, which was the result of very high occupational exposures. These signs and symptoms cannot be compared to the extreme response of Shaver’s disease. It should be noted that other epidemiological studies in the United Kingdom regarding widespread alumina exposures in the pottery industry have produced no evidence that the inhalation of alumina dust produces chemical or radiographic signs of pulmonary disease or dysfunction.
The toxicological effects of aluminium oxides remain of interest because of its commerical importance. The results of animal experiments are controversial. An especially fine (0.02 μm to 0.04 μm), catalytically active aluminium oxide, uncommonly used commercially, can cause lung changes in animals dosed by injection directly into the lung airways. Lower dose effects have not been observed.
It should also be noted that so-called “potroom asthma” which has frequently been observed among workers in aluminium processing operations, is probably attributable to the exposures to fluoride fluxes, rather than to the aluminium dust itself.
The production of aluminium has been classified as a Group 1, known human carcinogenic exposure situation, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). As with the other diseases described above, the carcinogenicity is most likely attributable to the other substances present (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and silica dust), although the exact role of the alumina dusts are simply not understood.
Some data on the absorption of high levels of aluminium and nervous tissue damage are found among individuals requiring kidney dialysis. These high levels of aluminium have resulted in severe, even fatal brain damage. This response, however, has also been observed in other patients undergoing dialysis but who did not have similar elevated brain aluminium level. Animal experiments have been unsuccessful in replicating this brain response, or Alzheimer’s disease, which has also been postulated in the literature. Epidemiological and clinical follow-up studies on these issues have not been definitive and no evidence of such effects has been observed in the several large-scale epidemiological studies of aluminium workers.
This chapter presents a series of short discussions of many metals. It contains a tabulation of major health effects, physical properties and physical and chemical hazards associated with these metals and many of their compounds (see table 1 and table 2). Not every metal is covered in this chapter. Cobalt and beryllium, for example, appear in the chapter Respiratory sytem. Other metals are discussed in more detail in articles that present information on the industries in which they predominate. The radioactive elements are discussed in the chapter Radiation, ionizing.
Table 1. Physical and chemical hazards
Chemical name CAS-number |
Molecular formula |
Physical and chemical hazards |
UN class/div/ subsidiary risks |
Aluminium chloride 7446-70-0 |
AICI3 |
8 |
|
Aluminium hydroxide 21645-51-2 |
AI(OH)3 |
|
|
Aluminium nitrate 13473-90-0 |
Al2(NO3)3 |
5.1 |
|
Aluminium phosphide 20859-73-8 |
AlP |
|
4.3/ 6.1 |
Diethylaluminium chloride 96-10-6 |
AlClC4H10 |
4.2 |
|
Ethylaluminium dichloride 563-43-9 |
AlCl2C2H5 |
4.2 |
|
Ethylaluminium sesquichloride 12075-68-2 |
Al2Cl3C6H15 |
4.2 |
|
Sodium aluminate 1302-42-7 |
|
8 |
|
Triethylaluminium 97-93-8 |
AlC6H15 |
4.2 |
|
Triisobutylaluminium 100-99-2 |
AlC12H27 |
4.2 |
|
Antimony 7440-36-0 |
Sb |
|
6.1 |
Antimony pentachloride 7647-18-9 |
SbCl5 |
8 |
|
Antimony pentafluoride 7783-70-2 |
SbF5 |
3/ 6.1 |
|
Antimony potassium tartrate 28300-74-5 |
Sb2K2C8H4O12 · 3H2O |
6.1 |
|
Antimony trichloride 10025-91-9 |
SbCl3 |
8 |
|
Antimony trioxide 1309-64-4 |
Sb2O3 |
|
|
Stibine 7803-52-3 |
SbH3 |
|
2.3/ 2.1 |
Arsenic 7440-38-2 |
As |
|
6.1 |
Arsenic acid, copper salt 10103-61-4 |
CuAsOH4 |
|
|
Arsenic acid, diammonium salt 7784-44-3 |
(NH4)2AsOH4 |
|
|
Arsenic acid, disodium salt 7778-43-0 |
Na2AsOH4 |
|
|
Arsenic acid, magnesium salt 10103-50-1 |
MgxAsO3H4 |
|
6.1 |
Arsenic acid, monopotassium salt 7784-41-0 |
KAsO2H4 |
|
|
Arsenic pentoxide 1303-28-2 |
As2O5 |
|
6.1 |
Arsenic trioxide 1327-53-3 |
As2O3 |
|
6.1 |
Arsenious acid, copper(2+) salt(1:1) 10290-12-7 |
CuAsH3 |
|
6.1 |
Arsenious acid, lead(II) salt 10031-13-7 |
PbAs2O4 |
|
|
Arsenious acid, potassium salt 10124-50-2 |
(KH3)x AsO3 |
|
6.1 |
Arsenous trichloride 7784-34-1 |
AsCl3 |
|
6.1 |
Arsine 7784-42-1 |
AsH3 |
|
2.3/ 2.1 |
Calcium arsenate 7778-44-1 |
Ca3As2O8 |
|
6.1 |
Lead arsenate 7784-40-9 |
PbAsO4H |
|
6.1 |
Methylarsonic acid 124-58-3 |
AsCH503 |
|
|
Sodium arsenate 10048-95-0 |
Na2AsO4H ·7H2O |
|
6.1 |
Barium 7440-39-3 |
Ba |
|
4.3 |
Barium carbonate 513-77-9 |
BaCO3 |
6.1 |
|
Barium chlorate 13477-00-4 |
BaCl2O6 |
|
5.1/ 6.1 |
Barium chloride 10361-37-2 |
BaCl2 |
|
6.1 |
Barium chloride, dihydrate 10326-27-9 |
BaCl2·2H20 |
|
6.1 |
Barium chromate (VI) 10294-40-3 |
BaCrH2O4 |
6.1 |
|
Barium hydroxide 17194-00-2 |
Ba(OH)2 |
6.1 |
|
Barium nitrate 10022-31-8 |
BaNO3 |
5.1/ 6.1 |
|
Barium oxide 1304-28-5 |
BaO |
|
6.1 |
Barium perchlorate 13465-95-7 |
BaCl2O8 |
5.1/ 6.1 |
|
Barium peroxide 1304-29-6 |
BaO2 |
|
5.1/ 6.1 |
Barium sulphate 7727-43-7 |
BaSO4 |
|
6.1 |
Beryllium 7440-41-7 |
Be |
6.1 |
|
Beryllium oxide 1304-56-9 |
BeO |
6.1 |
|
Cadmium 7440-43-9 |
Cd |
|
|
Cadmium acetate 543-90-8 |
Cd(C2H4O2)2 |
6.1 |
|
Cadmium chloride 10108-64-2 |
CdCl2 |
|
6.1 |
Cadmium oxide 1306-19-0 |
CdO |
|
6.1 |
Cadmium suphate 10124-36-4 |
CdSO4 |
6.1 |
|
Cadmium sulphide 1306-23-6 |
CdS |
|
6.1 |
