| GHS classification | DangerH260: In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously [Danger Substances and mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases]P223, P231+P232, P260, P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P335+P334, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P321, P363, P370+P378, P402+P404, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)H260 (100%): In contact with water releases flammable gases which may ignite spontaneously [Danger Substances and mixtures which in contact with water, emit flammable gases]P223, P231+P232, P260, P264, P264+P265, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P335+P334, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P321, P363, P370+P378, P402+P404, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement) |
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| Regulatory information | Chemical: LithiumLithium is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Lithium 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: 03-08-2021 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/14178Lithium: HSNO Approval: HSR001278 Approved with controlsThe 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 - Lithium: Environment tier I assessment |
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| DOT label | Dangerous When Wet |
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| Fire hazards | Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Strong alkali fumes are formed in fire.· Produce flammable gases on contact with water.Flammable. Many reactions may cause fire or explosion. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire. Risk of fire and explosion on contact with combustible substances or water. |
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| Fire potential | ... Flammable solid.Molten Li is... difficult to extinguish.Reacts violently /with water/ to form hydrogen gas and strong caustic solution. Ignition usually occurs.If lithium metal is heated to its melting point, spontaneous ignition is likely.Lithium is spontaneously flammable in air if heated to 180 °C, if the surface of the metal is clean ...Finely divided metal may ignite in air at ambient temperature and /a large mass of/ metal above the melting point, 180 °C, especially if oxide or nitride is present. |
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| Health hazards | Contact with eyes causes caustic irritation or burn. Incontact with skin lithium reacts with body moisture to cause chemical burns: foil, ribbon, and wire react relatively slowly. (USCG, 1999)· Inhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death. |
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| Hazards summary | Reacts with airReacts with water to form explosive hydrogen gas and corrosive lithium hydroxide[CHEMINFO] Lithium poisoning is most common in patients in long-term treatment with renal impairment. The usual daily dose is 300 to 2400 mg. The therapeutic serum level is 0.6-1.2 mEq/L. Lithium intoxication may occur in lithium-treated patients who develop acute gastroenteritis, take thiazide diuretics, or use NSAIDs or ACE inhibitors. Common symptoms of lithium intoxication are lethargy, weakness, slurred speech, ataxia, tremor, and myoclonic jerks which may progress to delirium, seizures, hyperthermia, and coma. Diagnosis is supported by an elevated lithium level, but the degree of elevation does not predict the degree of toxicity. [Olson, p. 293-5] There is evidence from pharmacologic use that lithium is nephrotoxic. [Rosenstock, p. 572] Not being protein bound, Li is rapidly eliminated by the kidneys, with almost no tissue accumulation. Side effects in patients treated with lithium include reduced urinary concentration capacity, hypothyroidism, and neurotoxicity. [Nordberg, p. 969] MAK TWA is for Lithium compounds, inorganic, as Li, except of Li and highly irritating lithium compounds (as lithium amide, hydride, hydroxide, nitride, oxide, tetrahydroalumininate, tetrahydroborate)[MAK] |
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| DOT ID and guide | 1415 138 |
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| Reactive group | Metals, Alkali, Very Active |
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| EC classification | Symbol: F, CR: 14/15-34S: (1/2)-8-43-45 |
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| UN classification | UN Hazard Class: 4.3UN Pack Group: I |
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| Reactivity Alerts | Highly Flammable |
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| Fire fighting | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:Use special powder. NO water. NO other agents. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water. NO direct contact with water. |
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| First aid measures | Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Refer for medical attention.Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention .First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.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 | EYES or SKIN: flush with water and treat with boric acid. (USCG, 1999)General First Aid: |
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| Safe storage | Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants, acids, halons and other incompatible materials. See Chemical Dangers. Dry. Keep under mineral oil. |
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| Firefighting Hazards | Corrosive ... Water reactive ... Evolves hydrogen and ignites on contact with water.Sodium carbonate and sodium chloride are unsuitable to use as extinguishers for lithium fires, since burning lithium will liberate the more reactive sodium in contact with them.Liquid lithium is readily ignited and reacts with most extinguishing agents, including water, carbon tetrachloride and carbon dioxide.Since lithium will burn in oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide, and when alight it will remove the combined oxygen in sand, sodium carbonate, etc., it is difficult to extinguish once alight ... Use of normal fire extinguishers (containing water, form, carbon dioxide, halocarbons, dry powders) will either accelerate combustion or cause explosion. |
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| Exposure control and personal protection | · Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).0.2 [mg/m3], inhalable fraction, as Li (except Li and highly irritating lithium compounds, lithium amide, hydride, hydroxide, nitride, oxide, tetrahydroaluminate, and tetrahydroborate)[German Research Foundation (DFG)] |
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| Fire fighting procedures | Extinguish lithium fires only with chemicals designed for this purpose.Use approved Class D extinguishers or smother with dry sand, dry clay, or dry ground limestone. DO NOT use carbon dioxide or halogenated extinguishing agents. DO NOT use water. Violent reaction may result.If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not use water. Do not use carbon dioxide. Use graphite, soda ash, powdered sodium chloride, or suitable dry powder.Powdered graphite, lithium chloride, potassium chloride or zirconium silicate are suitable extinguishants. |
