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Sodium hydroxide

This Product Safety Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the


chemical substance in the context of ICCA Global Product Strategy. The
information in the Summary is basic information and is not intended to provide
emergency response, medical or treatment information. In-depth safety and
health information can be found in the (extended) Safety Data Sheet (e)SDS for
the chemical substance .

General Statement
Pure sodium hydroxide is a solid at room temperature and is generated from
sodium chloride (common salt) by electrolysis. Sodium hydroxide is a hydrophilic
alkaline substance (high pH) and therefore it is corrosive and hazardous to
human health. It is most commonly found as a liquid, which has a concentration
of between 20% and 50 % sodium hydroxide in water and is usually referred to
as caustic soda liquor. The substance is used in large amounts in a variety of
industries.

Chemical Identity
Name: sodium hydroxide
Synonyms: caustic soda, caustic lye, lye (for water solution of sodium
hydroxide)
CAS number: 1310-73-2
Molecular formula: NaOH

Use and Applications


Sodium hydroxide has many different functions and uses. For example, within
industry it can be used to adjust the pH, to produce biodiesel from vegetable oils,
to clean food processing equipment and bottles, to de-ink water (pulp and paper
industry), to dry air, to absorb CO2 from gases, to extract alumina (aluminium
industry), to remove grease and paint from metal, to mercerize cotton (textile
industry), to peel leather, to peel vegetables, to make pretzels, to manufacture
chemicals (intermediate use), to regenerate resins or to soften water. Consumer
uses include paint stripping or drain cleaning.

Physical/Chemical Properties
Pure sodium hydroxide is a solid at room temperature, though it is often sold as a
liquid (aqueous solution). The appearance of the substance and some
physicochemical properties are mentioned in the table below.
Physical state
Colour
Density
Melting temperature
Boiling temperature
Molecular weight

Solid
White
2.1 g/cm3 (20 C) (fused solid)
323 C
1388 C
40.0 g/mol

Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkaline substance that dissociates completely in


water into the sodium ion (Na+) and hydroxide ion (OH-). The
dissolution/dissociation in water is strongly exothermic (releases heat), so a
vigorous reaction occurs when sodium hydroxide is added to water. The vapour
pressure of the substance is very low and the melting point is high. Sodium
hydroxide solutions attack aluminium and its alloys, giving off hydrogen gas. It
can be neutralised with acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid) giving the sodium salts of
the acids, which are usually pH neutral and non-corrosive.

Human Health Safety Assessment


Sodium hydroxide is a strongly alkaline hydrophilic substance and therefore solid
sodium hydroxide is highly corrosive. It reacts with greases and fats, which can
lead to irreversible damage to any site of contact with the body (for example skin
or eyes). Depending on the concentration, solutions of sodium hydroxide in water
are corrosive, irritating or non-irritating and they cause direct local effects at the
site of contact with the body.
Because of the corrosive properties of sodium hydroxide, a high uptake via the
mouth can be fatal. When a very large part of the skin is exposed to sodium
hydroxide, it can also result in death. Sodium hydroxide does not cause skin
allergies.
Under normal conditions of handling and use of sodium hydroxide, when
exposure is limited to low, non-irritating concentrations, the substance will
dissociate into its constituent ions and will not be systemically available in the
body. As a consequence, sodium hydroxide will not cause systemic toxicity in any
organs, including the reproductive system. Furthermore, sodium hydroxide is not
carcinogenic or genotoxic.

Environmental Safety Assessment


The hazard of sodium hydroxide for the environment is caused by the hydroxide
ion (pH effect). A high concentration in water will result in toxic effects for
aquatic organisms e.g. fish. However, a low concentration in water will not result
in effects on aquatic organisms because the sodium hydroxide will be neutralized
by other substances present in water (for example dissolved carbon dioxide,
organic acids) and thus the pH will not increase.
Because sodium hydroxide is neutralized in the environment, the substance is
not persistent and it will not accumulate in organisms or in the food chain.
Bioaccumulation will not occur.

