Hematite (Fe2O3)

Plastics -> Polyolefin-I; PUR; Polyolefin-II; PVC (soft); ABS; PVC (rigid); PET; PMMA; PA; PC; (E)PS

Plastics -> Pigments agents

Brilliant black to blackish red or brick red mineral, brown to cherry red streak and metallic to dull luster /Hematite, red/

Red-brown hexagonal crystals

This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 88% (402 of 457) of all reports.

Danger

H315 (12%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

P264, P264+P265, P280, P302+P352, P305+P354+P338, P317, P321, P332+P317, and P362+P364 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 457 reports by companies from 4 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Chemical: Hematite (Fe2O3)

Hematite (Fe2O3) is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Hematite (Fe2O3) are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)

Status: Active Update: 19-09-2022 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/7586

Hematite (Fe2O3): Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standard

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

The following wastewater treatment technologies have been investigated for iron (Fe+2): Concentration process: Biological treatment. /Iron (Fe+2)/

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

All ... /iron/ preparations should be kept in child-proof bottles. /Iron preparations/

8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 5 mg/cu m (respirable fraction). /Iron oxide/

Excursion Limit Recommendation: Excursions in worker exposure levels may exceed 3 times the TLV-TWA for no more than a total of 30 minutes during a work day, and under no circumstances should they exceed 5 times the TLV-TWA, provided that the TLV-TWA is not exceeded. /Iron oxide/

A4: Not classifiable as a human carcinogen. /Iron oxide/

Particulate matter & polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are known to be cocarcinogenic. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that adsorption of benzo(a)pyrene to iron oxide (hematite), silica & asbestos (anthophyllite & canadian chrysotile) results in a greatly enhanced rate of benzo(a)pyrene uptake into rat liver microsomes when compared to uptake from aqueous dispersions of benzo(a)pyrene microcrystals.

The effects of quartz, Fe2O3 (hematite), CaCO3, & Na feldspar, on host defenses against bacterial pulmonary infection was investigated. Mice which received intratracheal instillations of 10, 33, and 100 mug/mouse were exposed within an hour to aerosols of viable streptococcus, & pneumonia-induced mortality was measured. At 33 and 100 mug/mouse, all particles significantly increased mortality. At the lower dose, only fe2o3 caused a significant increase in mortality. Delaying the challenge did not significantly alter the response.

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ ...Hematite pneumoconiosis in Cumberland Fe ore miners... is progressive, massive fibrosis, appearing as modified form of infective pneumoconiosis... tuberculosis is terminal event... because of... increases in degree of silica exposure. Increased incidence of lung tumors... of 238 necropsies... 24 cases of carcinoma...

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ ...Under the conditions of heavy exposure to hematite dust, pulmonary clearance mechanisms may be overwhelmed. ... Upper lobes & upper parts of lower lobes tend to be more affected by fibrosis than lower parts of lower lobes. Also, peripheries of lungs tend to be more affected than central regions.

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ Higher concentration of silica & iron ... found in lungs of hematite miners with fibrosis (associated or not with pulmonary tuberculosis) or with bronchial carcinoma than in lungs of those with no such pathology ... levels in those with carcinoma ... not higher than ... those with fibrosis (accompanied or not by tuberculosis) but no carcinoma.

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ ... Dust ... caught in respiratory tract ... /removed/ in sputum ... rust colored. Remaining iron oxide accumulates in lymphoid tissue, along bronchi around blood vessels, or at bifurcation of bronchi. If worker exposed to iron oxide is short of breath or has abnormal lung function indices, it is important to discover whether or not he has inhaled fibrogenic dust such as silica in addition to iron. /iron/

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for HEMATITE (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Haematite

Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans

Volume 1: (1972) Some Inorganic Substances, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Amines, N-Nitroso Compounds, and Natural Products

1987

1987

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ Tracheal organ cultures from guinea pig and hamster were used to document morphologic changes in the differentiated tracheal epithelium after exposure to equal amounts of hematite, crocidolite, and chrysotile. In addition, an epithelial cell line derived from a neonatal hamster trachea (HTE-b) was used to exam alterations in DNA synthesis & the interaction of cells in monolayer with the dusts. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed in both systems after exposure to asbestos, whereas hematite was nontoxic.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ Biochemical alterations in guinea pig lungs caused by hematite dust were followed at 150 days after intratracheal administration of the dust. In vivo dust exposure caused a significant increase in mitochondrial protein content and cytochrome c oxidase activity whereas diaphorase activity remained unaltered. Mitochondria from the exposed animals were apparently in a swollen state and their contraction profile upon the addition of ATP reflected permeability changes. However, in vitro dust caused no significant alterations. Significant increases in glycogen content along with an insignificant decrease in glycogen phosphorylase activity were also observed in hematite-treated guinea pig lungs. Decrease in drug-metabolizing enzymes such as aniline hydroxylase and tyrosine aminotransferase activities were also evident in the postmitochondrial fraction of the siderotic lungs. [3H]Leucine-incorporation studies showed increased protein synthesis in the postmitochondrial fraction. Increase in protein synthesis in mitochondria was only marginal whereas in whole homogenate it decreased considerably. Experiments employing dust tagged with radioactive iron indicated the rapid mobilization of iron from lung and its distribution to various organs. The presence of iron-binding protein was confirmed by employing Sephadex gel-filtration techniques.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ The changes in activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, fructose diphosphatase, adenyl cyclase, succinic dehydrogenase and carbonic anhydrase were followed in guinea pig lungs at 50, 100 and 150 days after an intratracheal injection of 50 mg hematite dust. Fructose diphosphatase was elevated and adenyl cyclase unaffected, while the other activities decreased.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Chronic Exposure or Carcinogenicity/ ... Failed to increase frequency of lung tumors in guinea-pigs by exposing them to hematite dust.

