Tower Underflow Solids
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Tower Underflow Solids Sample
Vale Inco Limited
200 Bay Street, Royal Bank Plaza
Suite 1600, South Tower, P.O. Box 70
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2K2
Chemtrec 24 hr Emergency No. 1-800-424-9300
Material Use: Recovery of metal values
Class D1: Poisonous and Infectious Material
WHMIS Class:
Safety Class E: Corrosive Material
HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS
Data This material is registered on the Canadian Domestic Substance List as CAS #124222-18-0 "Residues,
precious metals-refining".
1,2 3
Hazardous Ingredients C.A.S. No. Oral LD50-rat TLV -mg/m
% DRY WT.
Sheet 3
1.0 mg/m (dust)
Copper Sulphate (CuSO4) 40 ?50 7758-98-7 300 mg/kg 3
0.2 mg/m (fume)
3
Copper Telluride (Cu2Te) 20 - 25 12019-23-7 N/A 0.1 mg/m (as Te)
3
Copper Selenide (Cu2Se) 8 - 10 20405-64-5 N/A 0.2 mg/m (as Se)
3
N/A
Bismuth Arsenate (BiAsO4) 5? 13702-38-0 0.01 mg/m (as As)
Tin Arsenate 3
N/A
4-6 N/A 0.01 mg/m (as As)
(SnAsO4(OH))
3
Nickel Sulphate (NiSO4) 3? 7786-81-4 0.5 g/kg 0.1 mg/m (as Ni)*
3
Cobalt Sulphate (CoSO4) 2? 10026-24-1 582 mg/kg 0.02 mg/m (as Co)
3
Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) 1? 7664-93-9 2140 mg/kg 0.2 mg/m **
3
Iron Sulphate (FeSO4) 1-3 7720-78-7 319 mg/kg 1 mg/m (as Fe)
3
Silver Telluride (Ag2Te) 1? 12002-99-2 N/A 0.1 mg/m (as Te)
3
1.0 mg/m (dust)
Copper (Cu) 1-2 7440-50-8 N/A 3
0.2 mg/m (fume)
3
Lead Sulphate (PbSO4) 0.5 7446-14-2 282 mg/kg 0.05 mg/m (as Pb)
*Inhalable fraction
** Thoracic fraction
PHYSICAL DATA
Dark blue/black odourless slurry; 35-40 % moisture.
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mp 癈 bp 癈
Ingredient Mol. wt. Sol. in H2O g/100ml
CuSO4 159.6 N/A N/A 14 cold / 75 hot
Vale Cu2Te 254.98 N/A N/A N/A
Inco Cu2Se 206.05 1103 N/A Insoluble
BiAsO4 347.9 N/A N/A N/A
SnAsO4(OH) 274.64 N/A N/A N/A
NiSO4 154.16 N/A N/A 29.3 cold / 87.3 hot
CoSO4 281.10 96.8 735 60.4 cold
H2SO4 98.08 10.49 276 Infinite
Material FeSO4 242.135 64 90 Soluble
Ag2Te 341.34 955 N/A N/A
Safety Cu 63.54 1083 2567 Insoluble
PbSO4 Soluble
303.25 1170 N/A
Data
Density N/A
Specific gravity (H2O = 1)
Sheet Vapor pressure (mm mercury) N/A
Vapor density (air = 1) N/A
Percent volatiles by volume N/A
Evaporation rate N/A
Coefficient of water/oil distribution N/A
Odor threshold (ppm) odourless
Corrosiveness (to common metals) highly corrosive
pH <0.5
FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD
Conditions of flammability: Mixture is not flammable
Flash point: N/A
Flammable limits(%): lower: N/A
upper: N/A
Auto ignition temperature: N/A
Extinguishing media: use water on combustibles burning in vicinity of this material.