Ammonium dichromate(VI) 7789-09-5 |
(NH4)2Cr2H2O7 |
5.1 |
|
Chromic acid 7738-94-5 |
CrH2O4 |
8 |
|
Chromium 7440-47-3 |
Cr |
5.1 |
|
Chromium trioxide 1333-82-0 |
CrO3 |
5.1 |
|
Chromyl chloride 14977-61-8 |
CrO2Cl2 |
|
8 |
Cobalt 7440-48-4 |
Co |
|
|
Cobalt chloride 7646-79-9 |
CoCl2 |
|
|
Cobalt (III) oxide 1308-04-9 |
Co2O3 |
|
|
Cobalt naphthenate 61789-51-3 |
CoC22H20O4 |
|
|
Copper 7440-50-8 |
Cu |
|
|
Copper (I) oxide 1317-39-1 |
Cu2O |
|
|
Cupric acetate 142-71-2 |
CuC4H6O4 |
6.1 |
|
Cupric chloride 7447-39-4 |
CuCl2 |
8 |
|
Cupric hydroxide 120427-59-2 |
Cu(OH)2 |
6.1 |
|
Naphthenic acid, Cu-salt 1338-02-9 |
|
||
Ferric chloride 7705-08-0 |
FeCl3 |
8 |
|
Iron pentacarbonyl 13463-40-6 |
C5FeO5 |
6.1/ 3 |
|
Lead 7439-92-1 |
Pb |
|
|
Lead acetate 301-04-2 |
PbC4H6O4 |
|
6.1 |
Lead chromate 7758-97-6 |
PbCrO4 |
|
|
Lead nitrate 10099-74-8 |
Pb(NO3)2 |
5.1/ 6.1 |
|
Lead dioxide 1309-60-0 |
PbO2 |
5.1 |
|
Lead(II) oxide 1317-36-8 |
PbO |
|
|
Naphthenic acid, Pb-salt 61790-14-5 |
|
||
Tetraethyl lead 78-00-2 |
PbC8H20 |
|
6.1 |
Tetramethyl lead 75-74-1 |
PbC4H12 |
6.1 |
|
Lithium aluminium hydride 16853-85-3 |
LiAlH4 |
4.3 |
|
Magnesium 7439-95-4 |
Mg |
|
4.1 |
Magnesium chloride 7786-30-3 |
MgCl2 |
|
5.1 |
Magnesium nitrate 10377-60-3 |
Mg(NO3)2 |
5.1 |
|
Magnesium oxide 1309-48-4 |
MgO |
|
|
Magnesium phosphide 12057-74-8 |
Mg3P2 |
|
4.3/ 6.1 |
Mercuric acetate 1600-27-7 |
HgC4H6O4 |
|
6.1 |
Mercuric bromide 7789-47-1 |
HgBr2 |
6.1 |
|
Mercuric chloride 7487-94-7 |
HgCl2 |
|
6.1 |
Mercuric nitrate 10045-94-0 |
Hg(NO3)2 |
|
6.1 |
Mercuric oxide 21908-53-2 |
HgO |
|
6.1 |
Mercuric sulphate 7783-35-9 |
HgSO4 |
|
6.1 |
Mercuric thiocyanate 592-85-8 |
HgC2N2S2 |
6.1 |
|
Mercurous chloride 10112-91-1 |
Hg2Cl2 |
|
|
Mercury 7439-97-6 |
Hg |
|
6.1 |
Phenylmercuric acetate 62-38-4 |
C8H8HgO2 |
|
6.1 |
Phenylmercuric nitrate 55-68-5 |
C6H5HgNO3 |
|
6.1 |
Nickel 7440-02-0 |
Ni |
|
|
Nickel (II) oxide 1313-99-1 |
NiO |
|
|
Nickel carbonate 3333-67-3 |
Ni2CO3 |
|
|
Nickel carbonyl 13463-39-3 |
NiC4O4 |
|
6.1/ 3 |
Nickel sulphide 12035-72-2 |
Ni3S2 |
|
|
Nickel sulphate 7786-81-4 |
NiSO4 |
|
|
Osmium tetroxide 20816-12-0 |
OsO4 |
|
6.1 |
Platinum tetrachloride 13454-96-1 |
PtCl4 |
|
|
Hydrogen selenide 7783-07-5 |
SeH2 |
|
2.3/ 2.1 |
Selenious acid 7783-00-8 |
SeH2O3 |
|
|
Selenious acid, disodium salt 10102-18-8 |
Na2SeO3 |
|
6.1 |
Selenium 7782-49-2 |
Se |
|
6.1 |
Selenium dioxide 7446-08-4 |
SeO2 |
|
|
Selenium hexafluoride 7783-79-1 |
SeF6 |
|
2.3/ 8 |
Selenium oxychloride 7791-23-3 |
SeOCl2 |
|
3/ 6.1 |
Selenium trioxide 13768-86-0 |
SeO3 |
|
|
Silver 7440-22-4 |
Ag |
|
|
Silver nitrate 7761-88-8 |
AgNO3 |
|
5.1 |
Strontium chromate 7789-06-2 |
SrCrH2O4 |
|
|
Tellurium 13494-80-9 |
Te |
|
6.1 |
Tellurium hexafluoride 7783-80-4 |
TeF6 |
2.3/ 8 |
|
Thallium 7440-28-0 |
Tl |
|
6.1 |
Thallous sulphate 7446-18-6 |
Tl2 (SO4)3 |
|
6.1 |
Thorium 7440-29-1 |
Th |
7 |
|
Di-N-Butyltin dichloride 683-18-1 |
SnCl2C8H18 |
6.1 |
|
Di-N-Dibutyltin oxide 818-08-6 |
C8H18SnO |
|
|
Dibutyltin dilaurate 77-58-7 |
SnC32H64O4 |
6.1 |
|
Stannic chloride 7646-78-8 |
SnCl4 |
|
8 |
Stannic oxide 18282-10-5 |
SnO |
|
|
Stannous chloride 7772-99-8 |
SnCl2 |
|
|
Stannous chloride dihydrate 10025-69-1 |
SnCl2 ·2H2O |
|
|
Stannous fluoride 7783-47-3 |
SnF2 |
|
|
Tin oxide 21651-19-4 |
SnO |
|
|
Titanium tetrachloride 7550-45-0 |
TiCl4 |
8 |
|
Titanium trichloride 7705-07-9 |
TiCl3 |
8 |
|
Vanadium pentoxide 1314-62-1 |
V2O5 |
|
6.1 |
Vanadium tetrachloride 7632-51-1 |
VCl4 |
8 |
|
Vanadium trioxide 1314-34-7 |
V2O3 |
|
6.1 |
Vanadyl trichloride 7727-18-6 |
VOCl3 |
8 |
|
Zinc 7440-66-6 |
Zn |
4.3/ 4.2 |
|
Zinc chloride 7646-85-7 |
ZnCl2 |
8 |
|
Zinc nitrate 7779-88-6 |
Zn(NO3)2 |
1.5 |
|
Zinc phosphide 1314-84-7 |
Zn3P2 |
|
4.3/ 6.1 |
Zinc stearate 557-05-1 |
ZnC36H70O4 |
|
|
The data on physical and chemical hazards are adapted from the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) series produced by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), a cooperative programme of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The risk classification data are taken from Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, 9th edition, developed by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and published by the United Nations (1995). In the UN risk classification, the following codes are used: 1.5 = very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard; 2.1 = flammable gas; 2.3 = toxic gas; 3 = flammable liquid; 4.1 = flammable solid; 4.2 = substance liable to spontaneous combustion; 4.3 = substance which in contact with water emits flammable gases; 5.1 = oxidizing substance; 6.1 = toxic; 7 = radioactive; 8 = corrosive substance. |
Table 2. Health hazards
Chemical name CAS-Number |
Short-term exposure |
Long-term exposure |
Routes of exposure |
Symptoms |
Target organs, routes of entry |
Symptoms |
Aluminium phosphide 20859-73-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Abdominal pain, burning sensation, cough, dizziness, dullness, headache, laboured breathing, nausea, sore throat Redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, convulsions, nausea, unconsciousness, vomiting |
|||
Antimony 7440-36-0 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; heart |
Skin; lungs; resp. tract |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, soreness of upper respiratory tract; See Ingestion Redness Redness, pain, conjunctivitis Abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias |
