IB-106-340
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SECTION V. HEALTH HAZARD DATA
THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(See Section III)
EFFECTS OF OVER EXPOSURE
EYE
Avoid contact with eyes. Slightly to moderately irritating. Abrasive action may cause damage to
outer surface of eye.
INHALATION
May cause respiratory tract irritation. Repeated or prolonged breathing of particles of respirable size
may cause inflammation of the lung leading to chest pain, difficult breathing, coughing and possible
fibrotic change in the lung (Pneumoconiosis). Pre-existing medical conditions may be aggravated by
exposure: specifically, bronchial hyper-reactivity and chronic bronchial or lung disease.
INGESTION
May cause gastrointestinal disturbances. Symptoms may include irritation and nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea.
SKIN
Slightly to moderate irritating. May cause irritation and inflammation due to mechanical reaction to
sharp, broken ends of fibers.
EXPOSURE TO USED CERAMIC FIBER PRODUCT
Product which has been in service at elevated temperatures (greater than 1800ºF/982ºC) may undergo
partial conversion to cristobalite, a form of crystalline silica which can cause severe respiratory
disease (Pneumoconiosis). The amount of cristobalite present will depend on the temperature and
length of time in service. (See Section IX for permissible exposure levels).
SPECIAL TOXIC EFFECTS
The existing toxicology and epidemiology data bases for RCF’s are still preliminary. Information will
be updated as studies are completed and reviewed. The following is a review of the results to date:
EPIDEMIOLOGY
At this time there are no known published reports demonstrating negative health outcomes of workers
exposed to refractory ceramic fiber (RCF). Epidemiologic investigations of RCF production workers
are ongoing.
1) There is no evidence of any fibrotic lung disease (interstitial fibrosis) whatsoever on x-ray.
2) There is no evidence of any lung disease among those employees exposed to RCF that had never
smoked.
3) A statistical “trend” was observed in the exposed population between the duration of exposure to
RCF and a decrease in some measures of pulmonary function. These observations are clinically
insignificant. In other words, if these observations were made on an individual employee, the
results would be interpreted as being within the normal range.
Summary of Contents for Oxymitter 4000
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