Special fire fighting
procedures: N/A
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Hazardous combustion
products (exposure limit): N/A
Vale Fire and explosion hazards: N/A
Inco
REACTIVITY DATA
Stability: Stable
Hazardous polymerization: Will not occur
Incompatibility: Avoid contact with strong alkalis, strong oxidizers
Conditions of reactivity: N/A
Material Conditions to avoid: N/A
Volatile products given off at room temperature (exposure limit): None/atmosphere
3
Safety Hazardous decomposition products - thermal and others (exposure limit): SOx fume (5 mg/m SO2), H2
(simple asphyxiants), CuO (0.2 mg/m3 (fume))
Specific information on incompatibility of this material is not available; however sulphates are generally
Data incompatible with aluminium & magnesium. H2SO4 attacks many metals releasing hydrogen, which may
form an explosive.
TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES3
S heet Copper Sulphate
Acute toxicity: Poisonings resulting from the ingestion of excessive quantities of copper
sulphate may produce death. The symptoms are vomiting of blue-green fluid
and blood (hematemesis), high arterial blood pressure (hypertension), dark
stools (melena), coma and jaundice.
Exposure to aerosols of copper sulphate can result in temporary inflammation
and pus (purulence) in the eye, eventually inducing a discoloration of the eye.
Very low concentrations of copper sulphate affect the pre-corneal tear film
without injuring the cornea nor appearing to cause discomfort.
Chronic Toxicity: Chronic exposure to dusts of mixed copper salts, basic copper nitrate and
sulphate, copper silicate and copper oxide has been reported to result in
inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose (rhinitis), metallic taste,
runny nose and irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and eyes. A
few instances of allergic contract dermatitis have been reported, as has liver
disease in vineyard workers using bordeaux mixture (essentially a mixture of
basic copper sulphates).
Copper
Copper metal dust, mist and fume may be irritating to the respiratory tract in user operations where
copper fume is generated. Inhalation can result in symptoms of metal fume fever such as chills fever
and sweating. A few instances of allergic skin rashes have been reported in workers exposed in
metallic copper. As molten blister copper the primary hazard is severe burns.
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Copper metal as a foreign body in the eye can produce an inflammatory reaction resulting in pus
formation in the conjunctiva, cornea or sclera. The lowest observed toxic oral dose of copper is 120
micrograms/kg in humans; this dose caused gastrointestinal effects.
Vale Wilson's disease can occur in certain individuals with a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized
by retention of excessive amounts of copper in the liver, brain, kidneys and corneas. These deposits
Inco eventually lead to tissue necrosis and fibrosis, causing a variety of clinical effects, especially liver (i.e.
hepatic) disease and neurological changes. Wilson's disease is progressive and, if untreated, leads to
fatal liver failure.
Selenium
Some selenium compounds are highly toxic but elemental selenium is relatively inert. Contact of
metallic selenium with the skin is likely to cause irritation or rash. The acidic nature of selenium cake
causes skin and eye irritation. Chronic exposures by inhalation of small amounts of selenium metal
may result in upper respiratory tract irritation, metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and a garlic
aroma to the breath and sweat. Severe irritation of the respiratory tract can lead to pulmonary
edema, bronchitis and pneumonia. Industrial exposure to selenium most often occurs when selenium
Material is heated to form selenium oxide. Industrial exposure to hydrogen selenide can occur when metal
selenides react with acid or water.
Copper Telluride
Safety Soluble tellurium can be absorbed through the skin, as well as inhaled or ingested as a fume.
Exposure can produce mild gastrointestinal distress, garlic odor of the breath, dryness of the mouth,
metallic taste, and drowsiness. Specific information regarding toxicology of copper telluride species
is not available in the literature.
Data
Tellurium
Soluble tellurium compounds can be absorbed through the skin, as well as inhaled or ingested as a
fume. Exposure can produce mild gastrointestinal distress, garlic odor of the breath, dryness of the
Sheet mouth, metallic taste and drowsiness.
Bismuth Arsenate
There was no specific information in the literature regarding bismuth arsenate. See Bismuth below.
Bismuth
Bismuth and its salts can cause kidney damage, although the degree of such damage is usually mild.
Large doses can be fatal. Industrially, it is considered one of the less toxic of the heavy metals. Industrial
bismuth poisoning has not been reported, although bismuth absorbed in industrial cases may
complicate a diagnosis of plumbism, since the dark line in the gums, which is often present in lead
poisoning, is also produced by bismuth.
