TYPES OF
HAZARD/
EXPOSURE |
ACUTE
HAZARDS/
CLINICAL SIGNS/
SYMPTOMS |
PREVENTION/
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT |
FIRST AID/
FIRE FIGHTING |
FIRE |
No immediate danger. |
N/A |
Water, fog, foam, CO2.
Avoid methods that cause splashing or spreading.
|
EXPLOSION |
No immediate danger. |
N/A |
N/A |
ROUTE OF
EXPOSURE |
Synopsis: |
Severe irritant with
onset of pain and other symptoms that may be delayed
up to 24 hours.
Contact with vapor or liquid can be fatal.
|
Do not breathe fumes.
Skin contact must be avoided at all times.
STRICT HYGIENE!
|
There is no antidote
for nitrogen mustard toxicity. Decontamination
of all potentially exposed areas within minutes
after exposure is the only effective means of
decreasing tissue damage.
(See Decontamination section.)
Seek medical attention immediately.
Triage procedures and medical management guidelines - see ATSDR medical management guidelines
for Nitrogen
Mustard Blister Agents. |
Inhalation: |
Delayed buildup of fluid in
the lungs (pulmonary edema) resulting in cough
and shortness of breath and possibly pneumonia.
Nausea and vomiting. |
Pressure-demand, self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA) (SCBA CBRN, if available)
is recommended in response situations that involve
exposure to any amount of nitrogen mustard.
CBRN, Full Facepiece APR (when available) is
recommended in non-routine, emergency situation
environments less than IDLH but above REL or PEL
levels.
(see NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles
for Chemical or Biological Terrorism Incidents.)
|
Move patient to fresh air.
Administer oxygen and assist ventilation as required.
Seek medical attention immediately. |
Skin: |
Irritation, redness, severe
burns and blistering (a vesicant agent), deep
ulceration.
Symptoms and physical findings may be delayed
up to 6-12 hours following exposure to HN1.
|
Butyl rubber, neoprene, nitril
or PVC gloves, Responder® CSM protective clothing
including PVC boots.
(see NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles
for Chemical or Biological Terrorism Incidents.)
|
Remove contaminated clothing
and wash exposed area thoroughly with soap and
water. Contaminated clothing can expose rescue
workers through direct contact or through off-gassing
vapor.
(See Decontamination section.)
Seek medical attention immediately.
|
Eyes: |
Irritation, redness, burns,
deep ulceration, corneal damage, dilated pupils.
Incapacitating dose for the eyes is 200 mg-min/m3.
|
Goggles or full-face respirator.
|
Immediately flush with large
amounts of tepid water for at least 15 minutes.
Seek immediate medical attention.
|
Ingestion: |
Severe irritation, burns, hemorrhagic
diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting; large doses produce
neurotoxic effects such as prolonged tremor, uncoordinated
movements, ataxia, derangement of positional reflexes,
and convulsions.
|
Do not eat, drink, or smoke during
work. Wash hands before eating. |
Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting.
If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place
on left side (head-down position, if possible)
to maintain open airway and prevent aspiration.
Seek medical attention immediately.
(See HSDB.
and also ATSDR medical management guidelines for
Nitrogen
Mustard Blister Agents.) |
|
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (OELs): |
OSHA PEL:
N/A
NIOSH REL: N/A
ACGIH TLV: N/A
TLV: 0.003 mg/m3 (U.S. Military)
NIOSH IDLH: N/A
|
SAMPLING
AND ANALYTICAL METHODS: |
NIOSH: N/A
OSHA: N/A |
|
DECONTAMINATION |
Patients/Victims:
Remove clothes and place contaminated clothes
and personal belongings in a sealed double bag.
Decontamination of mustard-exposed victims by
either vapor or liquid should be performed within
the first two minutes following the exposure to
prevent tissue damage. If not accomplished within
the first several minutes, decontamination should
still be performed to ensure any residual liquid
mustard is removed from the skin or clothes or
to ensure any trapped mustard vapor is removed
with the clothing. Removing trapped mustard vapor
will prevent vapor off-gassing or subsequent cross-contamination
of other emergency responders/health care providers
or the healthcare facility. Physical removal of
the mustard agent, rather than detoxification
or neutralization, is the most important principle
in patient decontamination. Mustard is not detoxified
by water alone and will remain in decontamination
effluent (in dilute concentrations) if hydrolysis
has not taken place.
(1) Patients exposed to vapor should be decontaminated
by removing all clothing in a clean air environment
and shampooing or rinsing the hair to prevent
vapor off-gassing.
(2) Patients exposed to liquid should be decontaminated
by –
a. Washing in warm or hot water at least three
times. Use liquid soap (dispose of container
after use and replace), large volumes of water,
and mild to moderate friction with a single-use
sponge or washcloth in the first and second
washes. Scrubbing of exposed skin with a brush
is discouraged, because skin damage may occur
which may enhance absorption. The third wash
should be to rinse with large amounts of warm
or hot water. Shampoo can be used to wash
the hair. The rapid physical removal of a
chemical agent is essential. If warm or hot
water is not available, but cold water is,
use cold water. Do not delay decontamination
to obtain warm water.
b. Rinsing the eyes, mucous membranes, or
open wounds with sterile saline or water.
(3) The healthcare provider should –
a. Check the casualty after the three washes
to verify adequate decontamination before
allowing entry to the medical treatment facility.
If the washes were inadequate, repeat the
entire process.
b. Be prepared to stabilize conventional injuries
during the decontamination process. Careful
decontamination can be a time consuming process.
The health care provider may have to enter
the contaminated are to treat the casualty
during this process. Medical personnel should
wear the proper PPE and evaluate the exposed
workers.
