Risk Management for Hazardous Chemicals

Page: 1

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

CHEMICAL NAME

CRC PRESS/LEWIS PUBLISHERS DISCLAIMER: THE

INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

PRESENTED HEREIN ARE BASED ON SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE. CRC MAKES NO REPRESENTATION
ON ITS COMPLETENESS OR ACCURACY. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER TO DETERMINE THE
CHEMICAL'S SUITABILITY FOR ITS INTENDED USE, THE CHEMICAL'S SAFE USE, AND THE CHEMICAL'S PROPER
DISPOSAL. NO REPRESENTATIONS AND/OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF THE MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR OF ANY OTHER NATURE, ARE MADE WITH
RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS MSDS OR TO THE CHEMICAL TO WHICH INFORMATION MAY
REFER. CRC NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANY OTHER PERSON TO ASSUME FOR IT, ANY OTHER
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR THE USE OF, OR RELIANCE UPON, THIS INFORMATION.

IRON (III) OXIDE

HAZARD WARNING INFORMATION

HEALTH

FIRE

REACTIVE

OTHER

DEGREE OF HAZARD
0 = Minimum Hazard
1 = Slight Hazard
2 = Moderate Hazard
3 = Serious Hazard
4 = Severe Hazard

COLOR CODING

OTHER CODES

HEALTH = BLUE
FIRE = RED
REACTIVITY = YELLOW
OTHER = WHITE

OX = Oxidizer
ACID = Acid
ALK = Alkali
COR = Corrosive
W = Use No Water

SECTION I - GENERAL INFORMATION

Characterization

RCRA Number

Metallic Oxide

EPA Class

None

DOT Proper Shipping Name

Not Applicable

Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Number

No Citation

1309-37-1

DOT Hazard Class and Label Requirements

DOT Emergency Guide Code

No Citation

37

DOT Identification Number

Atomic Formula

UN 1376

Fe2O3

Synonyms

Ferric oxide; iron (III) oxide; iron sesquioxide; red iron oxide; anchred standard; anhydrous iron oxide.

SECTION II - HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS AND IDENTITY INFORMATION

Hazardous Components (specific identity)

Iron (III) oxide (derivation: By action

of air, steam, or carbon dioxide on iron;
especially pure grade is derived by precipitating hydrated ferric oxide from a solution of iron salts, dehydrating, and reducing with hydrogen; occurs in nature as the
mineral magnetite.).

OSHA Exposure Criteria

NIOSH Exposure Criteria

Immediately Dangerous to
Life and Health (IDLH)

ACGIH Exposure Criteria

PEL:
3
10 mg(Fe)/m

REL:
3
5 mg(Fe)/m

TLV:
3
5 mg(Fe)/m

as iron oxide fume

as iron oxide fume

as iron oxide fume

STEL:
Not
Established

STEL:
Not
Established

2500 mg/m

STEL:
Not
Established

SECTION III - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Boiling Point

Specific Gravity (H2O = 1)

Not Found
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg)

0 at 68F (20C)
Vapor Density (Air = 1)

5.24
Atomic Weight

159.7
Melting Point

2664F (1462C)

Not Found
Solubility

Insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether. Soluble in acids.

Appearance and Odor

Reddish-brown solid, dust, or fume with a metallic taste.

SECTION IV - FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA

Flash Point (method used)

Explosive Limits in Air % by Volume

Not Determined
NFPA Classification

LEL: Not Determined

UEL: Not Determined

Autoignition Temperature

Non-Combustible Solid

Not Determined

Extinguishing Media

Use media suitable to surrounding fire. Bulk iron (III) oxide will not burn.
Special Fire Fighting Procedures

Wear full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Use a water spray to keep
containers cool until long after the fire has been extinguished. For large fires, if possible, withdraw and
allow to burn. Remain clear of smoke.
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards

Explosive reaction when heated with guanidinium perchlorate. Reaction with carbon monoxide may
form an explosive product. Potentially violent reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Fight fire from distance,
if possible. Move containers from fire area if it can be done without risk.
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.

Risk Management for Hazardous Chemicals

Page: 2

SECTION V - REACTIVITY DATA

Conditions to Avoid

Iron (III) oxide is normally stable in closed containers at room temperature under routine conditions of
handling in storage. Avoid contact with heat and incompatible materials.

Stability
Stable

Unstable

Incompatible with carbon monoxide, hydrogen peroxide, powdered aluminum, calcium hypochlorite,
hydrazine, performic acid, bromine pentafluoride, cesium acetylide, and ethylene oxide.

