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2.1 Emergency Overview: Portland cement is a light gray powder that poses little immediate hazard. A single short term exposure to the dry powder is not likely to cause serious harm. However, exposure of sufficient duration to wet Portland cement can cause serious, potentially irreversible tissue (including skin or eye) destruction in the form of chemical (caustic) burns, including third degree burns. The same type of tissue destruction can occur if wet or moist areas of the body are exposed for sufficient duration to dry Portland cement. 2.2 Potential Health Effects: 2.2.1 Eve contact; Exposure to airborne dust may cause immediate or delayed irritation or inflammation. Eye contact by larger amounts of dry powder or splashes of wet Portland cement may cause effects ranging from moderate eye irritation to chemical burns and blindness. Such exposures require immediate first aid (see Section 4) and medical attention to prevent significant damage to the eye. 2.2.2 Skin contact: Discomfort or pain cannot be relied upon to alert a person to a hazardous skin exposure. Consequently, the only effective means of avoiding skin injury or illness involves minimizing or avoiding skin contact, particularly contact with wet cement. Persons exposed to wet cement may not feel discomfort until hours after the exposure has ended and significant injury has occurred. Exposure to dry Portland cement may cause drying of the skin with consequent mild irritation or more significant effects attributable to aggravation of other conditions. Dry Portland cement contacting wet skin or exposure to moist or wet Portland cement may cause more severe skin effects including thickening, cracking or fissuring of the skin. Prolonged exposure can cause severe skin damage in the form of (caustic) chemical burns. Some individuals may exhibit an allergic response upon exposure to Portland cement, possibly due to trace amounts of chromium. The response may appear in a variety of forms ranging from a mild rash to severe skin ulcers. Persons already sensitized may react to their first contact with the product. Other persons may first experience this effect after years of contact with hydraulic cement products. 2.2.3 Inhalation: Portland cement may contain trace amounts (<O.1%) of free crystalline silica. Prolonged exposure to respirable free crystalline silica may aggravate other lung conditions. It also may cause delayed lung injury including silicosis, a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease. Exposure to Portland cement may cause irritation to the moist mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory system. It may also leave unpleasant deposits in the nose. 2.2.4 Ingestion• Although small quantities of dust are not known to be harmful, ill effects are possible if larger quantities are consumed. Portland cement should not be eaten under any circumstances. 2.3 Carcinogenic Potential: Portland cement is not listed as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, or OSHA. It does, however, contain trace amounts (<0.1%) of substances listed as carcinogens by some of these organizations. Crystalline silica is now classified by IARC as a known human carcinogen (Group 1). NTP has characterized respirable crystalline silica as "reasonably anticipated to be (a) carcinogen". 2.4 Medical Conditions Which May Be Aggravated By Inhalation or Dermal Exposure: - Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases. - Unusual (hyper) sensitivity to hexavalent chromium (chromium +6) salts. 3 COMPONENTS Page 2 of 5 OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV -TWA NIOSH REL 3.1 Hazardous Substances (8 -Hour TWA) 0995 -1996) (8 -Hour TWA) Portland Cement Clinker (CAS#65997-15-1) 50 million particles/ft3 l0mg total dust/m3 Nominal 95% by weight Calcium sulfate (CAS#7778-18-9) 5mg respirable dust/m3 I Omg total dust/m3 [Gypsum (CAS#13397-24-5)] 10mg total dust/m3 Nominal 5% by weight Calcium Oxide (CAS#1306-78-8) 5mg/m3 2mg/m3 (Free Lime)< 3% by weight Magnesium Oxide (CAS #1309-484) 15mg total dust/m3 10mg total dust/m3 < 5% by weight Page 2 of 5