| GHS classification | DangerH250: Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air [Danger Pyrophoric liquids]P210, P222, P223, P231, P231+P232, P233, P273, P280, P302+P335+P334, P370+P378, P391, P402+P404, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)WarningH400: Very toxic to aquatic life [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]P273, P391, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) |
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| Regulatory information | Chemical: ZincHazard Traits - BioaccumulationEnvironmental PersistenceZinc is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Zinc 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: 27-04-2023 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/16146Zinc: Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standardThe New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.) |
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| Other safety information | IMAP assessments - Zinc: Human health tier I assessment |
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| DOT label | Dangerous When WetDangerous When Wet Spontaneously Combustible |
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| Fire hazards | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:· Produce flammable gases on contact with water.Highly flammable. May ignite spontaneously on contact with air. Many reactions may cause fire or explosion. Finely dispersed particles form explosive mixtures in air. Risk of fire and explosion on contact with water or incompatible substances. See Chemical Dangers. |
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| Fire potential | Zinc powder or dust in contact with water or damp air evolves hydrogen. The heat of reaction is sufficient that the hydrogen may ignite.... In compact form does not burn readily until it is heated above 500 °C. |
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| Health hazards | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:· Inhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death. |
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| Hazards summary | Zinc is one of the most common elements in the earth's crust. It is found in air, soil, and water, and is present in all foods. Pure zinc is a bluish-white shiny metal. Zinc has many commercial uses as coatings to prevent rust, in dry cell batteries, and mixed with other metals to make alloys like brass, and bronze. A zinc and copper alloy is used to make pennies in the United States. Zinc combines with other elements to form zinc compounds. Common zinc compounds found at hazardous waste sites include zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, and zinc sulfide. Zinc compounds are widely used in industry to make paint, rubber, dyes, wood preservatives, and ointments.Zinc is essential to plant and animal lifeIt is in more than 300 enzymes involved in all aspects of metabolismZn is also needed for the proper structural function of proteinsZn deficiency causes failed growth and developmentZn is necessary for healthy immunity and wound healingZn is depleted in some soilsPlant ligands, e.g., phytate and lignin, can interfere with Zn absorption20% of the world's people are at risk for Zn deficiencyZn supplements are the most common source of excess ZnExcess intake may precipitate copper deficiencyExcess Zn in drinks, up to 2500 mg/L, caused vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal painZinc oxide fume causes metal fume fever, and zinc chloride fume causes acute pneumonitis[Nordberg, p. 1369-82] Produces flammable hydrogen when in contact with moisture[CAMEO] Zinc powder or dust are usually coated with zinc carbonate to reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion. Zinc dust is not known to be harmful after inhalation or contact with the skin or eyes. [CHEMINFO] Zinc is a hepatotoxic agent. [Zimmerman, p. 4] See Zinc chloride fume. See Zinc oxide. |
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| DOT ID and guide | 1436 1381435 138 |
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| Reactive group | Metals, Elemental and Powder, Active |
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| EC classification | H250H260H400 / H400H410 |
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| UN classification | UN Hazard Class: 4.3UN Subsidiary Risks: 4.2 |
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| FIFRA requirements | As the federal pesticide law FIFRA directs, EPA is conducting a comprehensive review of older pesticides to consider their health and environmental effects and make decisions about their future use. Under this pesticide reregistration program, EPA examines health and safety data for pesticide active ingredients initially registered before November 1, 1984, and determines whether they are eligible for reregistration. In addition, all pesticides must meet the new safety standard of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Pesticides for which EPA had not issued Registration Standards prior to the effective date of FIFRA, as amended in 1988, were divided into three lists based upon their potential for human exposure and other factors, with List B containing pesticides of greater concern and List D pesticides of less concern. Zinc, elemental is found on List D. Case No: 4099Pesticide type: fungicide, herbicide, antimicrobialCase Status: RED Approved 09/92OPP has made a decision that some/all uses of the pesticide are eligible for reregistration, as reflected in a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document.Active ingredient (AI): ZincData Call-in (DCI) Date(s): 04/01/93AI Status: OPP has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document for the case/AI. |