X
Hazardous
Polymerization
May Occur

Incompatibility (materials to avoid)

Will Not Occur

Conditions to Avoid

Under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, hazardous polymerization of iron (III) oxide is not
known to occur.
Hazardous Decomposition or By-products

When heated to decomposition, iron (III) oxide can produce toxic and acrid fumes.

SECTION VI - HEALTH HAZARD DATA

Inhalation?

Primary Route(s) of Entry:

Absorption (skin)?

Ingestion?

Health Hazards

INHALATION: Irritation of the respiratory system and mucous membranes. Exposures may lead to the
development of benign pneumoconiosis with X-ray shadows that are indistinguishable
from fibrotic pneumoconiosis (siderosis). A nuisance dust at low exposures.
SKIN & EYES: An irritant to the eyes and skin that may cause redness and inflammation.
INGESTION:

Not a probable exposure route.

Carcinogenicity

NTP Listed?

Unknown Human
Unknown Animal

No

IARC Cancer Review Group?

OSHA Regulated?

Target Organs?

Group 3

29 CFR 1910.1000
Table Z-1

Respiratory system

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Existing chronic respiratory diseases may be aggravated by exposure.

Emergency and First-aid Procedures

Eye contact: Flush immediately with water for 15 minutes (minimum); seek medical attention. Skin contact: Remove all contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area with large amounts of soap and water. If
rash develops, seek medical attention. For inhalation: Remove the person from exposure. Provide respiratory assistance and CPR. Transfer to medical facility. If swallowed: Not likely. Seek medical attention immediately. Unless advised otherwise, give large amounts of water and induce vomiting using an
emetic. Never give a convulsing or unconscious person anything by mouth.

SECTION VII - PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING AND USE

Steps to be Taken in Case Material is Released or Spilled

Collect powdered material in most convenient manner possible and deposit in sealed drum. Keep those
not involved in cleanup from entering area. Do NOT dry sweep (creates airborne dusts). Use a vacuum
equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Damp mop residues and collect for disposal.
Do NOT release to sewers or waterways. Notify appropriate authorities, if required.
Preferred Waste Disposal Method

No citation.
Precautions to be Taken in Handling and Storage

Store in tightly closed containers in cool, dry, well-ventilated area and protect from physical damage.
Sources of heat or ignition are prohibited where iron (III) oxide is used, handled, or stored.
Other Precautions and Warnings

Avoid contact with incompatible materials. Do NOT create dusty conditions. Always use in areas with
adequate ventilation.

SECTION VIII - CONTROL MEASURES AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Respiratory Protection (specify type)

For exposure to low levels, use a full facepiece respirator with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
filter. For higher or prolonged exposures, use a full facepiece supplied-air respirator or a self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA) operated in positive pressure mode.
Ventilation

Local exhaust or general mechanical systems recommended.

Protective Gloves

Impervious Material

Eye Protection

Chemical/Dust Goggles or Face Mask

Other Protective Clothing

Protective Suit or Clothing

Work/Hygiene Practices

Always wash hands thoroughly after using chemical; never bring food, drink, or smoking materials into
vicinity of chemicals.
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.

Risk Management for Hazardous Chemicals

Page: 3

IRON (III) OXIDE

Fe2O3

CAS: 1309-37-1

0
1

IDENTIFICATION AND TYPICAL USES

0 Chronic Health Effects

Iron (III) oxide is a reddish-brown solid, dust, or fume.

It is used as a pigment, a polishing compound, in metallurgy, in magnetic inks, in ferrites for the electronic
industry, in coatings for magnetic tape, and as a catalyst.

The following chronic (long-term) health effects may

occur at some time after exposure to iron (III) oxide
and can last for months or even years:

RISK ASSESSMENT: HEALTH

General Assessment
Iron (III) oxide is a mildly toxic compound by inhalation. Skin contact produced no serious health effects
and ingestion is not considered a likely route of exposure. It is a questionable carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic data reported. It is considered a nuisance dust on low-level exposures. Higher concentrations may lead to pulmonary changes.
Inhalation of large quantities of iron (III) oxide
dusts and powders over a prolonged period may cause
the development a benign pneumoconiosis with X-ray
shadows that may be indistinguishable from fibrotic
pneumoconiosis (siderosis). There can be irritation of
the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract.

1 Acute Health Effects

The following acute (short-term) health effects may
occur immediately or shortly after exposure to iron
(III) oxide:
Skin:

No serious effects reported. May cause irritation and rash in some individuals.

