Zinksulfid

Excerpt from ERG Guide 171 [Substances (Low to Moderate Hazard)]:

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media.

Fresh air, rest.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Stable if kept dry

Finely divided ... zinc compounds, can be fire and explosion hazard if stored in damp places, sources of spontaneous combustion. /Zinc cmpd/

Separated from strong acids.

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.

Generators of waste (equal to or greater than 100 kg/mo) containing this contaminant, EPA hazardous waste number D003, must conform with USEPA regulations in storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.

Chemical Treatability of Zinc; Concentration Process: Ultrafiltration; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Continuous flow, pilot scale; Type of Wastewater Used: Industrial wastewater; Results of Study: 0.38 ppm effluent concentration. /Zinc/

Chemical Treatability of Zinc; Concentration Process: Miscellaneous sorbents; Chemical Classification: Metals; Scale of Study: Literature review; Type of Wastewater Used: Unknown; Results of Study: Final concentration reduced to 0.1 ppb; SiO2 + CaO slags used. /Zinc/

Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work.

Prevention ... /of metal fume fever/ is a matter of keeping exposure of workers below level of concn currently accepted as satisfactory for working with the metal in industry, preferably by employment of proper local exhaust ventilation to collect fumes at their source. Acceptable respirators are avail commercially but should be used only under suitable conditions. /Zinc/

In all cases where zinc is heated to the point where fume is produced, it is most important to ensure that adequate ventilation is provided. Individual protection is best ensured by education of the worker concerning metal-fume fever & the provision of local exhaust ventilation, or, in some situations by wearing of supplied-air hood or mask.

LC50 Daphnia magna (Water flea) 970 mg/L/48 hr; static

LC50 Pimephales promelas (Fathead minnow) 1826 mg/L/96 hr; static

Anaemia results from the excessive absorption of zinc suppressing copper and iron absorption, most likely through competitive binding of intestinal mucosal cells. Unbalanced levels of copper and zinc binding to Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase has been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Stomach acid dissolves metallic zinc to give corrosive zinc chloride, which can cause damage to the stomach lining. Metal fume fever is thought to be an immune response to inhaled zinc. (L48, L49, A49)

Cough.

Redness. Pain.

Ingestion of large doses of zinc causes stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Acute inhalation of large amounts of zinc causes metal fume fever, which is characterized by chills, fever, headache, weakness, dryness of the nose and throat, chest pain, and coughing. Dermal contact with zinc results in skin irritation. (L49)

The assessment of zinc exposure can be accomplished through measurement of zinc. The presence of excess zinc ... can indicate high exposure to zinc; however, no information was found in the literature regarding the accuracy of these levels in predicting possible health effects. Blood Reference Ranges: Normal - average level 1200 ug/dl; Exposed - not established; Toxic - not established. Serum or Plasma Reference Ranges: Normal - average levels 100 ug/dl; Exposed - not established; Toxic - not established. Urine Reference Ranges: Normal - average levels 0.5 mg/g creatinine or 150 to 1200 ug/24 hours; Exposed - urinary concentrations of 600 to 700 ug/l were found in workers exposed to zinc oxide at levels of 3 to 5 mg/cu m; Toxic - greater than 1200 ug/24 hours has been indicated as a toxic urinary level of zinc; however no information was located relating to the severity of symptoms seen with high urinary zinc levels. /Zinc/

Respiratory Symptom Questionnaires: Questionnaires have been published by the American Thoracic Society and the British Medical Research Council. These questionnaires have been found to be useful in identification of people with chronic bronchitis, however certain pulmonary function tests such as FEV1 have been found to be better predictors of chronic airflow obstruction. /Zinc/

Chest Radiography: This test is widely used for assessing pulmonary disease. Chest radiographs have been found to be useful for detection of early lung cancer in asymptomatic people, especially for detection of peripheral tumors such as adenocarcinomas. However, even though OSHA mandates this test for exposure to some toxicants such as asbestos, there are conflicting views on its efficacy in detection of pulmonary disease. /Zinc/

Pulmonary Function Tests: The tests that have been found to be practical for population monitoring include: Spirometry and expiratory flow-volume curves; Determination of lung volumes; Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; Single-breath nitrogen washout; Inhalation challenge tests; Serial measurements of peak expiratory flow; Exercise testing. /Zinc/

For more Medical Surveillance (Complete) data for ZINC SULFIDE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

OCCURS IN NATURE AS THE MINERALS WURTZITE & SPHALERITE.

... ABOVE A RATIO OF FE:ZN OF 1:5 THE MINERAL IS CALLED MARMATITE; ABOVE 5:6 SPHALERITE STRUCTURE CEASES TO EXIST. NEXT TO FE, CD IS MOST COMMON IMPURITY IN SPHALERITE ... GALLIUM & GE ALSO OCCUR IN SPHALERITE (LOW TEMP FORMATION); SN & INDIUM OCCUR IN TRACES FROM HIGH TEMP DEPOSITS.

Metallic zinc is not found free in nature, but rather occurs in the +2 oxidation state often as zinc sulfide or zinc oxide. (SRC)

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Since the 1960's, formerly caustic content /of golf balls/ appears to have been replaced by a non-caustic paste containing barium sulfate, with or without zinc sulfide. Since the 1960's this new preparation has been involved in most recorded injuries from incised or disrupted liquid center golf balls. When the paste is suddenly ejected under great pressure, it can penetrate through the conjunctiva, or into the skin of the eyelids and, less often, into the cornea. Injection into the conjunctiva and lids can be painless, but characteristically a white plaque of injected material is visible beneath the surface. This evokes a non-purulent inflammatory reaction with swelling of the tissue, followed in a few weeks by tissue fibrosis.

/CASE REPORTS/ Zinc sulfide, as well as barium sulfate which was similarly encountered /from liquid center of golf ball accidentally squirted into eye of 2 children/, produced only slight macrophage reaction and negligible tissue damage.

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ If free gastric acidity is high, the ingestion of zinc sulfide may result in their decomposition to hydrogen sulfide in stomach, with subsequent systemic toxicity.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Chronic Exposure or Carcinogenicity/ Concentrations up to 0.25% zinc sulfide in diet do not produce signs of toxicity in rats. At levels above this homeostatic mechanism breaks down.

/ALTERNATIVE IN VITRO TESTS/ Hemolytic reactions, adsorption tests, and microscopic evidence provided information about the interactions between either zinc, zinc oxide, or zinc sulfide dust particles and human red blood cells. In vitro, zinc dust extensively hemolyzed red blood cells and absorbed the liberated hemoglobin. Metallic zinc had the greatest hemolytic effect and the largest hemoglobin binding capacity; it was followed by zinc oxide and zinc sulfide.

CLASSIFICATION: D; not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: Based on inadequate evidence in humans and animals. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Inadequate. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Inadequate. /Zinc and compounds/

Zinc sulfide is an indirect food additive for use only as a component of adhesives.

Drug products containing certain active ingredients offered over-the-counter (OTC) for certain uses. A number of active ingredients have been present in OTC drug products for various uses, as described below. However, based on evidence currently available, there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients for the specified uses: zinc sulfide is included in topical acne drug products.

(AZ) ARIZONA 5000 ug/l /Zinc/

(MN) MINNESOTA 2000 ug/l /Zinc/

EPA 5000 ug/l /Zinc/

EPA 2000 ug/l /Zinc, Lifetime health advisory/