pH

Corrosivity on Skin [<2.5 or >11.5]

Excerptedfromhttp://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011150/pdfs/2011150.pdf RegardingNaOH: ThedirectskineffectsofNaOHarecausedbyitsstrongalkalinity.NaOHsolutionswithapHof 11.5orgreatershouldbeconsideredcorrosivetotheskin[NIOSH2009].A0.1molar concentration(molarity;M)or1%aqueoussolutionofNaOHhasapHofabout13[Pierce 1993].TheM(thenumberofmolesofagivensubstanceperliterofsolution)ofNaOH associatedwithapHof11.5isapproximately0.003M,andconcentrationsequaltoorgreater thanthisareconsideredcorrosivetotheskin[NIOSH2009].Lessconcentratedsolutionsof NaOH,althoughnotcorrosive,canbeirritatingtotheskin.Theconcentrationdependent corrosivityofNaOHhasbeendemonstratedinanumberofvolunteerstudies,dermal applicationtestsinanimals,andinvitrotestsforcorrosivityinhumanoranimalskinmodelsor ofskinintegrityincadaverskin. Excerptedfromhttp://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg173.pdf RegardingHCL: Atroomtemperature,hydrogenchlorideisacolorlesstoslightlyyellowgaswithapungent odor.Onexposuretoair,thegasformsdensewhitevaporsduetocondensationwith atmosphericmoisture.Thevaporiscorrosive,andairconcentrationsabove5ppmcancause irritation. Inhalationisanimportantrouteofexposuretohydrogenchloride.Itsodorandhighlyirritating propertiesgenerallyprovideadequatewarningforacute,highlevelexposures. However,only50%ofexposedpersonscanperceivehydrogenchloridesodorattheOSHA permissibleexposurelimit(5ppm),andodormaynotprovideadequatewarninginthe workplace.Hydrogenchloridevaporisheavierthanairandmaycauseasphyxiationinenclosed, poorlyventilated,orlowlyingareas. Hydrogenchlorideisnotabsorbedthroughtheskin.Directcontactwithaqueoussolutionsof hydrogenchlorideorwithconcentratedvaporcancauseseverechemicalburns. Excerptedfromhttp://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/ClandestineMethLab031705 MI/ClandestineMethLab031705MI.pdf

Hydrochloricacid/hydrogenchlorideisacorrosivegaswithanirritatingodorthatisslightly heavierthanair(andthus,islikelyfoundnearthefloorwhenreleasedtotheenvironment). Bothliquidandgaseousformulationsofhydrogenchloride(HCl)canbeusedtoconvertliquid freebasemethamphetaminetosolidmethamphetaminehydrochloride(meth),although gaseousHClismoreeffective(SalocksandKaley2004;Turkington2000).TheHarrisonmethlab hadHClonhandintheformofmuriaticacid(aliquidformulationusedinswimmingpools). AcuteinhalationexposuretoHClmaycauseirritationandburningoftheeyes,nose,throatand larynx,sneezing,coughing,choking,hoarseness,shortnessofbreath,laboredbreathing, bronchitis,chestpain,andupperrespiratorytractedema(Meditext2003).Veryintense inhalationexposures(roughly1000ppm)canleadtodeathwithinminutesduetocirculatory andrespiratoryfailure.Oraland/ordermalexposurescanleadtocorrosiveeffectsandsevere burnsandscarring,withpain,nausea,andvomitinglikelyuponingestionofHClandpain, dermatitis,andulcerationlikelyuponskincontact. Chronicinhalationexposurescanresultinchangesinpulmonaryfunction,bronchitis,skin inflammation,decayanderosionofdentalenamel,bleedingfromthenoseandgums, ulcerationofthemucousmembranesofthenoseandmouth,andconjunctivitis(Salocksand Kaley2004).Sometimesthesesymptomsmaybedelayedbymorethanadayand,inmany cases,canleadtopermanentdamagesuchasperforationofthegastrointestinaltractaswellas oculareffects. Excerptedfromhttp://www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/indguide/ig30.pdf TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),inregulatinghazardouswaste,usespHasthe criterionfordeterminingifasubstanceiscorrosive.WasteswithapHoflessthan2.0orgreater than12.5areconsideredtobecorrosive.