Eye:

No serious effects reported. May cause irritation and redness in some individuals, depending upon the duration of exposure.

Lung: Inhalation of the dusts and fumes can irritate

the nose, mouth, throat, lungs, and mucosa of
the respiratory tract.

Cancer Hazards: According to information presented

in the references, iron (III) oxide has not been adequately tested for its ability to cause cancer in test
animals.
Reproductive Hazard: According to information
available in the references, iron (III) oxide has been
shown to cause teratogenic effects in test animals.
Other Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure may
cause the development of a benign pneumoconiosis
that does not appear to be associated with pulmonary
fibrosis or disability. It may cause the appearance of
siderosis-type shadows on chest X-rays.

Recommended Risk-Reduction Measures

Personnel should avoid direct contact with iron (III)
oxide, especially its dusts and powders. The exact
nature of its human toxicity is not clearly understood
in the references. Prudent risk management dictates
that it be handled and treated as though it posed a serious risk to human health. If a less toxic chemical
cannot be substituted for a hazardous substance, then
engineering controls are the most effective method of
reducing exposures.
The best protection is to enclose operations and/or
provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. While not always operationally feasible,
isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using
respiratory protection is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is still advisable whenever
working with or around iron (III) oxide compounds.
For exposure to iron (III) oxide at low or transient levels, an MSHA/NIOSH-approved respirator with a high
efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is recommended. For higher exposures, or exposures to un-

1996 by CRC Press, Inc.

Risk Management for Hazardous Chemicals

known levels (as in an emergency), use a supplied-air

respirator with a full facepiece operated in positive
pressure mode or an MSHA/NIOSH-approved selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with full facepiece operated in pressure demand. If a full facepiece
is not available, then chemical dust goggles should be
worn to protect the eyes. Whenever an airborne
chemical dust hazard exists, a face shield and a protective apron should be worn. To prevent hand and
skin exposures, impervious gloves should be used.
Administrative controls should also be in place to
minimize the potential for human exposures. These
may include written procedures or policies which
specify the methods and techniques that will be practiced whenever personnel are to work with iron (III)
oxide.
All personnel should receive training on the use,
hazards, protective measures, emergency actions, and
other precautions per 29 CFR 1910.1200 (Hazard
Communication), prior to the first assignment in an
area where iron (III) oxide is used or stored.
Before beginning employment and at regular intervals thereafter (e.g., annually), for those with frequent or potentially high exposures, the following
medical tests are recommended:

;
;

Lung function tests.

Chest X-ray.

If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the

following may also be useful:

;
;

Lung function tests.

Consider chest X-ray after acute overexposure.

Any evaluation should include a careful history of past

and present symptoms with a medical examination.
Medical tests that look for damage already done are
not a substitute for controlling exposure. Also, since
smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung cancer, emphysema, and other related respiratory problems, the effects of exposure to iron (III) oxide may be
more pronounced in smokers than in non-smokers.
Prudent risk management requires proper consideration of all possible factors that may be causing exposure symptoms in the workplace.
Other methods to reduce exposure include:

Where possible, enclose operations and use local

exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release.
If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not
used, respiratory protection should be mandatory.

Page: 4

;
;
;

Always ensure that proper protective clothing is

worn when using chemical substances and that
personnel are trained on its use and care.
Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to
iron (III) oxide and at the end of the work shift or
before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Hazard warning information should be posted in
the work area. In addition, as part of an on-going
education and training program, all information
on the health and safety hazards of iron (III) oxide should be communicated to all exposed
workers.
Where possible, automatically transfer iron (III)
oxide from drums or other storage containers to
process containers. Avoid contact with air and
do not generate airborne dusts.

RISK ASSESSMENT: ENVIRON (III)

OXIDEMENT
General Assessment
The environment is at risk of exposure during transportation, storage, disposal, or destruction of iron (III)
oxide. In almost every scenario, the threat of environmental exposure is contingent upon the proper
handling of the chemical substance. Accidental spills,
large or small, can result in fire, explosion, and possible contamination of the surrounding environmental
mediums (water, soil, and air).
Iron (III) oxide powder will explode in contact
with many compounds and when heated. It will also
react and possibly ignite in the presence of a number
of compounds and materials, including guanidinium
perchlorate. Reaction with carbon monoxide may
form an explosive product. The wet oxide reacts explosively with molten aluminum-magnesium alloys. It
reacts violently when heated with powdered aluminum, calcium disilicide, magnesium, metal acetylides,
hydrazine, calcium hypochlorite, performic acid, and
bromine pentafluoride. These characteristics require
special consideration during any emergency situation
involving a leak or spill of iron (III) oxide.
Iron can occur in the environment as a natural
element. Iron (III) oxide can also enter the environment through industrial discharges, or from spills.

