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Date Effective........... January 8, 2009
(most recent revision)
Chemical Name/Synonyms... Osmic acid, aqueous
Chemical Family.......... Platinum group metal salts
solutions
Emergencies
Contacting CHEMTREC:
24 Hour Emergency Use Only #'s...
Worldwide phone: 1-(703)-527-3887
Worldwide FAX: 1-(703)-741-6090
Toll-free phone: 1-(800)-424-9300 USA only
Product or Trade Name.... Osmium tetroxide crystals
CAS #.................... 20816-12-0
EC NO: 244-058-7
Chemical Formula......... OsO4
Osmium tetroxide: 99.995% Formula weight: 254.21 NFPA Rating: Not known
Emergency overview:
This material is extremely harmful by inhalation, in contact with
skin or eyes or if ingested (could be lethal). It is highly
oxidizing, highly toxic (USA), and very toxic (EC). Contact with
combustible material could cause fire. The material if brought in
contact with skin causes severe burns. May also cause sensitization
by inhalation and skin contact, and when contact does occur, the
effects are usually going to be irreversible. It is also a possible
mutagen. Material is also considered to be a lachrymator.
Signal Word
Harmful!
Physical Health Hazards:
Harmful by inhalation, in contact with the skin or eyes
and if swallowed.
Personal protection:
Wear approved protective clothing when working with this material
in order to avoid any contact with material at all. Long sleeves
and/or lab coat are recommended to protect against skin contact.
Approved chemical goggles are recommended to protect against eye
contact. And of course, all such work must be done in an approved
fume hood.
Target organ(s): Eyes, central nervous system
Other comments:
The main application in the world for osmium tetroxide is in the
field of electron microscopy. We recommend the use of pre-mixed
4% aqueous solutions for those a bit uncertain about working with
pure 1 g ampoules of crystals. However in many respects, working
with the aqueous solution is every bit as dangerous as working with
the crystals.
Exposure in the electron microscope laboratory environment is rare
but it does happen. While exhaustive studies have not been done
what is clear is that chronic exposure to low levels of osmium
tetroxide can result is vision abnormalities, and those exposed have
reported seeing "halos" in their vision. Should such symptoms
occur, immediately leave the area to fresh air
and keep anyone else form entering the area with out proper approved
respiratory protection.
And then no matter how good or bad one feels, medical attention
should be sought immediately.
Other information:
Physical state: Free flowing powder in ampoules unless heated at
some point after filling above the melting point, then
the material could have fused together into one larger
agglomeration.
Color: Water clear solution. If black in color, then
material in the ampoules has gone bad and has been converted
to the dioxide, which for all practical purposes, is not
hazardous.
Odor: Highly corrosive, choking
Odor threshold: No data available
Chronic Health Effects Summary:
Not known.
Conditions Aggravated by Exposure:
Not known.
Carcinogenicity:
NTP: Not known
IARC: Not known
OSHA: Not known
Explanation of carcinogenicity: None
In case of contact, with either eyes or skin, flush either immediately with copious amounts of water for at least fifteen minutes while removing all contaminated clothing and shoes. If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Take proper precautions to ensure your own health and safety before attempting to rescue and providing first aid. For specific information refer to the Emergency Overview in Section of this MSDS. Ingestion: Adverse health effects due to ingestion to be expected, indeed they could be lethal. Call a physician in all cases, at once, and seek other medical attention.
Extinguishing Media:
Osmium tetroxide is noncombustible, use extinguishing media
appropriate for the surrounding fire. Special fire fighting
procedures would include self-contained breathing apparatus and
protective clothing to prevent contact with skin and eyes.
One should use caution in the event of a fire should the sealed
ampoules overhead and then explode. To prevent that from
happening, continue to spray the ampoules with cold water. Should
ampoules break under those conditions, the escaping vapors could
come in contact with other materials and cause secondary fires.