Resp sys; CVS; skin; eyes Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, skin, nose, throat, mouth; cough; dizz; head; nau, vomit, diarr; stomach cramps; insom; anor; unable to smell properly |
Antimony trioxide 1309-64-4 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin; lungs |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, fever, nausea, sore throat, vomiting Redness, pain, blisters Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sore throat, vomiting, burning sensation |
||
Stibine 7803-52-3 |
Blood; kidneys; liver; CNS |
Inhalation |
Abdominal pain, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, weakness, weak and irregular pulse, haematuria, shock |
Blood; liver; kidneys; resp. sys. Inh |
Head, weak; nau, abdom pain; lumbar pain, hemog, hema, hemolytic anemia; jaun; pulm irrit |
|
Arsenic 7440-38-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; liver; kidneys; GI tract |
Skin; liver; CNS; carcinogenic; may cause reproductive toxicity |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Chest pain, abdominal pain, cough, headache, weakness, giddiness May be absorbed, irritating Redness, irritating Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
Liver; kidneys; skin; lungs; lymphatic sys (lung & lymphatic cancer) Inh; abs; con; ing |
Ulceration of nasal septum, derm, GI disturbances, peri neur, resp irrit, hyperpig of skin, (carc) |
Arsenic acid, copper salt 10103-61-4 |
Eyes; resp. tract; CNS; digestive tract |
Skin; PNS; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed Redness pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
||
Arsenic acid, diammonium salt 7784-44-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; digestive tract; circulatory system |
PNS; skin; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed, soluble, redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
||
Arsenic acid, disodium salt 7778-43-0 |
Eyes;skin; resp. tract; CNS; digestive tract; circulatory system |
PNS; skin; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed, soluble, redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
||
Arsenic acid, magnesium salt 10103-50-1 |
Eyes; resp. tract; CNS; digestive tract; circulatory system |
PNS; skin; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
||
Arsenic acid, mono- potassium salt 7784-41-0 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; mucous mem- branes |
Skin; PNS; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed, redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, vomiting |
||
Arsenic pentoxide 1303-28-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; kidneys; liver; CVS; CNS; blood |
Lungs; skin; bone marrow; CVS; CNS; carcinogenic; may cause reproductive toxicity |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, dizziness, weakness shortness of breath, pain in chest, symptoms may be delayed; See Ingestion Redness, skin burns, pain Redness, pain, conjunctivitis Constriction in throat, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, severe thirst, muscular cramps, shock |
||
Arsenic trioxide 1327-53-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; kidneys; liver; CVS; CNS; hemato- poietic |
Lungs; skin; bone marrow; PNS; CNS; CVS; heart; kidneys; liver; carcinogenic; may cause birth defects |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, weakness, pain in chest, symptoms may be delayed; See Ingestion Redness, pain Redness, pain, conjunctivitis Constriction in throat, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, severe thirst, muscular cramps, shock |
||
Arsenious acid, copper (2+) salt (1:1) 10290-12-7 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract.; CNS; digestive tract; circulatory system |
Skin; PNS; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
||
Arsenious acid, lead (II) salt 10031-13-7 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; GI tract; circulatory system |
Skin; PNS; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion Redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
||
Arsenious acid, potassium salt 10124-50-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; digestive tract; circulatory system |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness; See Ingestion May be absorbed, soluble, redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
|||
Arsenous trichloride 7784-34-1 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; CVS; CNS; GI tract |
Mucous membranes; skin; liver; kidneys; PNS |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Corrosive, cough, laboured breathing; See Ingestion Corrosive, may be absorbed, redness, pain Corrosive, pain, severe deep burns Corrosive, abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, vomiting, collapse |
||
Arsine 7784-42-1 |
Lungs; blood; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Abdominal pain, confusion, dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, weakness On contact with liquid: frostbite On contact with liquid: frostbite, redness |
Blood; kidneys; liver (lung & lymphatic cancer) Inh; con (liq) |
Head, mal, weak, dizz; dysp; abdom, back pain; nau, vomit, bronze skin; hema; jaun; peri neur, liq: frostbite; (carc) |
|
Calcium arsenate 7778-44-1 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; digestive tract; circulatory system |
PNS; skin; mucous membranes; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, weakness: See Ingestion May be absorbed, redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation behind breastbone and in the mouth |
Eyes; resp sys; liver; skin; lymphatic sysrtem; CNS; (lymphatic & lung cancer) Inh; abs; ing; con |