All bismuth compounds do not have equal toxicity. Intoxication has occurred from its use in medicine.
The administration of bismuth for medical purposes may result in gingivitis, serious ulcerative stomatitis,
malaise, albuminuria, diarrhea, skin reactions and sometimes-serious exodermatitis.
Tin
Elemental tin is not considered toxic. In normal intake of inorganic tin, absorption from the alimentary
tract is poor; only small amounts of tin from metallic tin or its inorganic salts pass into the tissues.
Arsenic compounds
Arsenic compounds can be absorbed by inhalation or ingestion. Acute arsenic poisoning can be fatal.
Fatal poisoning begins with symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting, usually within an hour of
ingestion.
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In some cases, dermatitis and peripheral neuritis follow recovery from acute symptoms. Acute dermatitis
starts with erythema associated with burning and itching, giving the skin a mottled appearance. If the
dermatitis is on the face, swelling may occur followed by eruptions of the skin.
Vale The international agency for research on cancer (IARC) concluded that there was sufficient evidence
Inco that arsenic and arsenic compounds, as a group but not necessarily as individual chemicals, were
carcinogenic to humans. An association between exposure to arsenic through contaminated drinking
water and cancer has been observed and confirmed. Two cases of bladder cancer were also confirmed.
U.S. smelter workers exposed to inorganic arsenic have been shown to have significant and consistent
increases in lung cancer.
Chronic skin lesions caused by exposure to arsenic compounds are characterized by cracking,
thickening and drying of the skin, warts and excessive sweating. Dermatitis of the face and eyelids can
be accompanied by conjunctivitis with redness, swelling and pain.
Nickel Sulphate
M Inhalation: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1990 and the U.S. Tenth
aterial
Report on Carcinogens in 2002 concluded there was sufficient evidence that nickel
compounds are carcinogenic to humans. Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment
(TERA) finds that carcinogenic risk from soluble nickel compounds via inhalation cannot
Safety be determined (Class D) because the existing evidence is composed of conflicting data.
Epidemiological studies of Norwegian nickel refinery workers showed than an increased
risk of respiratory cancer was present in electrolysis plant workers. These workers had
Data mixed exposure to aerosols of nickel sulphate and nickel chloride and to insoluble forms of
nickel. Electrolysis plant workers in an Ontario refinery similarly exposed to nickel sulphate
and nickel chloride aerosols, but not the dust from matte roasting operations did not show
any increased incidence of respiratory cancer.
Sheet Exposure to aerosols of nickel sulphate can cause asthma and irritation of the upper
respiratory tract. Repeated intraperitoneal injections (50 x 1 mg Ni) of nickel sulphate in
rats produced abdominal tumours.
Skin Contact: Exposure to aerosols and solutions of nickel sulphate can cause skin irritation, nickel
sensitivity and allergic skin rashes.
Eye Contact: May cause irritation.
Wounds: Neither single nor repeated intramuscular injections of nickel sulphate have resulted in the
development of tumours in rodents.
Ingestion: The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) concluded there is
no evidence that nickel and its inorganic compounds are carcinogenic when ingested.
Pre-existing
Conditions: Skin contact can cause an allergic skin rash and/or asthma in previously sensitized
individuals.
Reproductive
Toxicity: Animal experiments indicate that soluble nickel ingestion causes adverse effects on fetal
development at a threshold oral exposure of 2.2 mg/Ni/kg/day by pregnant rats. Data are
insufficient to determine if this effect occurs in humans and no regulatory agency has
classified soluble forms of nickel as reproductive risks for humans.
Cobalt Sulphate
A literature search found no toxicological information for cobalt sulphate heptahydrate. Toxicology is expected
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to be similar to cobalt oxide.
Cobalt Oxide
Vale Oral LD50 >5000 mg/kg
Inco Inhalation: Some workers engaged long-term in the production of cobalt oxides showed symptoms of
chronic bronchitis. Inhalation experiments show that cobalt oxide accumulated in the lymph
nodes of dogs suggesting it is tissue insoluble.
