Common Name: Barium Azide
CAS Number: 18810-58-7
DOT Number: UN 1571/UN 0224
Date: August 1, 1987
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HAZARD SUMMARY
* Barium Azide can affect you when breathed in.
* Overexposure can cause a drop in blood pressure, with
dizziness, blurred vision, headaches and even passing out.
* Some Barium compounds are contaminated with Silica, which can
scar the lungs.
* Repeated exposure to the dust can cause spots on chest x-ray
without lung scarring. Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat
and air passages can also occur, with cough.
IDENTIFICATION
Barium Azide is a crystalline (sugar or sand-like) solid which can
be used or transported in solution. It is used in explosives.
REASON FOR CITATION
* Barium Azide is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is
regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH and DOT.
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED
* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely
evaluated. 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 1910.20.
* 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.
WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
* These exposure limits are recommended for soluble Barium
compounds and measured as Barium.
OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is
0.5 mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.5 mg/m3
averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
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 at the end of the work-shift.
* Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort,
communicate all information on the health and safety hazards
of Barium Azide to potentially exposed workers.
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.
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HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Acute Health Effects
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
immediately or shortly after exposure to Barium Azide:
* Overexposure can cause a drop in blood pressure, weakness,
headaches, faintness and even passing out.
* Exposure may also irritate the eyes, nose, throat and air
passages.
* Since Barium Azide explodes easily, severe injury could occur.
Chronic Health Effects
The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some
time after exposure to Barium Azide and can last for months or
years:
Cancer Hazard
* According to the information presently available to the New
Jersey Department of Health, Barium Azide has not been tested
for its ability to cause cancer in animals.
Reproductive Hazard
* According to the information presently available to the New
Jersey Department of Health, Barium Azide has not been tested
for its ability to adversely affect reproduction.
Other Long-Term Effects
* Repeated exposure to Azide chemicals may cause damage to the
nerves of the arms and legs and loss of vision.
* Repeated exposure to Barium chemicals can cause an appearance
of spots on the chest x-ray. This usually takes 1 to 2 years
to develop and can remain for years after exposure stops.
Damage to lung function is not believed to occur although
chronic cough from dust or mist irritation could affect lung
function.
MEDICAL
Medical Testing
If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may
be useful:
* Exam of the nervous system.
Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present
symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already
done are not a substitute for controlling exposure.
Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to
this information under OSHA 1910.20.
* Industrial grade Barium compounds may be contaminated with
Silica. Silica can cause gradual lung scarring which may
resemble Barium spots on chest x-ray but Silica scarring
reduces breathing capacity. Find out whether your Barium Azide
contains Silica.
* Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung
cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may
worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure.
Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will
reduce your risk of developing health problems.
WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of
reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations
and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical
release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using
respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the
controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary.
In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1)
how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is
released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye
contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly
toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing
exposures are possible.
Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The
following work practices are recommended:
* Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Barium Azide
should change into clean clothing promptly.
* Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals
who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Barium
Azide.
* Wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Barium
Azide at the end of each workday, whether or not known skin
contact has occurred.
* Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Barium Azide is handled,
processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed.
Wash hands carefully before eating or smoking.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
However, for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry,
jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace
controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be
appropriate.
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply
to every situation.
Clothing
* Avoid skin contact with Barium Azide. Wear protective gloves
and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can
provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing
material for your operation.
* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear)
should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.
Eye Protection
* Wear dust-proof goggles when working with powders or dust,
unless full face-piece respiratory protection is worn.
* Wear splash-proof chemical goggles when working with liquid,
unless full face-piece respiratory protection is worn.
Respiratory Protection
* IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment
should only be used if the employer has a written program that
takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for
worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as
described in OSHA 1910.134.
* Where the potential exists for exposures over 0.5 mg/m3, use
a MSHA/NIOSH approved respirator equipped with particulate
(dust/fume/mist) filters. Particulate filters must be checked
every day before work for physical damage, such as rips or
tears, and replaced as needed.