Weak; GI dist; peri neur, skin hyperpig, palmar planter hyperkeratoses; derm; (carc); in animals: liver damage |
Lead arsenate 7784-40-9 |
Intestines; CVS |
Skin; CNS; GI tract; liver; kidneys; blood; carcinogenic; may cause reproductive toxicity |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, headache, nausea, vomiting, tightness of chest, constipation, excitation, disorientation Redness Redness |
||
Methylarsonic acid 124-58-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs |
Bone marrow; PNS; kidneys; liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough Redness Redness Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, burning sensation in throat |
Organic arsenic compounds: Skin, resp sys, kidneys, CNS, liver, GI tract, repro sys |
In animals: irrit skin, possible derm; resp. distress; diarr; kidney damage; musc tremor, sez; possible GI tract, terato, repro effects; possible liver damage |
Sodium arsenate 10048-95-0 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; digestive tract; heart; liver; kidneys; CNS |
Skin; CNS; CVS; blood; liver; carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, sore throat; See Ingestion Redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, vomiting |
||
Barium 7440-39-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Cough, sore throat Redness Redness, pain |
|||
Barium chlorate 13477-00-4 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; various tissues and organs |
Tissues and organs |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, burning sensation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, paralysis Redness, pain Abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, blue lips or fingernails, blue skin, burning sensation, diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, cardiac dysrhythmia |
||
Barium chloride 10361-37-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; muscles |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Abdominal cramps, unconsciousness Redness Abdominal cramps, dullness, unconsciousness |
Heart; CNS; skin; resp sys; eyes Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, skin, upper resp sys; skin burns, gastroenteritis; musc spasm; slow pulse, extrasystoles; hypokalaemia |
|
Barium chloride, dihydrate 10362-27-9 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; muscles |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Abdominal cramps, unconsciousness Redness Abdominal cramps, dullness, unconsciousness |
|||
Barium oxide 1304-28-5 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; muscles |
Lungs |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, shortness of breath, sore throat Redness Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, muscle paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, death |
||
Barium peroxide 1304-29-6 |
Skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, nausea, shortness of breath, sore throat Redness, skin burns, pain, bleaching Redness, pain, severe deep burns Abdominal pain, burning sensation, sore throat |
|||
Barium sulphate 7727-43-7 |
Lungs |
Inhalation |
Cough |
Eyes; resp sys Inh; con |
Irrit eyes, nose, upper resp sys; benign pneumoconiosis (baritosis) |
|
Cadmium 7440-43-9 |
Eyes; resp. tract; lungs |
Lungs; kidneys |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, symptoms may be delayed Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, nausea, vomiting |
Resp sys; kidneys; prostate; blood (prostatic & lung cancer) Inh; ing |
Pulm oedema, dysp, cough, tight chest, subs pain; head; chills, musc aches; nau, vomit, diarr; anos, emphy, prot, mild anaemia; (carc) |
Cadmium chloride 10108-64-2 |
Resp. tract; digestive tract; lungs |
Lungs; kidneys; bone; probably carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, symptoms may be delayed Redness Redness, pain Abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
||
Cadmium oxide 1306-19-0 |
Resp. tract; digestive tract; lungs |
Lungs; kidneys; carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, symptoms may be delayed Redness Redness, pain Abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
Resp sys; kidneys; blood; (prostatic & lung cancer) Inh |
Pulm oedema, dysp, cough, tight chest, subs pain; head; chills, musc aches; nau, vomit, diarr; anos, emphy, prot, mild anaemia; (carc) |
Cadmium sulphide 1306-23-6 |
Lungs; kidneys; carcinogenic |
|||||
Chromium 7440-47-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; kidneys |
Skin; asthma; larynx; lungs |
Eyes Ingestion |
Irritation Diarrhoea, nausea, unconsciousness, vomiting |
Resp sys; skin; eyes Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, skin; lung fib (histologic) |
Chromyl chloride 14977-61-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; corrosive on ingestion |
Skin; asthma; probably carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, sore throat Redness, skin burns, pain, blisters Redness, pain, severe deep burns Abdominal pain |
Eyes; skin; resp sys (lung cancer) Inh; abs; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, skin, upper resp sys; eye, skin burns |
Lead chromate 7758-97-6 |
Resp. tract; may cause perforation of nasal septum |
Skin; inhalation may cause asthma; lungs |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, nausea, metallic taste Skin burns, ulcers, blisters Redness Abdominal pain, constipation, convulsions, cough, diarrhoea, vomiting, weakness, anorexia |
||
Cobalt 7440-48-4 |
Skin; resp. tract; lungs; heart |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath Redness Redness Abdominal pain, vomiting |