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| Fire fighting | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:Use special powder, dry sand. NO water. NO foam, carbon dioxide. NO other agents. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water. NO direct contact of the substance with water. |
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| First aid measures | Fresh air, rest. Seek medical attention if you feel unwell.First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again.Rinse with plenty of water (remove contact lenses if easily possible).Rinse mouth. Refer for medical attention . |
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| Accidental release measures | · 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.· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. |
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| First aid | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:General First Aid: |
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| Safe storage | Fireproof. Well closed. Separated from incompatible materials and : see Chemical Dangers. Store in an area without drain or sewer access. Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. |
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| Firefighting Hazards | Burning zinc reacts chemically with halon and CO2 gas extinguishers. |
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| Exposure control and personal protection | · Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).0.1 [mg/m3] (respirable fraction), 2 mg/m3 (inhalable fraction) for Zn inorg. cmpnds[German Research Foundation (DFG)] |
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| Fire fighting procedures | To fight fire, use special mixtures of dry chemical. |
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| Storage conditions | Fireproof. Separated from acids, bases oxidants. Dry. /Zinc powder/Finely divided ... zinc compounds, can be fire and explosion hazard if stored in damp places, sources of spontaneous combustion. /Zinc cmpd/Store the metal dry, and keep residues thoroughly wet until disposal. Hydrogen is evolved, especially under acid and alkaline conditions. |
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| Cleanup methods | Extinguish or remove all ignition sources. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Sweep spilled substance into containers, then remove to safe place. Personal protection: self-contained breathing apparatus. /Zinc powder/ |
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| Nonfire spill response | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]: |
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| Disposal methods | 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 qualitypotential migration in soil or watereffects on animal, aquatic, and plant lifeand conformance with environmental and public health regulations.Chemical Treatability of ZincConcentration Process: Activated carbonChemical Classification: MetalsScale of Study: Full scale continuous flowType of Wastewater Used: (not stated)Results of Study: 81% reduction124 ppb effluent concentrationCarbon used as advanced treatment of biologically and chemically treated wastewater. Plant capacity 0.66 cu m/sec. Data presented for two time periods.Concentration Process: Miscellaneous sorbentsScale of Study: Literature reviewType of Wastewater Used: UnknownResults of Study: Final concentration reduced to 0.1 ppbSiO2 + CaO slags used.The proprietary sulfex process (Permutit Co) has been applied to zinc wastes. The process involves addition of ferrous sulfide, which gradually releases sulfide to precipitate the zinc ... .For more Disposal Methods (Complete) data for ZINC, ELEMENTAL (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page. |
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| Toxicological information | CDC-ATSDR Toxicological Profile |
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| Treatment | Zinc poisoning is treated symptomatically, often by administering fluids such as water or milk, or with gastric lavage. (L49) |
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| Target organs | Gastrointestinal (Digestive), Hematological (Blood Forming), Respiratory (From the Nose to the Lungs) |
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| Health effects | Chronic exposure to zinc causes anemia, atazia, lethargy, and decreases the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body. It is also believed to cause pancreatic and reproductive damages. Unbalanced levels of copper and zinc binding to Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). (L49) |
