28 replies to this topic

[Creepin_pyro]

There is lots of information about toxicity out there. A simple google search will lead you the material safety details for ANY chemical you may want to investigate.

It took me about 15 seconds to find this and much more:

Toxic! May cause tightness of the muscles of the face and neck, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscular tremors, anxiety, weakness, labored breathing, cardiac irregularity, convulsions, and death from cardiac and respiratory failure. Estimated lethal dose lies between 1 to 15 grams. Death may occur within hours or up to a few days. May cause kidney damage.

You shouldn't go buying chemicals until you have fully considered any toxilogical factors, and reviewed your ability to store and use them with the correct safety precautions.

Edit.... didn't see you there, Richard

PGF. There is a wealth of information in this forum. The search function is VERY useful!

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 22 October 2004 - 02:01 PM.

[Jerronimo]

http://www.ukrocketr...p?showtopic=197

[KNO3]

Aluminum dust is not good for you, and aluminum has been implicated as a contributing
factor in Alzheimers disease.

Hi, last time i checked, the evidence for Aluminium causeing Alzheimers was vague, all they found was that people with Alzheimers had a higher amount of Aluminium in their brain than most, but were not sure weather this was a cause or a symptom. But, the last tiem I checked was a long time ago, and i assume that more resurch has been done into this. I had a small disscussion with someone who was saying that infact the link was unlikely, and I dont believe that to be true. So, it would be great if someone could give me an update on this matter, and even better, some statistics that i can use, or point me in the right direction, because at the moment I am not sure if it is true or not.
Cheers.

[Mumbles]

The aluminum is a natural part of bodily functions. I can't remember exactly what part it is involved in, but I have it written down somewhere. My inorganic chem teacher was a Bioinorganic chemist, so we got a lot of info like this.

Exposure to aluminum in metallic and salt form in no way causes nor increases chances of alzheimers. Alzheimers is causes by degeneration of the basal ganglia I want to say. The excretory function that removes aluminum is also disrupted which causes the accumulation of aluminum. So being exposed to aluminum now will have no future effect as it will be excreted.



Also, I can speak from experience that barium nitrate poisoning is not fun times. Look around, my experiences are posted somewhere here or on APC, probably both.

Edited by Mumbles, 15 November 2006 - 03:39 AM.

[Ritual33]

Woo! *eats some aluminium to see what it tastes like*

[BrightStar]

Because I developed some coughng. Could this be because I spend 1/3 of my free time in my basement which is full of chemicals and BP. Or did i just catch a cold.

Reading pretty green flames original post, the question might also be, 'I accidentally inhaled a bit of pyro chem dust recently, and now have a cough, is my health completely screwed?'

I asked a doctor friend this recently as a half joke, having also developed a slight cough despite precautions. Her response was that it was highly unlikely I'd done any damage in such a short term, but chronic exposure over a few years would certainly be problematic.

My safety tip here is to make sure you keep your PPE very close to your work bench. That way you can grab the dust mask, safety specs and gloves every time there might be any slight risk, even just when popping the lid of the ball mill to check it..

Edited by BrightStar, 15 November 2006 - 11:08 PM.

[Andrew]

Just one quick note on safety information. If hazardous substances are purchased retail (i.e. if you did not purchase it as or on behalf of a company), all the safety information should be printed in full on the packaging.

No risk or safety codes, no "refer to SDS", everything MUST (as in required by law) be printed in FULL on the label.

In fact it is not common practice to ship hazardous chemicals with an SDS if sold to the public, only when sold to a business. If chemicals are sold retail with an MSDS, and without all the correct information on the label the company that sold it has broken the law.

[KNO3]

The aluminum is a natural part of bodily functions. I can't remember exactly what part it is involved in, but I have it written down somewhere. My inorganic chem teacher was a Bioinorganic chemist, so we got a lot of info like this.

Exposure to aluminum in metallic and salt form in no way causes nor increases chances of alzheimers. Alzheimers is causes by degeneration of the basal ganglia I want to say. The excretory function that removes aluminum is also disrupted which causes the accumulation of aluminum. So being exposed to aluminum now will have no future effect as it will be excreted.
Also, I can speak from experience that barium nitrate poisoning is not fun times. Look around, my experiences are posted somewhere here or on APC, probably both.

Cheers, thats very intereasting!!! So it is not a cause, its just a symptom. So all that fuss about aluminium pots and pans was in vain. I spose thats why there allowed to use aluminium in drinks cans.

Cheers

[BrightStar]

No risk or safety codes, no "refer to SDS", everything MUST (as in required by law) be printed in FULL on the label.

The detailed safety info on the label of the cryolite I bought from Inoxia has stopped me from opening it so far. I half considered sending it straight back... On reflection, this must be a good thing - I hope that other UK suppliers follow likewise.

Edited by BrightStar, 17 November 2006 - 08:18 PM.

[minalth]

If 1 g could be a fatal dose, think how much a small amount could harm you!
the stuff is rat poison, it is really worth using?

[Richard H]

Well provided you aren't partial to eating it and wear PPE, then there isn't really a problem.

[BrightStar]

Well provided you aren't partial to eating it and wear PPE, then there isn't really a problem.

I seem to remember reading that Faraday used to taste every new chemical he isolated... didn't do him much good. Still haven't opened the cryolite though (waiting 'till I can work in the open air, even with PPE), so no lemony stars for me this New Year.

Edited by BrightStar, 02 December 2006 - 09:39 PM.

[phildunford]

Whilst not wishing in any way to reduce the precautions taken by people, I find the following tox data for Cryolite on the internet:

Routes of Exposure: Eye contact. Ingestion. Inhalation. Skin contact.
Toxicity Data: LD50- rat- 200mg/Kg
Chronic Toxic Effects: Overexposure may cause fluorosis, which is a condition affecting the bones and teeth.
Acute Toxic Effects: Poison by ingestion. Large doses of overexposure cause severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal burning and cramp-like pains. Contact with skin and eyes may cause irritation. Inhalation can cause irritation to mucous membranes and respiratory tracts.

So a 70Kilo (11 Stone) person would have to ingest 14g of material to get a lethal dose, you would have to be very sloppy to do that!

Given this Brightstar, I would not be too paranoid about opening the bottle.

PS Just found the rat LD50 for Aspirin is also 200mg/Kg - I don't think anyone is too worried about keeping/handling aspirin. (Though I'm not suggesting Cryolite has any theraputic properties!) - just that we routinely use substances of this (or greater) levels of toxicity without giving it a second thought...

[karlfoxman]

Ive used Sodium Aluminum Fluoride (Cryolite) before and it does give a good Yellow, its the chemical I used for my yellow crossettes I made. I use PPE for any chemicals im using as its good practice to do it. Fine airborne particals will get into your system and cause harm. If you dont use PPE your putting yourself at risk, one day you might accidently pickup the wrong chemical and start using it only to find you have taken a dose of something like Barium Nitrate.

At least using PPE you know the risk to yourself is minimised.

Just my 2 pence.

Edited by karlfoxman, 03 December 2006 - 10:15 AM.