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for HEMATITE (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

A4: Not classifiable as a human carcinogen. /Iron oxide/

Classification of carcinogenicity: 1) evidence in humans: Inadequate; 2) evidence in animals: Inadequate. Overall summary evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans is Group 3: The agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. /From table/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool. /Iron and related compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... . Start an IV with lactated Ringer's /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Watch for signs of fluid overload. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Iron and related compounds/

Maintain an open airway and assist ventilation if necessary. Treat shock caused by hemorrhagic gastrointestinitis aggressively with intravenous crystalloid fluids, and replace blood if needed. Patients are often markedly hypovolemic owing to gastrointestinal losses and third spacing of fluids into the intestinal wall and interstitial space. Treat coma, seizures, and metabolic acidosis if they occur. For seriously intoxicated victims (eg, shock, severe acidosis, and/or serum iron > 500-600 mcg/dL) administer deferoxamine. Monitor the urine for the urine for the characteristic orange or pink deferoxamine-iron complex. Therapy may be stopped when the urine returns to normal or when the serum iron level decreases to the normal range. Prolonged deferoxamine has been associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome and Yersinia sepsis.

Activated charcoal is not effective. Ipecac is not recommended, because it can aggravate iron-induced gastrointestinal irritation and interfere with whole bowel irrigation. Consider gastric lavage if product was a liquid formulation or tablets were chewed. Do-not use phosphate-containing solutions for lavage; these may result in life-threatening hypernatremia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. Bicarbonate and deferoxamine lavage are of doubtful efficacy. Deferoxamine lavage is not effective and may enhance iron absorption. Whole-bowel irrigation is very effective for ingested tablets and may be considered first-line treatment, especially if large numbers of tablets are visible on plain abdominal x-ray. Massive ingestions may lead to concretions or bezoars. Repeated or prolonged whole-bowel irrigation may remove tablets. Endoscopy or surgical gastrotomy is rarely required.

Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are not effective for removing iron but may be necessary to remove iron-deferoxamine complex in patients with renal failure. Exchange transfusion is occasionally used for massive pediatric ingestions but is of questionable efficacy.

... Proportion ... introduced into lungs of experimental animals remained within lungs of Tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes throughout their remaining life-span. Particles appear to penetrate walls of alveoli & respiratory bronchioles and remain in connective tissues of lung within macrophages which form clusters of various sizes.

The most important ore of iron. Also, certain varieties are used as paint pigments and for rouge.

Ore- raw material for iron; pigment for ceramics, paint, rubber, paper, & linoleum; chem intermediate for ferrites; polishing agent for glass, precious metals, & diamonds; component in electrical resistors, semiconductors, magnets & magnetic tapes; catalyst

Plastics -> Typical concentration range in plastic materials -> 1%

(1972) No Data

(1975) No Data

(1985) 4.79X10+12 g /Iron Ore/

(1972) No Data

(1975) No Data

(1985) 1.60X10+13 g /Iron Ore/

2023: 100,000,000 - <250,000,000 lb

(1972) 6.4X10+10 G-RED OXIDE-NATURAL+SYNTHETIC

(1975) 4.5X10+10 G-RED OXIDE-NATURAL+SYNTHETIC

(1985) 4.79X10+13 g /Iron Ore/

Occurs naturally as the mineral hematite; produced synthetically by calcining iron salts such as ferrous sulfate, ferric alums, or organic iron salts under oxidizing conditions (the iron compound used and the reaction conditions determine the color of the pigments)

Plastics -> Polymer Type -> Polyolefin-I; PUR; Polyolefin-II; PVC (soft); ABS; PVC (rigid); PET; PMMA; PA; PC; (E)PS

Plastics -> Pigments agents

Asphalt Paving, Roofing, and Coating Materials Manufacturing

Hematite (Fe2O3): ACTIVE

(1972)Most important iron ore ... mineral found in two forms: red hematite or red iron ore, which consists mainly of Fe2O3 & contains approx 70% of iron; brown hematite or brown iron ore, which consists mainly of hydrated sesquioxide of iron (limonite) & contains approx 42% of iron.

Less commonly occurring forms ... (i) brilliant lustre (steel grey crystalline variety, known also as looking-glass ore, iron glance or specular iron); (ii) micaeous iron ore ... (iii) speculous ore formed by interaction of steam & ferric chloride in volcanic regions; (iv) soft red ore ... earthy; (v) red ochre & rouge.

Because iron ore deposits are usually near surface, most of mining is done in opencast systems. ... In addition to iron oxide or carbonate, ores contain ... silica & clay ... with smaller amount of ... phosphorus, sulfur, titanium, manganese, calcium & magnesium.

... As /a/ source of iron in salt blocks and feeds. ... Subsequent biologic availability trials in rats, chicks, cattle, and sheep have confirmed its worthlessness as source of iron. Most clinical trials with swine have been equally disappointing.