Resp sys; skin Inh; ing; con |
Cough, dysp, wheez, decr pulm func; low-wgt; derm; diffuse nodular fib; resp hypersensitivity, asthma |
|
Cobalt chloride 7646-79-9 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin; resp. tract ; heart |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath Redness Redness Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
||
Cobalt (III) oxide 1308-04-9 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin; may cause asthma; lungs; possibly carcinogenic |
Inhalation Eyes |
Cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath Redness |
||
Cobalt naphthenate 61789-51-3 |
Eyes; resp. tract |
Skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Cough, sore throat Redness, pain Redness, pain |
||
Copper 7440-50-8 |
Eyes |
Skin; lungs |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, shortness of breath, sore throat Redness Redness, pain Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting |
Eyes; resp sys; skin; liver; kidneys (incr risk with Wilsons disease) Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, nose, pharynx; nasal perf; metallic taste; derm; in animals: lung, liver, kidney damage; anaemia |
Copper (I) oxide 1317-39-1 |
Eyes; resp. tract |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, metallic taste, metal fume fever Redness Abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
|||
Lead 7439-92-1 |
Nervous system; kidneys; may impair fertility; may cause retarded development of the newborn |
Inhalation Ingestion |
Headache, nausea, abdominal spasm Headache, nausea, sore throat, abdominal spasm |
Eyes; GI tract; CNS; kidneys; blood; gingival tissue Inh; ing; con |
Weak, lass, insom; facial pallor; pal eye, anor, low-wgt, malnut; constip, abdom pain, colic; anemia; gingival lead line; tremor; para wrist, ankles; encephalopathy; kidney disease; irrit eyes; hypotension |
|
Lead acetate 301-04-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; blood; CNS; kidneys |
Blood; bone marrow; CVS; kidneys; CNS |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Headache, chronic but not described as acute; See Ingestion Redness, pain Abdominal cramps, constipation, convulsions, headache, nausea, vomiting |
||
Tetraethyl lead 78-00-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS |
Skin; CNS; may cause genetic damage; may cause reproductive toxicity |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Convulsions, dizziness, headache, unconsciousness, vomiting, weakness May be absorbed, redness Pain, blurred vision Convulsions, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, unconsciousness, vomiting, weakness |
CNS; CVS; kidneys; eyes Inh; abs; ing; con |
Insom, lass, anxiety; tremor, hyper-reflexia, spasticity; bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, pallor, nau, anor, low-wgt; conf, disorientation, halu, psychosis, mania, convuls, coma; eye irrit |
Lead (II) oxide 1317-36-8 |
CNS; kidneys; blood |
|||||
Magnesium 7439-95-4 |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea |
||||
Magnesium chloride 7786-30-3 |
Eyes; resp. tract |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Cough Redness Diarrhoea |
|||
Magnesium oxide 1309-48-4 |
Eyes; nose |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Cough Redness Diarrhoea |
Eyes; resp sys Inh; con |
Irrit eyes, nose; metal fume fever, cough, chest pain, flu-like fever |
|
Magnesium phosphide 12057-74-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Abdominal pain, burning sensation, cough, dizziness, dullness, headache, laboured breathing, nausea, sore throat Redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, convulsions, nausea, unconsciousness, vomiting |
|||
Manganese sulphate 10034-96-5 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Lungs; CNS; liver; kidneys; testes |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing May be absorbed, redness, burning sensation Redness, pain, blurred vision Abdominal cramps, nausea, sore throat |
||
Mercury 7439-97-6 |
Eyes; skin; lungs; CNS |
CNS; nervous system; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Pulmonary irritation, cough May be absorbed Irritating |
Skin; resp sys; CNS; kidneys; eyes Inh; abs; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, skin; cough, chest pain, dysp, bron pneuitis; tremor, insom, irrity, indecision, head, ftg, weak; stomatitis, salv; GI dist, anor, low-wgt; prot |
Mercuric acetate 1600-27-7 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; kidneys |
Skin; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, sore throat, symptoms may be delayed; See Ingestion May be absorbed, skin burns, pain Pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns Abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, vomiting, metallic taste |
||
Mercuric chloride 7487-94-7 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; kidneys |
Skin; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, sore throat, symptoms may be delayed; See Ingestion May be absorbed, pain, blisters Pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns Abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, burning sensation, diarrhoea, nausea, sore throat, vomiting, metallic taste |
||
Mercuric nitrate 10045-94-0 |
Skin; resp. tract; eyes; kidneys |
Kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, sore throat May be absorbed, redness, pain Pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, metallic taste |
||
