Essroc                 3251 Bath Pike

                 Italcementi Group       Nazareth, Pa. 18064









                                MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET







Section 1 - IDENTIFICATION

Product Name: Essroc Slag



CAS Reg. No.: 65996-69-2 (Blast Furnace Slag)



Chemical Name and Synonyms: Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Cement,

Ground Granulated Iron Blast Furnace Slag Cement, Blast Furnace Slag Cement, Iron Slag Cement,

Pig Iron Slag Cement, Water Granulated Ground Blast Furnace Slag Cement



MSDS Information: This Material Safety Data Sheet was produced in June 1998 and replaces any prior

versions.



Chemical Family: Mineral Composite; The major ingredients include (elemental analysis calculated as

oxides for most ingredients):



       CaO                       Calcium Oxide

       SiO2                      Silicon Dioxide

       MgO                       Magnesium Oxide

       Al2O3                     Aluminum Trioxide

       SO3                       Sulfur Trioxide

       Mn2O3                     Manganese Oxide

       K20                       Potassium Oxide

       Na2O                      Sodium Oxide

       TiO2                      Titanium Dioxide

       Fe2O3                     Ferrous Trioxide

       Other



Note: Components are listed as oxides for quantitative purposes. Actual oxides do not generally occur

in "free form" but rather as complexed silica-based glasses or crystals.



Formula: Not applicable



Informational Phone Numbers:            (800) 523-9238

                                        (610) 837-6725



Emergency Contact Information: (800)-424-9300 Chemtrec



MSDS Prepared By:                       Essroc MSDS Development Committee

                                        (610) 837-6725

                                        June 1998









                                            Page 1                                 July 1998

Essroc Cement Corp.

Section 2 - COMPONENTS

Hazardous Ingredients:



Calcium Oxide(CAS# 1305-78-8) - approximately 40 to 50% by weight

       ACGIH TLV-TWA (1995-1996) = 10 mg total dust/m3

       OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA) = 5 mg/m3

       LD50 = Not applicable

       LC50 = Not applicable



Quartz (CAS# 14808-60-7) - approximately 0 to 0.5% by weight

        ACGIH TLV-TWA (1995-1996) = 0.10 mg respirable quartz dust/m3

        OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA) = (10 mg of respirable dust/m3) / (percent silica + 2)

        NIOSH REL (8-hour TWA) = 0.05 mg respirable quartz dust/m3

        LD50 = ipr rat LD Lo 400 mg/kg

        LC50 = TWA 50ug/m3



Titanium Dioxide (CAS# 13463-67-7) - approximately 0 to 0.75% by weight

        ACGIH TLV-TWA (1995-1996) = 10 mg total dust/m3

        OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA) = 15 mg/m3

        NIOSH REL (8-hour TWA) = 15 mg respirable quartz dust/m3

        LD50 = NA (*)

        LC50 = NA (*)



(*) Although there are no LC50 and LD50 toxicity values, there is an irritant value for human skin of

    300 ug/3D-I mild irritation effects



Trace Elements: Slag cement is a byproduct of the manufacture of steel. Slag cement is produced

from the grinding of slag which exhibit some of the properties of portland cement. Trace amounts of

naturally occurring, potentially harmful chemicals might be detected during chemical analysis. Trace

constituents may include free magnesium oxide, potassium and sodium sulfate compounds, free

crystalline silica and total metals. A TCLP/Total Analysis for metals is available upon request.





Section 3 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION



Emergency Overview:

Slag cement is a light colored powder that poses little immediate hazard. A single short term exposure

to the dry powder is not likely to cause serious harm. However, exposure of sufficient duration to wet

slag cement can cause serious, potentially irreversible tissue (skin or eye) destruction in the form of

chemical (caustic) burns, including third degree burns. The same type of tissue destruction can occur if

wet or moist areas of the body are exposed for sufficient duration to dry slag cement.



Potential Health Effects:

Relevant Routes of Exposure:

Eye contact, skin contact, inhalation and ingestion.

Effects resulting from eye contact:

Exposure to airborne dust may cause immediate or delayed irritation or inflammation.

Eye contact by larger amounts of dry powder or splashes of wet slag cement may cause effects ranging

from moderate eye irritation to chemical burns and blindness. Such exposures require immediate first

aid (see Section 4) and medical attention to prevent significant damage to the eye.









