NITROGEN DIOXIDE HAZARD SUMMARY

1 Common Name: NITROGEN DIOXIDE CAS Number: 10102-44-0 DOT Number: UN 1067 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * NITROGEN DIOXIDE can affect you when breathed in. * NITROGEN DIOXIDE may cause mutations. Handle with extreme caution. * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. * Breathing NITROGEN DIOXIDE can irritate the nose and throat. * Breathing NITROGEN DIOXIDE can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath.

2 Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death. * Repeated exposure to high levels may lead to permanent lung damage. IDENTIFICATION NITROGEN DIOXIDE is a dark brown to yellowish liquid or reddish-brown gas with a strong odor.

3 It is used to produce other chemicals, as a nitrating and oxidizing agent, in bleaching flour, and in rocket fuels and explosives. REASON FOR CITATION * NITROGEN DIOXIDE is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, HHAG, NFPA and EPA. * Definitions are provided on page 5. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls.

4 The federal OSHA HAZARD Communication Standard, , requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. RTK Substance number: 1376 Date: May 1989 Revision: April 2000 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------- * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated.

5 This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 5 ppm, not to be exceeded at any time. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 1 ppm, which should not be exceeded at any time. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 3 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 5 ppm as a STEL (short term exposure limit).

6 * NITROGEN DIOXIDE may cause mutations. All contact with this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible level. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to NITROGEN DIOXIDE . * Post HAZARD and warning information in the work area.

7 In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of NITROGEN DIOXIDE to potentially exposed workers. NITROGEN DIOXIDE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a SUMMARY source of information of all potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below.

8 ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to NITROGEN DIOXIDE : * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. * Breathing NITROGEN DIOXIDE can irritate the nose and throat. * Breathing NITROGEN DIOXIDE can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.

9 * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to NITROGEN DIOXIDE and can last for months or years: Cancer HAZARD * NITROGEN DIOXIDE may cause mutations (genetic changes). * There is no evidence that NITROGEN DIOXIDE causes cancer in animals.

10 This is based on test results presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services from published studies. Reproductive HAZARD * There is limited evidence that NITROGEN DIOXIDE may damage the developing fetus and decrease fertility in females. Other Long-Term Effects * Repeated exposure to high levels may lead to permanent lung damage. MEDICAL Medical Testing Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, the following are recommended: * Lung function tests.