NFPA Rating: Not known
Flammability classification:
Non-flammable
BP: 129.7°C
Vapor Pressure @ 25°C: 9.8 mm Hg
Solubilities:
5.07 % Water at 25°C
6.5 % Water at 90°C
CAS# 20816-12-0
NIOSH (RTECS) No. RN1140000
Immediate response: Evacuate area at once. Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, rubber boots and heavy rubber gloves. Wear disposable coveralls and discard them after use. Should spilled osmium tetroxide remain, vegetable oil is a neutralizer for the material. We recommend a liter of vegetable oil to be held for such emergency situations should there be an accidental release. However, because of the high sublimation rate of the material, this might be of limited value in such an emergency situation. Caution: OsO4 is a listed EPA hazardous waste, P087.
Handling: Wear appropriate NIOSH/MSHA approved respirator, chemical resistant gloves, safety goggles and other protective clothing. Under no circumstances should this material be used with open tipped shoes. We also recommend a safety shower be in close vicinity of the work area and this would include also a safety eye bath. Use only in a chemical fume hood and under no circumstances, ever breathe in any of the vapors. Do not get the material in the eyes, on the skin or on clothing. Always wash thoroughly after handling. Storage: In sealed glass ampoule form, we recommend storage in a laboratory refrigerator. Not only does the lower temperature extend greatly the shelf life of the material but in the even there is any kind if mishap, should the ampoules be chilled rather than at room temperature, what ever damage might occur could be minimized. For electron microscope use, typically the material is mixed as a 4% aqueous solution (or less) and a roughly 25 ml quantity of 4% solution might be getting stored in a flask with ground glass top. This top then should be wrapped tightly with Parafilm® M. We recommend all procedures with even the 4% aqueous solution to be done under the chemical fume hood.
Always wear safety glasses with full splash protection when handling osmium tetroxide.
Boiling point: 130° C (of the pure crystals, should the water
be allowed to evaporate)
Melting point: 39.5 to 41° C (should the water be allowed
to evaporate)
Vapor pressure: 0.123 psi at 20° C 3.55 55° C
Specific gravity: 1
Vapor density: Not known
Boiling Point/Range: Not applicable
pH: Not applicable
Viscosity: Not applicable
Evaporation Rate: Sublimes at room temperature
Chemical Stability: The product is stable Conditions to Avoid: Heat Incompatibility with: Strong reducing agents, organic materials, finely powdered metals. Contact with HCl will cause formation of poisonous chlorine gas. Hazardous Products of Deposition: Sublimes easily and releases poisonous and highly irritating vapors. Hazardous Polymerization: Does not occur
Acute effects:
So far as we know, the chemical, physical and toxicological
properties have not been thorough investigated. The material is
highly destructive in an irreversible way to all tissue of the
mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin.
Inhalation may result in spasm, convulsions, inflammation and edema
of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema.
Symptoms of exposure:
Burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness
of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms might be
delayed. A "halo" effects with vision would indicate a chronic
low level exposure and one for which immediately steps should be
taken to remove the exposure risk. Some times this halo effect
is described as color rings around lights. Exposure to skin can
cause a greenish or black discoloration of the skin where exposure
occurred. May be fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through
the skin. Allergic like reactions are also possible.
Chronic effects:
Target organs: Eyes, central nervous system, male reproductive
system, kidneys
RTECS #: RN1140000
Toxicity data:
IPR-RAT LD50:14100 µg/kg
ORL-MUS LD50:162 µg/kg
IPR-MUS LD50:13500 µg/kg
Target organ data:
Sense organs and special senses (lacrimation)
Sense organs and special senses (other eye effects)
Lungs, thorax, or respiration (change in trachea or
bronchi)
Paternal effects (spermatogenesis)
Paternal effects (testees epididymis, sperm duct)
Only selected registry of toxic effects of chemical
substances (RTECS) data is presented here.