Mercuric oxide 21908-53-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin; kidneys; CNS |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough May be absorbed, redness Redness Abdominal pain, diarrhoea |
||
Mercuric sulphate 7783-35-9 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; GI tract; corrosive on ingestion |
Kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, weakness, symptoms may be delayed; See Ingestion May be absorbed, redness, burning sensation, pain Pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, metallic taste |
||
Mercurous chloride 10112-91-1 |
Eyes |
Kidneys |
Eyes Ingestion |
Redness Weakness |
||
Mercury organoalkyl compound |
Eyes; skin; CNS; PNS; kidneys Inh; abs; ing; con |
Pares; ataxia, dysarthria; vision, hearing dist; spasticity, jerking limbs; dizz; salv; lac; nau, vomit, diarr, constip; skin burns; emotional dist; kidney inj; possible terato effects |
||||
Phenylmercuric acetate 62-38-4 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; kidneys |
Skin; CNS; possibly causes toxic effects upon human reproduction |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, sore throat, symptoms may be delayed May be absorbed, redness, pain Redness, pain, blurred vision Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, weakness, symptoms of delayed effects |
||
Phenylmercuric nitrate 55-68-5 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; kidneys |
Skin; CNS; possibly causes toxic effects on human reproduction |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, laboured breathing, sore throat, symptoms may be delayed May be absorbed, redness, pain Redness, pain, blurred vision Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, symptoms of delayed effects |
||
Nickel 7440-02-0 |
Eyes; resp. tract |
Skin; inhalation may cause asthma; may effect conjuctiva; possibly carcinogenic |
Nasal cavities; lungs; skin (lung & nasal cancer) Inh; ing; con |
Sens derm, allergic asthma, pneuitis; (carc) |
||
Nickel (II) oxide 1313-99-1 |
Eyes; resp. tract |
Skin; inhalation may cause asthma; carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Cough Redness Redness |
||
Nickel carbonate 3333-67-3 |
Eyes; resp. tract |
Skin; carcinogenic; asthma |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Cough Redness Redness |
||
Nickel carbonyl 13463-39-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; CNS |
Possibly carcinogenic; may cause defects on the unborn child |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Abdominal pain, blue skin, cough, dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, symptoms may be delayed May be absorbed, redness, pain Redness, pain Abdominal pain, headache, nausea, vomiting |
Lungs; paranasal sinus; CNS; repro sys (lung & nasal cancer) Inh; abs; ing; con |
Head, verti; nau, vomit, epigastric pain; subs pain; cough, hyperpnea; cyan; weak; leucyt; pneuitis; delirium; convuls; (carc); in animals: repro, terato effects |
Nickel sulphide 12035-72-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin; possibly carcinogenic |
Inhalation |
Cough, sore throat |
||
Nickel sulphate 7786-81-4 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; GI tract; CNS |
Skin; asthma; possibly carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Eyess Ingestion |
Cough, sore throat May be absorbed, redness Redness Abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting |
||
Osmium tetroxide 20816-12-0 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, headache, wheezing, shortness of breath, visual disturbances, symptoms may be delayed Redness, skin burns, skin discoloration Blurred vision, loss of vision Burning sensation |
Eyes; resp sys; skin Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, resp sys; lac, vis dist; conj; head; cough, dysp; derm |
Platinium tetrachloride 13454-96-1 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Burning sensation, cough Redness Redness |
Eyes; skin; resp sys Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, nose; cough; dysp, wheez, cyan; derm, sens skin; lymphocytosis |
|
Hydrogen selenide 7783-07-5 |
Eyes; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin; liver; spleen; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, nausea, sore throat, weakness On contact with liquid: frostbite Redness, pain; |
Resp sys; eyes; liver Inh; con |
Irrit eyes, nose, throat; nau, vomit, diarr; metallic taste, garlic breathy; dizz, lass, ftg; liq: frostbite; in animals: pneuitis; liver damage |
Selenious acid 7783-00-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, sore throat May be absorbed, redness, pain, blisters Redness, pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns, puffy eyelids Abdominal pain, burning sensation, confusion, nausea, sore throat, weakness, low blood pressure |
||
Selenious acid, disodium salt 10102-18-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs; liver; kidneys; heart; CNS; GI tract |
teeth; bone; blood |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, hair loss, laboured breathing, nausea, vomiting, symptoms may be delayed Redness Redness |
||
Selenium 7782-49-2 |
Lungs |
Skin; resp. tract; GI tract; integuments |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Irritation of nose, cough, dizziness, headache, laboured breathing, nausea, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, symptoms may be delayed Redness, skin burns, pain, discolouration Redness, pain, blurred vision Metallic taste, diarrhoea, chills, fever |
Resp sys; eyes; skin; liver; kidneys; blood; spleen Inh; ing; con |