1 Acute Ecological Effects

Acute (short-term) toxic effects may include the death
of animals, birds, or fish and death or low growth rate

1996 by CRC Press, Inc.

Risk Management for Hazardous Chemicals

in plants. Acute effects are seen 2 to 4 days after animals or plants are exposed to iron (III) oxide.
Insufficient data are available to evaluate the
short-term effects of iron (III) oxide exposure to
aquatic life, plants, birds, or land animals.

0 Chronic Ecological Effects

Chronic (long-term) toxic effects may include shortened life span, reproductive problems, lower fertility,
and changes in appearance or behavior in exposed
animals. These effects can be seen long after first exposure(s) to toxic chemicals.
Insufficient data are available to evaluate the longterm effects of iron (III) oxide exposure to aquatic life,
plants, birds, or land animals.

6 Water Solubility
Elemental iron and most of its compounds are insoluble in water. Concentrations of less than 1 milligram
will not mix with water.

 Persistence in the Environment

Iron and its compounds are highly persistent in the
aquatic environment, with a half-life of 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.

O 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
as well as humans.
The concentration of iron found in fish is expected
to be somewhat higher than the average concentration
of iron in the water from which the fish was taken.

Recommended Risk-Reduction Measures

Proper training of all transporters will reduce the likelihood of a mishap or accidents resulting in a leak or
spill to the environment. The correct use of labeling
on all containers, trucks, and rail cars will enable
emergency responders to react properly and quickly to
any disaster thereby reducing the potential risk to the
environment and to personnel.

Page: 5

Storage of iron (III) oxide should be segregated

from incompatible chemicals to minimize the risk of
cross-contamination or contact. Bulk storage of iron
(III) oxide powders should be avoided. Storage facilities should be designed with proper fire suppression
and protection equipment. Containers must be protected from exposure to heat and physical damage.
If a spill or leak to the environment has occurred,
fire department, emergency response and/or hazardous
materials spill personnel should be notified immediately. Use a vacuum method to reduce dust during
cleanup. Do not dry sweep (generates airborne dusts
and friction). Use a vacuum equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, not a standard
shop vacuum. Deposit collected materials in sealed
drum for disposal. Cleanup should be attempted only
by those trained in proper spill containment procedures using non-sparking tools. Contaminated soils
should be removed and replaced with clean soil. If
iron (III) oxide should contact the water table, aquifer,
or navigable waterway, time is of the essence. It is not
soluble in water and total containment and remediation may be possible. When such spills occur, the local and/or state emergency response authorities must
be notified. A comprehensive emergency response or
disaster preparedness/recovery plan should be in place
prior to any operations involving the use, transportation, storage, or disposal of iron (III) oxide.
If iron (III) oxide is spilled or leaked, the following specific steps are recommended:

;
;
;

Restrict persons not wearing protective clothing

from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete and area can be opened for normal work.
Collect powdered materials in and safest manner
possible and place in sealed drums for disposal.
Do not dry sweep; use HEPA vacuum instead.
Damp mop residue and collect for disposal.
It may be necessary to dispose of iron (III) oxide
as a hazardous waste. The responsible state
agency or the regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be
contacted for specific recommendations.

RISK ASSESSMENT: BUSINESS

General Assessment
Accidents or mishaps involving iron (III) oxide can
present a significant threat to business operations.
The loss or damage of equipment or facilities can significantly affect fiscal viability. Lawsuits that may

1996 by CRC Press, Inc.

Risk Management for Hazardous Chemicals

result from personnel injury/death, public exposures,

and/or environmental contamination will also require
a serious expenditure of resources. Media attention
surrounding an injury, death, or environmental damage can also result in a loss of profits and loss of current as well as future business.

Recommended Risk-Reduction Measures

Company attorneys, safety and health professionals,
and environmental specialists should be involved in
the development of any procedures dealing with safety
or emergency response. A company official should be
pre-designated as a public relations officer with specific training in dealing with the press. Corporate
plans and policies should be developed, approved, and
implemented long before any need for such arises.

Page: 6
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1996 by CRC Press, Inc.