VANADIUM

SYNONYMS: EINECS No. 231-171-1; VENADIO (Spanish)

IDENTIFICATION:

CAS: 7440-62-2; 1314-62-1 (dust, fume)

DOT ID: UN 3285 as vanadium compound, n.o.s. 6.1 (POISONOUS/TOXIC MATERIALS)

ERG Guide: 151

Formula: V

RTECS No: YW1355000

Properties: Lustrous powder, or fused, hard, lumpy solid. Bright white to light gray. Vanadium is a compound that occurs in nature as a white-to-gray metal, and is often found as crystals. Pure vanadium has no odor. Dust can be yellow-orange powder or dark gray flakes. Slightly radioactive. Practically insoluble in water.

Uses: Making alloys; in the form of vanadium oxide is a component in special kinds of steel that is used for automobile parts, springs, and ball bearings.

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION

• IDLH: 35 mg[V]/m3

• The Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified vanadium as to its human carcinogenicity. No human studies are available on the carcinogenicity of vanadium. No increase in tumors was noted in a long-term animal study where the animals were exposed to vanadium in the drinking water.

• OSHA Table Z-1-A Air Contaminant as VsO5 fume and dust.

• Exposure to high levels of vanadium can cause harmful health effects. The major effects from breathing high levels of vanadium are on the lungs, throat, and eyes. Workers who breathed it for short and long periods sometimes had lung irritation, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, runny nose, and a sore throat. These effects stopped soon after they stopped breathing the contaminated air. Similar effects have been observed in animal studies. No other significant health effects of vanadium have been found in humans. The health effects in people of ingesting vanadium are unknown. Animal studies: Animals that ingested very large doses have died. Lower, but still high levels of vanadium in  the water of pregnant animals resulted in minor birth defects. Some animals that breathed or ingested vanadium over a long term had minor kidney and liver changes. The amounts of vanadium given in these animal studies that resulted in harmful effects are much higher than those likely to occur in the environment.

Exposure Limits: • OSHA PEL: 0.05 mg[VsO5 ]/m3, dust, respirable fraction; 0.1 mg[VsO5 ]/m3 ceiling limit, fume

• NIOSH REL: 0.05 mg[V]/m3, ceiling limit [15 minute] dust or fume

Respirator: 0.5 mg/m3: HiE *(any air-purifying, respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter); or SA *(any supplied-air respirator). 1.25 mg/m3: SA:CF (any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode); or PAPRHiE * (any powered, air-purifying respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter). 2.5 mg/m3: HiEF (any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter); or PAPRTHiE *(any powered, air-purifying respirator with a tight-fitting facepiece and a high-efficiency particulate filter); or SCBAF (any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece); or SAF (any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece). 35 mg/m3: SAF:PD,PP (any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode). Emergency or Planned Entry into Unknown Concentrations or IDLH Conditions: SCBAF:PD,PP (any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode); or SAF:PD,PP:ASCBA (any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary, self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode).

Escape: HiEF (any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator with a high-efficiency particulate filter); or SCBAE (any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus). Note: *Substance reported to cause eye irritation or  damage; may require eye protection.

Reactivity: Flammable in dust form from heat, flames, or sparks. Reacts violently with barium trifluoride, chlorine, lilthium, nitryl fluoride, and oxidizers. Dust is incompatible with peroxyformic acid (methaneperoxic acid), sulfur, chlorine trifluoride, calcium, water; reactions may be violent with danger of fire and explosions.

FIRE INFORMATION

Combustion products include toxic vanadium oxides. Noncombustible solid, but dust may increase intensity of fire when in contact with combustible materials. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Notify local health and fire officials and pollution control agencies. Use dry chemicals, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide. Use water spray to cool exposed containers.

Hazard Classifications:

Health Hazard (Blue) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Flammability (Red) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

Reactivity (Yellow) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

FIRST AID: Move victim to fresh air. Call emergency medical care. Apply artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; induce artificial respiration with the aid of a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Keep victim warm and quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact) may be delayed. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

• Clean Water Act: Section 313 Priority Chemicals

• RCRA Universal Treatment Standards: Wastewater (mg/L), 4.3; Nonwastewater (mg/kg), 0.23.

• RCRA Ground Water Monitoring List: Suggested test methods(s) (PQL F g/L); (total) 6010(80); 7910(2000); 7911(40)

• Safe Drinking Water Act: Priority List (55 FR 1470) as vanadium.

• EPCRA Section 313: Form R de minimis concentration reporting level: 1.0%.

• California LOL: CDGN (fume and dust)

• WHMIS, Ingredients Disclosure List (Canada): 1%, elemental