* If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator,
you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect Barium Azide, or in
the case of a full facepiece respirator you experience eye
irritation, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure the
respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, replace the
filter, cartridge, or canister. If the seal is no longer good,
you may need a new respirator.
* Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace.
You may need a combination of filters, prefilters, cartridges,
or canisters to protect against different forms of a chemical
(such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals.
* Where the potential for high exposures exists, use a
MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full face-
piece operated in the positive pressure mode or with a full
facepiece, hood, or helmet in the continuous flow mode.
* Exposure to 250 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and
health. If the possibility of exposures above 250 mg/m3
exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing
apparatus with a full facepiece operated in continuous flow or
other positive pressure mode.
Common Name: Barium Azide
DOT Number: UN 1571/UN 0224
DOT Emergency Guide code: 36
CAS Number: 18810-58-7
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NJ DOH Hazard rating
FLAMMABILITY Not Found
REACTIVITY Not Found
----------------------------------------
EXPLOSIVE SOLID
POISONOUS GAS IS PRODUCED IN FIRE
CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE
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Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious;
4=severe
FIRE HAZARDS
* Barium Azide will explode when heated or when shocked.
* If fire or explosion occurs, evacuate the area. Fight the fire
from an explosion-resistant location.
* POISONOUS GAS IS PRODUCED IN FIRE.
* CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained
and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.
SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES
If Barium Azide is spilled or leaked, take the following steps:
* Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of
spill or leak until clean-up is complete.
* Remove all ignition sources.
* Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe
manner and deposit in sealed containers.
* Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar
material and deposit in sealed containers.
* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Barium Azide as
a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the
federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific
recommendations.
==========================================
FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department.
==========================================
HANDLING AND STORAGE
* Prior to working with Barium Azide you should be trained on
its proper handling and storage.
FIRST AID
Eye Contact
* Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15
minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids.
Skin Contact
* Remove contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated skin with
water.
Breathing
* Remove the person from exposure.
* Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped.
* Transfer promptly to a medical facility. If weakness or
fainting are present, lay the person down flat with feet
elevated.
PHYSICAL DATA
Water Solubility: Soluble
OTHER COMMONLY USED NAME
Chemical Name:
Barium Azide [Ba(N3)2]
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Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes.
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NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Right to Know Program
CN 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
(609) 984-2202
------------------------------------------
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ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Barium is a yellowish-white solid which exists in a variety of salt
forms. Barium and its salts have a wide variety of applications,
including uses in nuclear reactors, electronic tubes, as additives
in lubricating oils, in the manufacture of pyrotechnics and
explosives, in tanning and finishing leathers, as a mordant for
fabrics and dyes, in electroplating, aluminum refining, and rubber
manufacture; and in the production of paints and enamels. Barium
may enter the environment from industrial and municipal waste
treatment plant discharges, or spills.
ACUTE (SHORT-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or
fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Acute effects are
seen two to four days after animals or plants come in contact with
a toxic chemical substance.
Barium and its salts have moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life.
Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short-
term effects of barium or its salts to plants, birds, or land
animals.
CHRONIC (LONG-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Chronic toxic effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive
problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behavior.
Chronic effects can be seen long after first exposure(s) to a toxic
chemical.
Barium and its salts have moderate chronic toxicity to aquatic
life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the
long-term effects of barium or its salts to plants, birds, or land
animals.
WATER SOLUBILITY
Most of the barium salts are either highly or moderately soluble in
water. Concentrations of 1 to 1,000 milligrams and more will mix
with a liter of water.
DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Barium is highly persistent in water, with a half-life greater than
200 days. The half-life of a pollutant is the amount of time it
takes for one-half of the chemical to be degraded.
BIOACCUMULATION IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS
Some substances increase in concentration, or bioaccumulate, in
living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink
contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. These chemicals can
become concentrated in the tissues and internal organs of animals
and humans.
The concentration of barium found in fish tissues is expected to be
about the same as the average concentration of in the water from
which the fish was taken.
SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.
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