Irrit eyes, skin, nose, throat; vis dist; head; chills, fever, dysp, bron; metallic taste, garlic breath, GI dist; derm, eye, skin burns; in animals: anemia; liver nec, cirr; kidney, spleen damage |
Selenium dioxide 7446-08-4 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, sore throat May be absorbed, redness, pain, blisters Redness, pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns, puffy eyelids Abdominal pain, burning sensation, confusion, nausea, sore throat, weakness, low blood pressure |
||
Selenium hexafluoride 7783-79-1 |
Resp. tract; lungs |
Skin; CNS; liver; kidneys |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Corrosive, cough, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, sore throat Redness, pain, on contact with liquid: frostbite; corrosive Redness, pain, blurred vision; |
Resp sys Inh |
In animals: plum irrit, edema |
Selenium oxychloride 7791-23-3 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, sore throat Corrosive, may be absorbed, redness, pain, blisters Redness, pain, blurred vision, severe deep burns Abdominal cramps, confusion, nausea, sore throat, hypotension |
||
Selenium trioxide 13768-86-0 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Skin; lungs |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, sore throat May be absorbed, redness, pain Redness, pain, blurred vision, puffy eyelids Abdominal cramps, confusion, nausea, sore throat, weakness, low blood pressure |
||
Silver 7740-22-4 |
Eyes; nose; throat; skin |
Nasal septum; skin; eyes Inh; ing; con |
Blue-gray eyes, nasal septum, throat, skin; irrit, ulceration skin; GI dist |
|||
Silver nitrate 7761-88-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Blood; skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing Redness, skin burns, pain Redness, pain, loss of vision, severe deep burns Abdominal pain, burning sensation, weakness |
||
Strontium chromate 7789-06-2 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; kidneys; liver |
Skin; lungs; blood; liver; kidneys; brain; red and white blood cells; liver; kidneys; carcinogenic |
Inhalation Skin Ingestion |
Cough, hoarseness Redness, ulcerations Sore throat |
||
Tellurium 13494-80-9 |
Resp. tract; CNS |
Possibly causes malformations in human babies |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Drowsiness, headache, garlic odour, nausea May be absorbed Redness Abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, garlic odour of the breath |
Skin; CNS; blood Inh; ing; con |
Garlic breath, sweat; dry mouth, metallic taste; som; anor, nau, no sweat; derm; in animals: CNS, red blood cell effects |
Thallium metal 7440-28-0 |
Nervous system |
Eyes; liver; lungs; may cause birth defects |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Nausea, vomiting, loss of hair, abdominal colic, pain in legs and chest, nervousness, irritability May be absorbed May be absorbed Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of vision |
Eyes; CNS; lungs; liver; kidneys; GI tract, body hair; resp sys Inh; abs; ing; con |
Nau, diarr, abdom pain, vomit; ptosis, strabismus; peri neuritis, tremor; retster tight, chest pain, pulm edema; sez, chorea, psychosis; liver, kidney damage; alopecia; pares legs |
Thallous sulphate 7446-18-6 |
Eyes; skin; CNS; CVS; kidneys; GI tract |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
See Ingestion May be absorbed, redness; See Ingestion Redness, pain Abdominal pain, convulsions, diarrhoea, headache, vomiting, weakness, delirium, tachycardia |
|||
Di-N-Dibutyltin oxide 818-08-6 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin; PNS; liver; bile duct; lymphatic system; |
Inhalation Skin Eyes |
Headache, ringing in the ears, memory loss, disorientation May be absorbed, skin burns, pain Redness, pain |
||
Stannic chloride 7646-78-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, sore throat Redness, skin burns, blisters Severe deep burns Abdominal cramps, vomiting |
||
Stannic oxide 18282-10-5 |
Resp. tract |
Lungs |
Inhalation |
Cough |
Resp sys Inh; con |
Stannosis (benign pneumoconiosis): dysp, decr pulm func |
Stannous chloride 7772-99-8 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; blood |
Liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, shortness of breath Redness Redness, pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
||
Stannous chloride dihydrate 10025-69-1 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract; CNS; blood |
Liver |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough, shortness of breath Redness Redness pain Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting |
||
Stannous fluoride 7783-47-3 |
Skin; resp. tract; eyes |
Teeth; bone |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Cough Redness Redness, pain, severe deep burns Abdominal pain, nausea |
||
Tin oxide 21651-19-4 |
Resp. tract |
Lungs |
Inhalation |
Cough |
Resp sys Inh; con |
Stannosis (benign pneumoconiosis): dysp, decr pulm func |
Titanium dioxide 13463-67-7 |
Eyes; lungs |
Lungs |
Inhalation Eyes |
Cough Redness |
Resp sys (in animals: lung tumors) Inh |
Lung fib; (carc) |
Vanadium pentoxide 1314-62-1 |
Eyes; resp. tract; lungs |
Skin; lungs; tongue |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Burning sensation, cough, shortness of breath Redness, burning sensation Redness, pain, conjunctivitis Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, drowsiness, unconsciousness, vomiting, symptoms of severe systemic poisoning and death |
Resp sys; skin; eyes Inh; con |
Irrit eyes, skin, throat; green tongue, metallic taste, eczema; cough; fine râles, wheez, bron, dysp |