Effects resulting from skin contact:





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Discomfort or pain cannot be relied upon to alert a person to hazardous skin exposure. Consequently,

the only effective means of avoiding skin injury or illness involves minimizing skin contact, particularly

contact with wet slag cement. Exposed persons may not feel discomfort until hours after the exposure

has ended and significant injury has occurred.



Exposure to dry slag cement may cause drying of the skin with consequent mild irritation or more

significant effects attributable to aggravation or other conditions. Dry slag cement contacting wet skin or

exposure to moist or wet slag cement may cause more severe skin effects including thickening, cracking,

or fissuring of the skin. Prolonged exposure can cause severe skin damage in the form of (caustic)

chemical burns.



Some individuals may exhibit an allergic response upon exposure to slag cement, possibly due to trace

amounts of chromium. The response may appear in a variety of forms ranging from a mild rash to

severe skin ulcers. Persons already sensitized may react to their first contact with the product. Other

persons may first experience this effect after years of contact with Slag Cement.



Effects resulting from inhalation:



Slag cement may contain trace amounts of free crystalline silica and titanium dioxide. Prolonged

exposure to airborne free crystalline silica and/or titanium dioxide may cause delayed lung injury

including silicosis, a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease, and/or other diseases. (also see

"Carcinogenic potential" below.) It may also aggravate other lung conditions. Exposure to slag cement

may cause irritation to the moist mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory system.

It may also leave unpleasant deposits in the nose.



Effects resulting from ingestion:



Slag cement should not be eaten. Although ingestion of small quantities of slag cement are not known to

be harmful, ill effects are possible especially if larger quantities are consumed.



Carcinogenic potential:



Slag cement is not listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research (IARC), National

Toxicology Program (NTP), or the Occupational, Safety, and Health Administration (OSHA). However, it

contains slight quantities of titanium dioxide in complexes with calcium oxides. Free titanium dioxide

has been classified by the IARC as having "limited evidence of carcinogenicity" in laboratory animals.



Crystalline silica, a potential trace level contaminant in slag cement, is now classified by IARC as a

known human carcinogen (Group 1). The NTP has characterized respirable silica a "reasonably

anticipated to be a carcinogen".



Medical conditions which may be aggravated by inhalation or dermal exposure:



Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases.

Unusual (hyper) sensitivity to hexavalent chromium (chromium+6) salts.





Section 4 - FIRST AID



Eyes: Immediate flush eyes thoroughly with water. Continue flushing eye for at least 15 minutes

including under lids, to remove all particles. Call physician immediately.



Skin: Remove all contaminated clothing. Wash skin with cool water and pH-neutral soap or a mild

detergent intended for use on skin. Seek medical treatment in all cases of prolonged exposure to wet

slag cement, slag cement mixtures, liquids from fresh cement products, or prolonged wet skin exposure

to dry slag cement.









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Inhalation of Airborne Dust: Remove personnel from contaminated area to fresh air. Restore/support

breathing if required. Administer oxygen if necessary to support respiration. Seek medical help if

coughing and other symptoms do not subside. ("Inhalation" of gross amounts of slag cement requires

immediate medical attention.)



Ingestion: Rinse mouth immediately. Do not induce vomiting. If conscious, have the victim drink

plenty of water and call a physician immediately.



Section 5 - FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA



Flash Point...........................................None

Lower Explosive Limit..........................None

Upper Explosive Limit..........................None

Auto ignition temperature.................... Not combustible

Extinguishing media.............................Not combustible

Hazardous combustion products...........None

Unusual fire and explosion hazards......None

Special fire fighting procedures........... None*

*Although slag cement poses no fire-related hazards, a self-contained breathing apparatus is

recommended to limit exposure to combustion products when fighting any fire.





Section 6 - ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES



Carefully scoop or vacuum using an appropriate filter into a suitable container for reclamation or

disposal. Avoid actions that cause dust to become airborne. Ventilate the affected area. Avoid

inhalation of dust and contact with skin. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment as described in

Section 8.



Scrape up wet material and place in appropriate container. Allow the material to "dry" before disposal.

Do not attempt to wash slag cement down drains.



Dispose of waste material according to local, state, and federal regulations.





Section 7 - HANDLING AND STORAGE



This material should be stored in a dry area to prevent clumping of the product. Store it away from

incompatible materials. Protect containers from physical damage. Normal temperatures and pressures

do not affect the material. Promptly remove dusty clothing or clothing which is wet with cement fluids

and launder before reuse. Wash thoroughly after exposure to dust or wet cement mixtures or fluids.