Sulphuric Acid
Inhalation: Causes severe irritation of the respiratory tract. It may cause increased pulmonary
resistance, transient cough and broncho-constriction. Severe overexposure may result in
lung collapse and pulmonary edema, which can be fatal. Prolonged or repeated exposure
may result in impaired lung function or discoloration and erosion of teeth.
Skin Contact: Corrosive and may cause severe burns. Prolonged or repeated exposure to dilute
solutions may cause irritation and dermatitis.
Material Eye Contact: May result in severe damage causing burns or blindness.
Ingestion: May cause severe pain, ulceration and scarring of the digestive tract. Sulphuric acid mist
S inhalation studies with normal human subjects have shown that concentrations below 1
afety 3 3
mg/m could not be detected by odor, taste or irritation. A concentration of 3 mg/m was
3 3
noticed by all; for 2 individuals 1 mg/m was the threshold and 5 mg/m was very
objectionable to some but less so then others. A deep breath at the latter concentrations
Data usually produced coughing (ACGIH).
If the material is present as a mist in the workroom atmosphere the following information is
provided to assist operations in the selection of controls to minimize worker exposures. The
Sheet international agency for research on cancer (IARC) classified strong inorganic acid mists
containing sulphuric as carcinogenic to humans. This classification is for mists only and
does not apply to sulphuric acid or sulphuric acid solutions.
Lead Sulphate
Lead sulfate is toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. It is a cumulative poison, and repeated exposure
may lead to anemia, kidney damage, eyesight damage or damage to the central nervous system (especially in
children). Some lead salts may cause reproductive defects and cardiovascular disturbances. It is also corrosive -
contact with the eyes can lead to severe irritation or burns.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that this chemical is probably
carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has designated this chemical as an animal carcinogen (A3). The US National Toxicology Program (NTP) has
listed this chemical as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Procedure when
spilled/released: Prevent spread of spill. Flush with water. Dike with inert material (sand, earth, etc.)
flush with water into recovery sumps for recycling and reclaiming of values.
Environmental effects: Harmful to aquatic life in low concentrations if it enters water intakes.
Waste disposal method: Waste and spills are recycled to recover values. Disposal does not occur.
Engineering controls: Use with adequate ventilation under normal conditions general area ventilation is
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adequate. Personal Protection Equipment.
Eye: Safety glasses. Chemical safety goggles
Vale
Hand (glove type): Polyvinyl chloride. Natural rubber
Inco
Respirator type: Under normal circumstances respiratory protection is not required.
Departmental standards may be consulted under any other circumstances.
Other protective
equipment: Wear rubber boots and acid-proof clothing when working in areas where
puddles or spills may occur. Wear full protective equipment in accordance with
local safety regulations.
FIRST AID MEASURES
Skin contact: Wash with soap and water. Can burn if splashes are not washed off promptly. For
Material skin splashes or irritation, flush immediately. use safety showers for large spills on
skin or clothing.
Eye contact: Immediately flush with water for 15 minutes, get immediate medical attention. Can
Safety cause severe burns. Use eyewash fountains provided to flush eyes. Hold eyelids
open while flushing with water.
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air for respiratory tract irritation. If symptoms persist, seek medical
Data attention.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Get immediate medical attention.
Sheet PREPARATION INFORMATION
Vale Inco Ltd: 200 Bay St., Royal Bank Plaza
Suite 1600, South Tower, PO Box 70
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2K2
Product Stewardship (416) 361-7801
MSDS available online at www.valeinco.com
msds@valeinco.com
Note:
Vale Inco believes that the information in this Material Safety Data Sheet is accurate. However, Vale Inco
makes no express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of such information and expressly disclaims
any liability resulting from reliance on such information.
Footnotes:
? Trademark of the Vale Inco family of companies.
1 Threshold Limit Value of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
2 Exposure Limits for user operations will depend on the relevant governmental regulations.
3 Describes possible health hazards of the product supplied. If user operations change it to other chemical forms,
whether as end products, intermediates or fugitive emissions, the possible health hazards of such forms must be
determined by the user.
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