Exotoxicity: No information found in our select references however we would expect it to be very low for the simple reason that because of its strength as an oxidizer, it would want to be reduced that much more readily, therefore it would quickly be converted to the dioxide, a form of the metal that is reasonably innocuous. Environmental Fate: No information found in our selected references, however we would expect it to be converted to the dioxide quite readily, which is a relative innocuous substance. Bioaccumulation: No information found in our selected references.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of the material. Observe all federal, state and local environmental regulations. Contact SPI Supplies for the possiblities for recycling. Remember this is a non-renewable resource and we should be looking at all possible ways to conserve the world's supply of this material which is not unlimited.
Proper Shipping Name: Osmium tetroxide DOT Hazard Class: Toxic 6.1 UN/NA ID: #2471 Packing Group: I Marine Pollutant: Not known NAER Guidebook: Not known DOT Status: Toxic Class 6.1
TSCA: All components of this product are listed on the TSCA 8(b)
inventory. If identified components of this product are listed
under the TSCA 12(b) Export Notification Rule, they will be listed
below.
TSCA 12(b) Component Listed under TSCA Section
None
SARA Title 3: Section 313 Information/Emissions Reporting (40 CFR 372):
Component Reporting Threshold
OsO4
European community information
EC INDEX NO: 076-001-00-5
Oxidizing
Very toxic
R 26/27/28
Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if ingested.
R 34
Causes burns.
S 7/9
Keep container tightly closed and in well-ventilated place.
S 26
In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with copious amounts
of water and seek medical advice.
S 45
In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice.
Immediately show the label where possible.
Reviews, standards and regulations
OEL=MAK
ACGIH TLV-STEL 0.0006 PPM
DTLVS* TLV/BEI,1999
ACGIH TLV-TWA 0.0002 PPM
DTLVS* TLV/BEI,1999
MSHA STANDARD-AIR:TWA
0.002 MG/M3
DTLVS* 3,192,1971
OSHA PEL (GEN INDU):8H TWA
0.002 MG(OS)/M3
CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
OSHA PEL (CONSTRUC):8H TWA
0.002 MG(OS)/M3
CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
OSHA PEL (SHIPYARD):8H TWA
0.002 MG(OS)/M3
CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993
OSHA PEL (FED CONT):8H TWA
0.002 MG(OS)/M3
CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
NIOSH REL TO OSMIUM TETROXIDE-AIR:10H
TWA 0.0002 PPM;STEL 0.0006 PPM
NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
NOHS 1974: HZD 52370; NIS 2; TNF 195;
NOS 2; TNE 370
NOES 1983: HZD 52370; NIS 2; TNF 87;
NOS 5; TNE 1733; TFE 420
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988,
POSITIVE: B SUBTILIS REC ASSAY
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988,
INCONCLUSIVE: D
MELANOGASTER SEX-LINKED
LETHAL
EPA TSCA SECTION 8(B)
CHEMICAL INVENTORY
ON EPA IRIS DATABASE
U.S. INFORMATION
4.0% OSMIUM TETROXIDE
20816-12-0
California Prop. 65:
Proposition 65 requires manufacturers or distributors of consumer products
into the State of California to provide a warning statement if the product
contains ingredients for which the State has found to cause cancer, birth
defects or other reproductive harm. If this product contains an ingredient
listed by the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity,
it will be listed below:
No data has been generated to our knowledge whether this material has
been found to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Therefore, to be on the safe side, we would advice treating this product
as if it does have those properties and respond accordingly.
Disclaimer of Liability: Caution! Do not use SPI Supplies products or materials in applications involving implantation within the body; direct or indirect contact with the blood pathway; contact with bone, tissue, tissue fluid, or blood; or prolonged contact with mucous membranes. Products offered by SPI Supplies are not designed or manufactured for use in implantation in the human body or in contact with internal body fluids or tissues. SPI Supplies will not provide to customers making devices for such applications any notice, certification, or information necessary for such medical device use required by US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulation or any other statute. SPI Supplies and Structure Probe, Inc. make no representation, promise, express warranty or implied warranty concerning the suitability of these materials for use in implantation in the human body or in contact with internal body tissues of fluids.
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