Sulfur trioxide

Keep unnecessary people away; isolate hazard area and deny entry. Stay upwind; keep out of low areas. Ventilate closed spaces before entering them. Wear positive pressure breathing apparatus and special protective clothing.

NO water. In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water. NO direct contact with water.

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

Wear protective gloves when administering first aid. First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. Refer immediately for medical attention .

Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible). Refer immediately for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Give nothing to drink. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately 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.

· Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing.

Warning: Sulfur trioxide is extremely corrosive. Caution is advised.

General First Aid:

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazard) - Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. Some are TIH materials themselves, e.g., chlorine, and some release TIH gases when spilled in water, e.g., chlorosilanes. [ERG 2016].

If material involved in fire: Extinguish fire using agent suitable for type of surrounding fire ... Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible.

NO hydrous agents. NO water. In case of fire in the surroundings: use appropriate extinguishing media ... Cool drums, etc., by spraying with water but avoid contact of the substance with water.

SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Do NOT absorb in saw-dust or other combustible absorbents. Absorb remaining liquid in dry sand or inert absorbent and remove to safe place. Ventilation. NEVER direct water jet on liquid. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity 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 and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Ventilation. Collect leaking liquid in covered containers. Absorb remaining liquid in dry sand or inert absorbent. Do NOT absorb in saw-dust or other combustible absorbents. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Atmospheric Fate: Sulfur trioxide is a highly reactive gas, and in the presence of moisture in the air it is rapidly hydrated to sulfuric acid. In the air, therefore, it is sulfuric acid in the form of an aerosol that is found rather than sulfur trioxide, and in general, it is associated with other pollutants in droplets or solid particles extending over a wide range of sizes.

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

Redness. Pain. Blisters. Serious skin burns.

Redness. Pain. Severe burns.

Burns in mouth and throat. Burning sensation behind the breastbone. Abdominal pain. Vomiting. Shock or collapse.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid mists are strongly irritants, and inhaling concn of approximately 3 mg/cu m causes a choking sensation. Persons accustomed to the exposure are unable to notice concn at this order of magnitude. Sulfur trioxide is irritating and corrosive to all mucous surfaces and causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and possible lung injury.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Lungs may be affected by repeated or prolonged exposure to an aerosol of this substance. Risk of tooth erosion upon repeated or prolonged exposure to an aerosol of this substance. Strong inorganic acid mists containing this substance are carcinogenic to humans.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Irritant and corrosive to mucous membranes. May cause coughing, choking and severe discomfort in a concn of 1 ppm.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Sulfur trioxide causes pulmonary skin and eye damage since it forms sulfuric acid.

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for Sulfur trioxide (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

/GENOTOXICITY/ The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formation and DNA damage by sulfur trioxide anion radicals (SO3.-) were investigated using ESR spin trapping, HPLC, and electrophoretic assays. Sulfite (SO3(2-) autoxidation generated both hydroxyl (.OH) and SO3.- radicals. Oxidation of SO3(2-) by chromium (VI) generated only SO3.- with much enhanced yield. Incubation of 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) with SO3(2-) generated 8-OHdG albeit at low yield. Chromium (VI) enhanced the yield four-fold. Electrophoretic assays showed that SO3.- radicals generated by chromium (VI) oxidation of SO3(2-) caused DNA double strand breaks. The results demonstrate that SO3.- radicals are capable of causing dG hydroxylation and DNA double strand breaks.

Treatment includes the use of oxygen, decontamination with special attention to the eyes, and monitoring for hypoxic ischemia. Treatment should include use of beta-agonists for bronchospasm, repeat pulmonary function tests, and monitoring for delayed pulmonary edema. Steroids, antibiotics, and nebulized sodium bicarbonate have not been adequately studied.

Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Inorganic acids and related compounds/

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist respirations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. Activated charcoal is not effective. 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 ... . Do not attempt to neutralize because of exothermic reaction. Cover skin burns with dry, sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Inorganic acids and related compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in severe respiratory distress. Early intubation, at the first sign of upper airway obstruction, may be necessary. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Consider administering a beta agonist such as albuterol for severe bronchospasm ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start IV administration of D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's(LR) if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Consider vasopressors if patient is hypotensive with a normal fluid volume. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Inorganic acids and related compounds/

0.12

CALEPA

0.001

CALEPA

LC50 Rat/male inhalation 1375 mg SO3/cu m 1 hr

LC50 Rat/female inhalation 1136 mg SO3/cu m 1 hr

Sulfur trioxide

1

10000

Toxic chemical that can be released at a facility.