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| Hepatotoxicity | In case series and small trials of zinc therapy in patients with Wilson disease, adverse events have included gastrointestinal upset, but serum enzyme elevations and clinically apparent liver injury were not reported. Patients with Wilson disease frequently have liver injury and, in most case series, zinc therapy has been associated with slow improvement in the hepatic manifestations. Occasional patients with Wilson disease who are switched from penicillamine to zinc therapy develop mild elevations in serum aminotransferase levels, but these are more likely due to worsening control of copper balance and the underlying Wilson disease rather than direct hepatotoxicity of zinc. |
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| Adverse effects | Occupational hepatotoxin - Secondary hepatotoxins: the potential for toxic effect in the occupational setting is based on cases of poisoning by human ingestion or animal experimentation.Zinc taken in large amounts may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting within 3 to 10 hours of swallowing the supplement. The symptoms usually alleviate within a short period. An excess intake of zinc can result in copper or anemia, iron deficiency, or copper deficiency. Nasal sprays and gels containing zinc may have side effects such as loss of sense of smell. |
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| Exposure routes | The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.Oral (L49)inhalation (L49)dermal (113) |
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| Toxicity summary | Although zinc is considered relatively nontoxic, an extremely high intake of zinc can manifest with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, lethargy, and fatigue.Excessive zinc intake alters copper and iron absorption, most likely through competitive binding in intestinal mucosal cells. Stomach acid dissolves metallic zinc, producing zinc chloride, which is a corrosive product damaging the stomach lining. Metal fume fever is thought to be an immune response to inhaled zinc. (L48, L49, A49) |
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| Ecotoxicity excerpts | /BIRDS and MAMMALS/ /Researchers/ dosed mallard ducks (A. platyrhynchos) orally with eight No. 6 zinc shot and observed them for 30 days: three of the 15 birds died within the observation period. The average weight loss among surviving birds was 22%, significantly more than in control birds. Only three of the mallards dosed retained the zinc shot until the end of the study. Signs of intoxication in order of increasing severity were stumbling, an inability to run, complete loss of muscular control of the legs, loss of swimming ability and spasmodic wing movements./ACCIDENTAL POISONINGS/ /Researchers/ reported that 20 of 25 ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) being used in an experiment died of renal failure after eating raw meat that was accidentally contaminated with zinc from the wire cages. Zinc poisoning was diagnosed after autopsy and laboratory investigation./ACCIDENTAL POISONINGS/ Poisoning ... /has been observed/ in ferrets and mink from chewing corroded cages ... It is evident that young animals are much more susceptible to poisoning by zinc than mature animals./ACCIDENTAL POISONINGS/ ... Horses, sheep, and cattle have been intoxicated by grazing on forage in the vicinity of zinc smelters. Horses are the most zinc-sensitive farm animals and react with lameness, osteochondrosis (possibly caused by an abnormal collagen metabolism due to an inhibition of lysyl oxidase followed by a zinc provoked copper deficiency), and lymphoid hyperplasia of the spleen and lymph nodes. |
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| Signs and Symptoms | Metallic taste. Sore throat. Cough. Weakness. Fever. See Effects of short-term exposure.No acute symptoms expected.Redness.Abdominal pain. Nausea. Vomiting.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) |
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| ICSC Environmental Data | The substance is very toxic to aquatic organisms. The substance may cause long-term effects in the aquatic environment. |
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| EPA IRIS Information | Zinc and CompoundsHematologic3 x 10 ^-1 mg/kg-day |
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| Atmospheric standards | ... Substances for which a Federal Register notice has been published that included consideration of the serious health effects, including cancer, from ambient air exposure to the substance. Zinc (52 FR 32597, August 1987) is included on this list. |
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| CERCLA reportable quantities | 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 1,000 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). No reporting of release of this hazardous substance is required if the diameter of the pieces of the solid metal released is larger than 100 micrometers (0.004 inches). |
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| Clean Water Act requirements | Toxic pollutant designated pursuant to section 307(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and is subject to effluent limitations. /Zinc and compounds/The secondary maximum contaminant level for public water systems: zinc 5 mg/L. |
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| State drinking water guidelines | (AZ) ARIZONA 5000 ug/l(MN) MINNESOTA 2000 ug/l |
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| Federal drinking water guidelines | EPA 5000 ug/l /Secondary MCL/EPA 2000 ug/l /Lifetime health advisory/ |
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