Exposure
Consumer
Sodium hydroxide is used in consumer products. It can be used, for example, in
floor stripping products, wood stripping products, hair straightening agents, oven
cleaners, drain cleaners or other cleaning products. It is also used in very small
amounts in food products to adjust pH or as an additive (E524). This use poses
no risk to consumers. Many different consumer products containing sodium

hydroxide may be available. The instructions on the label of these products


should be read and followed carefully to ensure safe use.
Direct skin contact with products or solutions containing a low concentration of
sodium hydroxide ( < 0.5% in water) is not a concern for human health because,
at low concentrations, the substance is not irritating or corrosive. No other
adverse effects on human health are expected to occur. Direct contact with
products or solutions containing high concentrations of sodium hydroxide (>2%
in water) should be prevented, because of the corrosive effects.
Worker
Because sodium hydroxide has many different functions and uses, it is
extensively used in the industry and also by other professionals.
As mentioned above in the section on consumer exposure, skin contact for
products or solutions with a low sodium hydroxide concentration is not a concern
for human health because, at low concentrations, the substance is not irritating
or corrosive (<0.5% in water).
The sodium hydroxide which is manufactured and used in industry applications is
usually corrosive and therefore automated and closed systems are used to
prevent direct contact. In such situations, exposure to the substance for workers
is very low. When exposure to an irritating or corrosive product could occur,
appropriate personal protective equipment should be used. Workers should
consult the manufacturers Safety Data Sheet to obtain specific advice.
Environment
The hazard of sodium hydroxide for the environment is caused by the hydroxide
ion (pH effect). Because there is legislation for the pH control of waste water and
surface water in many countries, a significant pH increase of the aquatic
environment (e.g. a river or a sea) is not expected due to the manufacture or use
of sodium hydroxide. Furthermore it is relatively easy to adapt the pH of waste
water (to neutralise sodium hydroxide in the water) and therefore significant
effects of sodium hydroxide on the aquatic environment are not expected.
Emissions to air are also not a concern because sodium hydroxide will be rapidly
neutralised in air due the presence of carbon dioxide in air.

State Agency Review


The substance was reviewed in 2002 under the OECD (Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development) high production volume (HPV) chemicals
program. This is a global program to evaluate the hazards of chemicals.
In 2007 a European Union Risk Assessment Report was published for sodium
hydroxide which was prepared in the context of Regulation 793/93 on the
evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances. In 2010 sodium
hydroxide has been registered under the European Union REACH Regulation
EC/1907/2006 and the substance was found to be safe for the uses identified.
The results of all these 3 regulatory programs are available via internet.

Regulatory Information / Classification and Labelling


The substance is subject to harmonised classification and labelling under the EU
Classification Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation EC/1272/2008. The main
elements are given hereafter:
Skin corrosion
category 1A

H314

Causes severe skin burns and eye


damage

The hazard statement causes severe skin burns and eye damage is applicable
for a concentration in chemical products of 2 % w/w or higher. For concentrations
in products between 0.5 and 2 % the following hazard statements are applicable:
- Causes skin irritation (H315) and
- Causes serious eye irritation (H319).
The European industry has decided to classify sodium hydroxide as corrosive to
metals in the EU (H290; May be corrosive to metals).

Conclusion
Sodium hydroxide is used in large amounts in industry and consumer products.
Due to the alkaline properties sodium hydroxide is corrosive at high
concentrations. Direct contacts with these products should be prevented.
However, no effects on human health are expected when humans are in contact
with non-corrosive and non-irritating concentrations of the substance. The
substance is neutralised in the environment and therefore it is not persistent.
Furthermore it does not accumulate in organisms. Waste water which contains
sodium hydroxide should be neutralised (pH control) before it is discharged to
the environment. In this way effects on the aquatic environment (for example
organisms living in a river) are prevented. Use of this hazardous substance has
shown to be safe by careful use and following provided instructions

Contact Information within Company


For further information on this substance or product safety summaries in general,
please contact:
Xxxxx Xxxxx at xxxxxx@xxxxx.com or visit our website at www.xxxx.com.
Euro Chlor (www.eurochlor.org), the European chlor-alkali manufacturers
association is a useful repository of information regarding sodium hydroxide and
can be contacted at eurochlor@cefic.be.
Additional information on the ICCA global product strategy can be found here:
http://www.icca-chem.org/en/Home/ICCA-initiatives/global-product-strategy/

Date of Issue
xx/xx/xxxx

Revised
xx/xx/xxxx

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