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Inhalation f The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
f Remove the person from exposure. contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though
f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if air levels are less than the limits listed above.
breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped.
f Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
f Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after
overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and
regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for
Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential exposure.
effects described below.
Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right
to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee
Health Hazard Information Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020).
Acute Health Effects
Mixed Exposures
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer,
immediately or shortly after exposure to Potassium
emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen
Hydroxide:
respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if
you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce
f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with
your risk of developing health problems.
possible eye damage.
f Contact can irritate the nose and throat.
f Inhaling Potassium Hydroxide can irritate the lungs
causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher
exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs
(pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe
shortness of breath.
f Exposure to Potassium Hydroxide can cause headache,
dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Cancer Hazard
f According to the information presently available to the New
Jersey Department of Health, Potassium Hydroxide has
not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals.
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE Page 3 of 6
GLOSSARY
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of
Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of
Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. continuing an explosion.
mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air.
Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established
It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume).
by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from
once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals.
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation
is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations
Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can
can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.
change its physical state from a liquid to a gas.
NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer.
substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.
The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by
NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical.
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves
respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and
CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the
proposes standards to OSHA.
regulations of the United States government.
NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals
A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn.
and reviews evidence for cancer.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health
destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers.
Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety
standards.
The critical temperature is the temperature above which a
gas cannot be liquefied, regardless of the pressure applied.
PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational
Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental
safety standards in public workplaces.
Protection.
Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency
materials.
that regulates the transportation of chemicals.
ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal
measure of concentration by volume in air.
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards.
Protective Action Criteria (PAC) are values established by
ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for
the Department of Energy and are based on AEGLs and
emergency responders for transportation emergencies
ERPGs. They are used for emergency planning of chemical
involving hazardous substances.
release events.
Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values
A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
provide estimates of concentration ranges where one
energy under certain conditions.
reasonably might anticipate observing adverse effects.
STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15-
A fetus is an unborn human or animal.
minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time
during a work day.
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will
ignite easily and burn rapidly.
A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
damaging the fetus.
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.
UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in
air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a
reaction or explosion.
scientific group.
Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of
Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to
one gas to the weight of another (usually Air), at the same
remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured
temperature and pressure.
in electron volts.
The vapor pressure is a force exerted by the vapor in
IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database on
equilibrium with the solid or liquid phase of the same
human health effects that may result from exposure to various
substance. The higher the vapor pressure the higher
chemicals, maintained by federal EPA.
concentration of the substance in air.
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
HAZARD DATA
Hazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity
Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of Potassium Hydroxide reacts violently with STRONG ACIDS (such
3 - Health as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC).
surrounding fire. Potassium Hydroxide itself
0 - Fire does not burn. Potassium Hydroxide is CORROSIVE in MOIST AIR to
METALS (such as ALUMINUM, ZINC, TIN and LEAD) and forms
1 - Reactivity POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN
flammable and explosive Hydrogen gas.
FIRE, including Potassium Oxides.
DOT#: UN 1813 Potassium Hydroxide is not compatible with REDUCING AGENTS
DO NOT get water inside containers as contact (such as LITHIUM, SODIUM, ALUMINUM and their HYDRIDES);
ERG Guide #: 154 with moisture or water may generate enough WATER; HALOGENATED HYDROCARBONS (such as
heat to ignite combustibles (wood, paper and METHYLENE CHLORIDE and TRICHLOROETHYLENE);
Hazard Class: 8 oil). ORGANICS; NITROCARBONS; and AMMONIUM SALTS.
(Corrosive)