Barium peroxide

Excerpt from ERG Guide 141 [Oxidizers - Toxic]:

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

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again.

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

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer for medical attention .

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material.

Get medical attention. Alert doctor to possibility of barium poisoning, particularly if compound was swallowed.

General First Aid:

Fire Extinguishing Media: Use flooding amounts of water. Do not use dry chemical, carbon dioxide or Halon. Special Information: In the event of a fire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode. Do not release runoff from fire control methods to sewers or waterways. Water spray may be used to keep fire exposed containers cool.

Barium peroxide does not burn, but mixtures of barium peroxide and combustible, organic, or easily oxidized materials, such as wood, fuels, paper, and charcoal, will burn or explode if rubbed or contact a small amound of water. Use large amounts of water to extinguish the fire ... If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Notify local health and fire officials and pollution control agencies. From a secure, explosion-proof location, use water spray to cool exposed containers. If cooling streams are ineffective (venting sound increases in volume and pitch, tank discolors or shows any signs of deforming), withdraw immediately to a secure position ... The only respirators recommended for fire fighting are self-contained breathing apparatuses that have full facepieces and are operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

If material on fire or involved in fire: Flood with water. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible ... If fire becomes uncontrollable, consider evacuation of one-half (1/2) mile radius.

Keep in a tightly closed container, stored in a cool, dry, ventilated area. Protect against physical damage and moisture. Separate from incompatibilities. Separate from combustibles, organic or other readily oxidizable materials. Avoid storage on wood floors. Containers of this material may be hazardous when empty since they retain product residues (dust, solids); observe all warnings and precautions listed for the product.

Separated from combustible and reducing substances, food and feedstuffs. Dry.

Storage temp: Ambient

Accidental Release Measures. Ventilate area of leak or spill. Keep unnecessary and unprotected people away from area of spill. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment as specified in Section 8. Spills: Pick up and place in a suitable container for reclamation or disposal, using a method that does not generate dust.

Spill Handling: Evacuate and restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete. Remove all ignition sources. Cover material with sand/soda ash 9:1 mixture. Mix thoroughly and while stirring, add slowly to sodium bisulfite solution with plastic implements. Neutralize with dilute /sulfuric acid/. After setting, decant the solution with flushing water and transport the sand to a sanitary landfill. Ventilate area of spill or leak after cleanup is complete. It may be necessary to contain and dispose of this chemical as a hazardous waste. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection or your regional office of the federal EPA for specific recommendations.

Sweep spilled substance into containers, then remove to safe place. Do NOT absorb in saw-dust or other combustible absorbents. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment.

The sulfate may be brushed up and treated as normal refuse. Soluble barium salts should be scooped up and treated as for waste disposal. Wash the spill area thoroughly with water. /Soluble barium salts/

For more Cleanup Methods (Complete) data for Barium peroxide (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Generators of waste (equal to or greater than 100 kg/mo) containing this contaminant, EPA hazardous waste number D005, must conform with USEPA regulations in storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.

Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be managed in an appropriate and approved waste facility. Although not a listed RCRA hazardous waste, this material may exhibit one or more characteristics of a hazardous waste and require appropriate analysis to determine specific disposal requirements. Processing, use or contamination of this product may change the waste management options. State and local disposal regulations may differ from federal disposal regulations. Dispose of container and unused contents in accordance with federal, state and local requirements.

... Ion exchange, lime softening and reverse osmosis are effective to remove barium from drinking water. Conventional coagulation/filtration processes are not effective to remove barium from drinking water. /Barium ion/

Package lots. Place in a separate labeled container for recycling or disposal. Small quantities. Wear nitrile rubber gloves, laboratory coat, and eye protection. Avoid breathing dust. Dissolve the barium salt in the minimum volume of water. For each gram of barium salt, add 15 mL of 10% sodium sulfate solution. Let stand for 1 week. Test for completeness of precipitation by adding a few drops of 10% sodium sulfate solution. If required, add more sodium sulfate solution until no further precipitation occurs. Decant supernatant liquid or filter solid. Treat solid as normal refuse. Wash liquid into drain. /Barium salt/

The health effects of the different barium compounds depend on how well the compound dissolves in water or the stomach contents. At low doses, barium acts as a muscle stimulant, while higher doses affect the nervous system, causing cardiac irregularities, tremors, weakness, anxiety, dyspnea, paralysisand possibly death. Barium may also cause gastrointestinal disturbances, damage the kidneys and cause decreases in body weight. (L214)

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.

Oral (L214) ; inhalation (L214)

Barium is a competitive potassium channel antagonist that blocks the passive efflux of intracellular potassium, resulting in a shift of potassium from extracellular to intracellular compartments. The intracellular translocation of potassium results in a decreased resting membrane potential, making the muscle fibers electrically unexcitable and causing paralysis. Some of these barium's effects may also be due to barium induced neuromuscular blockade and membrane depolarization. (L214)

Burning sensation. Cough. Laboured breathing. Shortness of breath. Sore throat. See Ingestion.

Redness. Skin burns. Pain.

Redness. Pain. Blurred vision.

Abdominal pain. Vomiting. Diarrhoea.

Ingesting excess barium may cause vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, difficulties in breathing, increased or decreased blood pressure, numbness around the face, and muscle weakness. High levels may result in changes in heart rhythm or paralysis and possibly death. (L214)

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ The agent irritates and corrodes the skin, the mucous membranes and the eyes. Very toxic if ingested.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Inhalation: May cause irritation to the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Symptoms may include sore throat, coughing, and shortness of breath. Systemic poisoning may occur in sensitive individuals with symptoms similar to those of ingestion. Heavy exposure to dusts may produce a benign pneumoconiosis (baritosis). Systemic poisoning may occur with symptoms similar to those of ingestion. Heavy exposure to dusts can produce benign pneumoconiosis (baritosis). Ingestion: May cause tightness of the muscles of the face and neck, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscular tremors, anxiety, weakness, labored breathing, cardiac irregularity, convulsions, and death from cardiac and respiratory failure. Estimated lethal dose lies between 1 to 15 grams. Skin Contact: Causes irritation to skin. Symptoms include redness, itching, and pain. Eye Contact: Causes irritation, redness, and pain.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Short Term Exposure: Barium peroxide can affect you when breathed in. Contact can irritate and burn the eyes and skin. Breathing the dust or mist can irritate the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes, causing cough and phlegm. Exposure to this chemical can affect the nervous system and cause hypokalemia, which can cause heart disorders. Long Term Exposure: After repeated exposure barium may show up as spots in the lungs on chest X-ray. Some barium chemicals are contaminated with silica, which scars the lungs. Repeated contact may cause chronic drying and cracking skin. Animal studies have found increased blood pressure and changes in the heart from ingesting barium over a long time.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Severe reactions have ... been reported from inhalation of barium ... peroxide dusts...

Harmful ... if swallowed.

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 511 workers (312 of these were female) were potentially exposed to barium peroxide in the US(1).

D005; A solid waste containing barium may or may not become characterized as a hazardous waste when subjected to the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure listed in 40 CFR 261.24, and if so characterized, must be managed as a hazardous waste. /Barium/

Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 1000 lb or 454 kg. The toll free number of the NRC is (800) 424-8802. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40 CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b). /Barium/

(AZ) ARIZONA 1500 ug/L /Barium/

(ME) MAINE 1500 ug/L /Barium/

(MN) MINNESOTA 2000 ug/L /Barium/

Maximum Contaminant Level: 2 mg/L /Barium/

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: 2 mg/L /Barium/

EPA 2000 ug/L /Barium/