Good housekeeping should be maintained to minimize the accumulation of dust.





Section 8 - EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION



Skin protection: Prevention is essential to avoid potentially severe skin injury. Avoid contact with

unhardened (wet) slag cement products. If contact occurs, promptly wash affected area with soap and

water. Where prolonged exposure to unhardened slag cement products might occur, wear impervious

clothing and gloves to eliminate skin contact. Leather or cloth gloves should be used when handling the

dry material. Rubberized or other water repellent glove should be used when handling wet material.

Where required, wear boots that are impervious to water to eliminate foot and ankle exposure.



Do not rely on barrier creams; barrier creams should not be used in place of gloves.



Periodically wash areas contacted by dry or wet slag cement by wet cement or concrete fluids with a pH

neutral soap. Wash again at the end of the work. If irritation occurs, immediately wash the affected area







Essroc Cement Corp.                          Page 4                                    July 1998

and seek treatment. If clothing becomes saturated with wet concrete, it should be removed and replaced

with clean dry clothing.



Respiratory protection: Avoid actions that cause dust to become airborne. Use local or general

ventilation to control exposures below applicable exposure limits.



Use NIOSH/MSHA-approved (under 30 CFR 11) or NIOSH-approved (under 42 CFR 84) respirators in

poorly ventilated areas, if an applicable exposure limit is exceeded, or when dust causes discomfort or

irritation. (Advisory: Respirators and filters purchased after July 10, 1998, must be certified under 42

CFR 84)



Ventilation: Use local exhaust and/or general dilution ventilation to control exposure within applicable

limits.



Eye protection: When engaged in activities where slag cement or wet slag cement or concrete could

contact the eye, wear safety glasses with side shields or goggles. In extremely dusty environments and

unpredictable environments, wear unvented or indirectly vented goggles to avoid eye irritation or injury.

Contact lenses should not be worn when working with wet slag cement or fresh slag cement products.



Section 9 - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES



Appearance............................................ .Light/gray/tan/white powder (very fine) solid

Odor........................................................ Slight sulfur odor

Physical state.......................................... Solid (powder)

pH (as per EPA 9045 procedure)............. 12.0 to 13.2

Solubility in water.................................... Slightly soluble

Vapor pressure........................................ Not applicable

Vapor density.......................................... Not applicable

Boiling point............................................ Not applicable

Melting point........................................... 1300 - 1350 Deg. C

Specific gravity (H2O = 1.0).................... 2.7 - 3.1

Evaporation Rate.................................... Not applicable

Freezing Point......................................... Not applicable

Coefficient of oil to water distribution....... Not applicable





Section 10 - STABILITY AND REACTIVITY



Stability: Stable

Conditions to avoid: This product is stable at all temperatures. Product should be kept in dry storage

prior to use to avoid the normal hydrolysis/solidification process. Unintentional contact with water.



Incompatibility: Wet slag cement is alkaline. As such it is incompatible with acids, ammonium salts

and aluminum metal.



Hazardous decomposition: Will not spontaneously occur. However, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) may be

released when product is exposed directly to some organic or inorganic acids in a low pH environment

(pH < 5). H2S is a hazardous, toxic and poisonous gas. Finally, adding water results in hydration and

produces (caustic) calcium hydroxide.



Hazardous polymerization: Will not occur.









Section 11 - TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION







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        Route of Entry.............................................Section 3

        Effects of acute exposure to product............Section 3

        Effects of chronic exposure to product.........Section 3

        Exposure Limits...........................................Section 2

        Irritancy of product.......................................Section 3

        Sensitization to product................................Section 3

        Carcinogenicity............................................Section 3

        Reproductive Toxicity..................................Not Applicable

        Teratogenicity..............................................Not Applicable

        Mutagenicity................................................Not Applicable

        Toxicologically synergistic products.............Section 3, Section 16



For a description of available, more detailed toxicological information, call one of the informational

phone numbers listed at the end of Section 1.





Section 12 - ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION



Ecotoxicity: No recognized unusual toxicity to plants or animals.



Relevant physical and chemical properties: See sections 9 and 10.