Vanadium trioxide 1314-34-7 |
Eyes; skin; resp. tract |
Resp. tract; may effect liver and cardiac function |
Inhalation Skin Eyes Ingestion |
Runny nose, sneezing, cough, diarrhoea, laboured breathing, sore throat, weakness, pain in chest, green to black tongue Dry skin, redness Redness Headache, vomiting, weakness |
||
Zinc chromate 13530-65-9 |
Skin; resp. tract |
Inhalation Eyes Ingestion |
Cough Redness Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting |
|||
Zinc phosphide 1314-84-7 |
Resp. tract; lungs; liver; kidneys; heart; CNS |
Inhalation Ingestion |
Cough, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting Abdominal pain, cough, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, laboured breathing, nausea, unconsciousness, vomiting, ataxia, fatigue |
|||
The short-term and long-term exposure data area adapted from the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) series produced by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (see notes to table 1). The abbreviations used are CNS = central nervous system; CVS = cardiovascular system; PNS = peripheral nervous system; resp. tract = respiratory tract. |
||||||
The remaining data are adapted from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NIOSH 1994). The following abbreviations are used: abdom = abdominal; abnor = abnormal/abnormalities; album = albuminuria; anes = anesthesia; anor = anorexia; anos = anosmia (loss of the sense of smell); appre = apprehension; arrhy = arrhythmias; aspir = aspiration; asphy = asphyxia; BP = blood pressure; breath = breathing; bron = bronchitis; broncopneu = bronchopneumonia; bronspas = bronchospasm; BUN = blood urea nitrogen; (carc) = potential occupational carcinogen; card = cardiac; chol = cholinesterase; cirr = cirrhosis; CNS = central nervous system; conc = concentration; conf = confusion; conj = conjunctivitis; constip = constipation; convuls = convulsions; corn = corneal; CVS = cardiovascular system; cyan = cyanosis; decr = decreased; depress = depressant/depression; derm = dermatitis; diarr = diarrhea; dist = disturbance; dizz = dizziness; drow = drowsiness; dysfunc = dysfunction; dysp = dyspnea (breathing difficulty); emphy = emphysema; eosin = eosinophilia; epilep = epileptiform; epis = epistaxis (nosebleed); equi = equilibrium; eryt = erythema (skin redness); euph = euphoria; fail = failure; fasc = fasiculation; FEV = forced expiratory volume; fib = fibrosis; fibri = fibrillation; ftg = fatigue; func = function; GI = gastrointestinal; gidd = giddiness; halu = hallucinations; head = headache; hema = hematuria (blood in the urine); hemato = hematopoietic; hemog = hemoglobinuria; hemorr = hemorrhage; hyperpig = hyperpigmentation; hypox = hypoxemia (reduced oxygen in the blood); inco = incoordination; incr = increase(d); inebri = inebriation; inflamm = inflammation; inj = injury; insom = insomnia; irreg = irregularity/irregularities; irrit = irritation; irrty = irritability; jaun = jaundice; kera = keratitis (inflammation of the cornea); lac = lacrimation (discharge of tears); lar = laryngeal; lass = lassitude (weakness, exhaustion); leth = lethargy (drowsiness or indifference); leucyt = leukocytosis (increased blood leukocytes); leupen = leukopenia (reduced blood leukocytes); li-head = lightheadedness; liq = liquid; local = localized; low-wgt = weight loss; mal = malaise (vague feeling of discomfort); malnut = malnutrition; methemo = methemoglobinemia; monocy = monocytosis (increased blood monocytes); molt = molten; muc memb = mucous membrane; musc = muscle; narco = narcosis; nau = nausea; nec = necrosis; nept = nephritis; ner = nervousness; numb = numbness; opac = opacity; palp = palpitations; para = paralysis; pares = paresthesia; perf = perforation; peri neur = peripheral neuropathy; periorb = periorbital (situated around the eye); phar = pharyngeal; photo = phtophobia (abnormal visual intolerance to); pneu = penumonia; pneuitis = pneumonitis; PNS = peripheral nervous system; polyneur = polyneuropathy; prot = proteinuria; pulm = pulmonary; RBC = red blood cell; repro = reproductive; resp = respiratory; restless = restlessness; retster = retrosternal (occurring behind the sternum); rhin = rhinorrhea (discharge of thin nasal mucus); salv = salivation; sens = sensitization; sez = seizure; short = shortness; sneez = sneezing; sol = solid; soln = solution; som = somnolence (sleepiness, unnatural drowsiness); subs = substernal (occurring beneath the sternum); sweat = sweating; swell = swelling; sys = system; tacar = tachycardia; tend = tenderness; terato = teratogenic; throb = throbbing; tight = tightness; trachbronch = tracheobronchitis; twitch = twitching; uncon = unconsciousness; vap = vapor; venfib = ventricular fibrillation; vert = vertigo (an illusion of movement); vesic = vesiculation; vis dist = viszal disturbance; vomit = vomiting; weak = weakness; wheez = wheezing. |
The reader is referred to the Guide to chemicals in Volume IV of this Encyclopaedia for additional information on the toxicity of related chemical substances and compounds. Calcium compounds and boron compounds, in particular, are to be found there. Specific information on biological monitoring is given in the chapter Biological monitoring.
" DISCLAIMER: The ILO does not take responsibility for content presented on this web portal that is presented in any language other than English, which is the language used for the initial production and peer-review of original content. Certain statistics have not been updated since the production of the 4th edition of the Encyclopaedia (1998)."