(see the following for more information ATSDR
medical management guidelines Nitrogen Mustard
Blister Agents, SBCCOM
Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination
During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident (January
2000), and SBCCOM
Guidelines for Cold Weather Mass Decontamination
During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident (January
2002)
Equipment: N/A
Environment:
(See Spillage Disposal.)
NOTE: Chlorinating agents destroy
nitrogen mustards. Dry chlorinated lime and chloramines
with a high content of active chlorine vigorously
chlorinate nitrogen mustards to the carbon chain
giving low toxicity products. In the presence
of water this interaction proceeds less actively.
They are rapidly oxidized by peracids in aqueous
solution at weakly alkaline pH. In acid solution
the oxidation is much slower.
|
SPILLAGE DISPOSAL |
Small amounts:
Clean up all spills immediately. Avoid
breathing vapors and contact with skin and eyes.
Control personal contact by using protective equipment.
Contain and absorb spill with sand, earth, inert
material or vermiculite. Wipe up. Place in a suitable
labeled container for waste disposal. Large
amounts: Clear area of personnel and move
upwind. Wear full body protective clothing with
breathing apparatus. Prevent, by any means available,
spillage from entering drains or water course. Contain
spill with sand, earth or vermiculite. Collect recoverable
product into sealed labeled containers for disposal.
Wash area and prevent runoff into drains. After
clean up operations, decontaminate and launder all
protective clothing and equipment before storing
and re-using. If contamination of drains or waterways
occurs, advise emergency services. |
PACKAGING & LABELLING
|
UN# 2810
(Guide 153) |
Proper Shipping
Name: Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s. |
Hazard Class: 6.1,
Packing Group I, Hazard Zone B. |
Label: Poison. |
Marking: Toxic liquids,
n.o.s. Bis-(2-chloroethyl) sulfide UN 2810, Inhalation
Hazard |
Placard: Poison
|
NFPA 704 Signal:
Health - N/A
Flammability - N/A
Reactivity - N/A
Special - 0 |
|
IMPORTANT DATA |
PHYSICAL
STATE; APPEARANCE:
Colorless to yellow, oily liquid with faint, fishy
or musty odor of amines.
PHYSICAL DANGERS:
N/A
CHEMICAL DANGERS:
Avoid contamination with oxidizing agents, e.g.,
nitrates, oxidizing acids, chlorine bleaches,
swimming pool chlorine, which may result in ignition.
When heated to decomposition it emits Hydrogen
Chloride and Nitrogen Oxide. Unstable in the presence
of light and heat and forms dimers at temperatures
above 122°F (50 °C). Corrosive to ferrous
alloys beginning at 149°F (65 °C). Polymerizes
slowly, so munitions would be effective for several
years.
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE:
Vapor and liquid are readily absorbed by respiratory
tract, eyes and skin contact.
INHALATION RISK:
Nitrogen Mustard is a blister agent (vesicant)
that causes delayed severe damage to the respiratory
tract. It is an alkylating agent that damages
the cells within the bone marrow that are necessary
for making blood cells.
EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE:
Extremely toxic and may damage the eyes, skin,
and respiratory tract and suppress the immune
system. Although these agents cause cellular changes
within minutes of contact, the onset of pain and
other symptoms is delayed.
EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM OR REPEATED EXPOSURE:
Bone marrow suppression resulting in damage to
the blood forming (hematopoietic) system. Early
signs of bone marrow suppression include: a low
white blood cell count; an increased risk for
developing infections; a tendency for easy bruising
and bleeding. May cause lymph node damage and
a weakened immune system. It also causes liver
and kidney damage, damage to the reproductive
systems of both men and women leading to decreased
fertility. It is mutagenic, toxic to the developing
embryo, and carcinogenic. |
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES |
Melting Point:
-29.2°F (-34°C)
|
Boiling Point: 381.2°F
(194°C) - decomposes. |
Vapor Pressure (25°C):
0.25 mm Hg |
Specific Gravity
(25°C): 1.09g /cm3 |
Volatility: 2.29
mg/L at 25°C |
Vapor density (air=1):
5.9 |
Aqueous solubility(25°C):
160 mg/L (sparingly soluble) |
Miscible with acetone
and other organic solvents. |
Estimated log Kow
2.0 |
Flashpoint: N/A |
Flammability: N/A |
ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA |
Vapor-phase will be
degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced
hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction
in air is estimated to be 1 day. If released to
soil, it is expected to have moderate mobility based
upon an estimated Koc of 360. May volatilize from
water or moist soil surfaces. Moderate mobility
in soil. Estimated volatilization half-lives for
a model river and model lake are 3.6 hrs and 6.2
days, respectively. An estimated Biological Concentration
Factor (BCF) of 7 suggests the potential for bioconcentration
in aquatic organisms is low. The hydrolysis half-life
is 12.5 days at 5 °C. |
ACUTE
EXPOSURE
GUIDELINES (AEGLs)
|
|
10 min |
30 min |
1hr |
4 hr |
8 hr |
AEGL 1 (discomfort,
non-disabling) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
AEGL 2 (irreversible
or other serious, long-lasting effects or
impaired ability to escape) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
AEGL 3 (life-threatening
effects or death)
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
NOTES |
Alkylating
and antineoplastic agent; LC50 = 1,500 mg-min/m3
|
|
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION |
Trade
Names and Other Synonyms:
|
|
GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS |
APR -
Air-purifying Respirator
CBRN - Chemical, Biological, Radiological,
Nuclear
IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
REL - Recommended Exposure Limit
PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit
SCBA - Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus |
|
IMPORTANT
NOTICE: |
HN1 NITROGEN
MUSTARD (ERC538-07-8) The user should verify
compliance of the cards with the relevant STATE
or TERRITORY legislation before use. NIOSH, CDC
2003 |