Section 13 - DISPOSAL



Dispose of waste material according to local, state, and federal regulations. (Since slag cement is

stable, uncontaminated material may be saved for future use.) Waste slag cement when contacted with

water will solidify and can be disposed as demolition debris in a landfill. However, if waste slag cement

is contaminated with foreign substances, this waste must be evaluated for Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA) characteristics to determined if it must be managed as a hazardous waste.



Dispose of bags in an approved landfill or incinerator.





Section 14 - TRANSPORTATION DATA



Hazardous materials description/proper shipping name: Slag cement is not hazardous under US

Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.



Hazard class: Not applicable.



Identification number: Not applicable



Required label text: Not applicable.



Hazardous substances/reportable quantities (RQ): Not applicable









Section 15 - OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION



Status under USDOL-OSHA Hazard Communication Rule, 29 CFR 1910.1200: Slag cement is

considered a "hazardous chemical" under this regulation, and should be part of any hazard

communication program.







Essroc Cement Corp.                              Page 6                                 July 1998

Status under CERCLA/Superfund, 40 CFR 117 and 302: Not Listed



Hazard Categories under SARA TITLE III, Sections 311- 312: Slag cement qualifies as a "hazard

substance" under the following hazard categories:



                Immediate (Acute) Health Hazard

                Delayed (Chronic) Health Hazard



Status under SARA Title III, Section 313: This product contains NONE of the substances subject to

the reporting requirements of Section 313 of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization

Act of 1986 and 40 CFR Part 372 in concentrations above deminimis levels.



Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA): All components of this products are on the TSCA inventory.



Status under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act: Slag cement is a "hazardous substance"

subject to statutes promulgated under the subject act.



Status under Canadian Environmental Protection Act: Not listed.



Status under WHMIS: Slag cement is considered to be a hazardous material under the Hazardous

Products Act as defined by the Controlled Products Regulations (Class E - Corrosive material) and is

therefore subject to the labeling and MSDS requirements of the Workplace Hazardous Materials

Information System (WHMIS).





SECTION 16 - OTHER INFORMATION



Abbreviations:

ACGIH          American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists

ASTM           American Society of Testing Materials

CAS            Chemical Abstract Service

CFR            Code of Federal Regulations

DOT            Department of Transportation

IARC           International Agency for Research

m3             cubic meter

mg             Milligram

mm             millimeter

MSDS           Material Safety Data Sheet

MSHA           Mine Safety and Health Administration

NIOSH          National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NTP            National Toxicity Program

OSHA           Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PEL            Permissible Exposure Limit

RCRA           Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RQ             Reportable Quantity

SARA           Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

TLV            Threshold Limit Value

TWA            Time Weighted Average

URT            Upper Respiratory Tract

WHMIS          Workplace Hazardous Material Information System



Other important information:

Slag cement should only be used by knowledgeable persons. A key to using the product safely requires

the user to recognize that slag cement chemically reacts with water, and that some of the intermediate

products of this reaction (that is, those present while slag cement is "setting") pose a far more severe

hazard than does slag cement itself.









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While the information provided in this material safety data sheet is believed to provide a useful summary

of the hazards of slag cement as it is commonly used, the sheet cannot anticipate and provide all of the

information that might be needed in every situation. Inexperienced product users should obtain proper

training before using this product.



In particular, the data furnished in this sheet do not address hazards that may be posed by other

materials mixed with slag cement to produce slag cement dust products. Users should review other

relevant material safety data sheets before working with this slag cement or working on slag cement

products, for example portland cement.



SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE PRODUCT OR

THE MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS THEREOF FOR ANY PURPOSE OR CONCERNING THE

ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ESSROC CEMENT CORP., except that the

product shall conform to contracted specifications. The information provided herein was believed by

Essroc Cement Corp. to be accurate at the time of preparation or prepared from sources believed to be

reliable, but it is the responsibility of the user to investigate and understand other pertinent sources of

information to comply with all laws and procedures applicable to the safe handling and use of the product

and to determine the suitability of the product for its intended use. Buyer's exclusive remedy shall be for

damages and no claim of any kind, whether as to product delivered or for non-delivery of product, and

whether based on contract, breach or warranty, negligence, or otherwise shall be greater in amount than

the purchase price of the quantity of product in respect of which damages are claimed. In no event

Seller be liable for incidental or consequential damages, whether Buyer's claim is based on contract,

breach of warranty, negligence or otherwise.









Essroc Cement Corp.                          Page 8                                     July 1998