Safety (MSDS) data for asbestos

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Safety data for asbestos

Click here for data on asbestos in student-friendly format, from the HSci project
Glossary of terms on this data sheet. The information on this web page is provided to help you to work safely, but it is intended to be an overview of hazards, not a replacement for a full Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). MSDS forms can be downloaded from the web sites of many chemical suppliers.

General
Synonyms: asbestos fibre (derived from chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite), chlorobestos 25, mountain cork, mountain leather, mountain wood, sepiolex 3, sepiolex 5 Use: asbestos cement, friction products, electrical and thermal insulation Molecular formula: CAS No: 1332-21-4 EC No:

Physical data
Appearance: white, cream, brown or blue fibrous material; cream to beige or brown hard solid if present as asbestos cement Melting point: Boiling point: Vapour density: Vapour pressure: Specific gravity: Flash point: Explosion limits: Autoignition temperature: Water solubility: None

Stability
http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/AS/asbestos.html 4/10/2007

Safety (MSDS) data for asbestos

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Stable. Non-combustible.

Toxicology
Asbestos-containing fine dust is believed to be carcinogenic in humans. Typical OELs 0.5 - 2 fibres/ml. The hazards posed by asbestos vary considerably depending upon its type, and this is not the place to describe those hazards in detail. The most significant risk factor is generally the form in which the asbestos is present, since the dangers to health from asbestos arise when the very small fibres into which it readily breaks up are breathed in. When the asbestos is fully encapsulated, therefore, or when it is retained in a solid matrix as in asbestos cement, there is comparatively low risk, although machining this material, for example cutting with electric saws, may release asbestos fibre into the air. However, if the asbestos is present in the friable fibrous form, and particularly if it is machined or handled in such a way that asbestos fibres are generated and dispersed, the potential for harm is much greater. Further information on asbestosis is available on numerous web sites, such as: http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/silasb.htm http://www.cheshire-med.com/programs/pulrehab/asbestosis.html

Personal protection
In many countries permitted exposure to asbestos is controlled by law. Work should not begin with asbestos without checking with the relevant health and safety organisations.
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This information was last updated on November 3, 2005. We have tried to make it as accurate and useful as possible, but can take no responsibility for its use, misuse, or accuracy. We have not verified this information, and cannot guarantee that it is up-to-date. Note also that the information on the PTCL Safety web site, where this page was hosted, has been copied onto many other sites, often without permission. If you have any doubts about the veracity of the information that you are viewing, or have any queries, please check the URL that your web browser displays for this page. If the URL begins "http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/" or "http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/" the page is maintained by the Safety Officer in Physical Chemistry at Oxford University. If not, this page is a copy made by some other person and we have no responsibility for it.

http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/AS/asbestos.html

4/10/2007