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| Storage conditions | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Separate from water.Keep under mineral oil or other liquid free from oxygen or water. |
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| Cleanup methods | Eliminate all ignition sources. Keep water away from release. Shovel into suitable dry container.Spillage Disposal: Wear eye protection, laboratory coat and nitrile rubber gloves. Cover spill with a 1:1:1 mixture by weight of sodium carbonate or calcium carbonate, clay cat litter (bentonite) and sand. Scoop the mixture into a pail and transport to the fume hood. Slowly and with stirring add to a large quantity of 95% ethanol. Mix and let stand for 24 hours. The solid residue may be treated as normal refuse. |
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| Nonfire spill response | Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]: |
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| Disposal methods | Waste Disposal: Package Lots. Place in a separate labeled container for recycling or disposal by burning. Burn in an open furnace. Use caution and limit to 100 g packages. Small Quantities. Wear eye protection, laboratory coat and nitrile rubber gloves. Work in the fume hood. Equip a 3-necked round-bottom flask with a stirrer, dropping funnel, condenser and heating mantle. Flush the flask with nitrogen and place the lithium (cut in small pieces) in it. Add 30 mL of 95% ethanol per gram of lithium at a rate that causes rapid refluxing. Stirring is started as soon as enough ethanol has been added to make it feasible. The mixture is stirred and heated under reflux until the lithium is dissolved. The heat is turned off, and an equal volume of water is added at a rate that causes no more than mild refluxing. The solution is then cooled, neutralized with 6 M hydrochloric acid (cautiously add a volume of concentrated acid to an equal volume of cold water) and washed down the drain with at least 50 times its volume of water.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. |
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| Hepatotoxicity | Liver test abnormalities have been reported to occur in a small proportion of patients on long term therapy with lithium. These abnormalities are usually asymptomatic and transient, reversing even with continuation of medication. Instances of more marked elevations in serum aminotransferases have been reported in patients taking overdoses of lithium, but the other metabolic and systemic effects of lithium overdose generally overshadow hepatic adverse effects. Lithium has not been associated with instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury with jaundice. |
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| Adverse effects | Neurotoxin - Other CNS neurotoxinLithium can cause various adverse effects, often correlated with the dosage. The notable adverse effects of lithium include: |
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| Exposure routes | The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion. |
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| Toxicity summary | IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Elemental lithium is a silver white metalbody centered cubic structure it becomes yellowish on exposure to moist air and it reacts with water. It is soluble in liquid ammonia forming a blue solution. It is used in the manufacture of catalysts for polyolefin plasticsin fuels for aircraft and missiles.It is used in metallurgy, as a degasifier, deoxidizer, desulfurizeras a grain refiner in non-ferrous metals. Chemical intermediate for butyllithium polymerization catalystin alloys with aluminum or magnesium for aerospace uses. It is used in the production of tritium, reducing and hydrogenating agents, alloy hardeners, pharmaceuticals and Grignard reagents. Scavenger and degassifier for stainless and mild steels in molten state, modular iron, soaps and greases, deoxidizer in copper and copper alloys, heat-transfer liquid, storage batteries (with sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and chlorine). Rocket propellants, vitamin A synthesis, silver solders, underwater bouyancy devices, nuclear reactor coolent. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: Elemental lithium causes severe eye and skin burns. Industrial exposures to lithium may occur during extraction of lithium from its ores, preparation of various lithium compounds, welding, brazing, enameling, and from the use of lithium hydrides. ANIMAL STUDIES: No animal studies could be located.Due to its narrow therapeutic index, serum levels of lithium exceeding 2 mEq/L are considered toxic, which falls within its therapeutic range. Lithium toxicity can result in interstitial nephritis, arrhythmia, sick sinus syndrome, hypotension, T-wave abnormalities, and bradycardia. In rare instances, toxicity can lead to pseudotumor cerebri and seizures. Notably, there exists no antidote for lithium toxicity. The primary approach to treating lithium toxicity involves hydration and discontinuation of the drug. Administering hydration through normal saline concurrently facilitates lithium excretion. Close monitoring is essential to prevent hypernatremia in patients receiving normal saline. Diuretic use should be avoided for patients on lithium treatment. For mitigating tremors, administering 20 to 30 mg of propranolol twice or thrice daily is recommended. |
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| Signs and Symptoms | Burning sensation. Cough. Laboured breathing. Shortness of breath. Sore throat. Symptoms may be delayed.Redness. Skin burns. Pain. Blisters.Redness. Pain. Severe deep burns.Abdominal cramps. Abdominal pain. Burning sensation. Nausea. Shock or collapse. Vomiting. Weakness. |
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| Natural Pollution Sources | Lithium is widely distributed in naturetrace amounts are found in many minerals, in most rocks and soils, and in many natural waters(1). Lithium is a member of the alkali metals and does not occur as the free metal in nature(2). The typical oxidation state of the alkali metals is +1no other cations are known or expected for the alkali metals(4). Lithium concentrations in the earth's crust are estimated to be 20 to 70 ppm by weight(1)it is the 27th most abundant element(3). Lithium is found in small amounts in nearly all igneous rocks and in the waters of many mineral springs(2). Lepidolite, spodumene, petalite, and amblygonite are the most important lithium containing minerals(2). |
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| Human Toxicity Excerpts | /OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Corrosive. Causes severe eye and skin burns. |
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| Probable Routes of Human Exposure | NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 3,455 workers (1,084 of these are female) are potentially exposed to lithium in the US(1).Industrial exposures to lithium may occur during extraction of lithium from its ores, preparation of various lithium compounds, welding, brazing, enameling, and from the use of lithium hydrides. /Lithium/ |
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| Environmental Fate/Exposure Summary | Lithium is widely distributed in naturetrace amounts are found in many minerals, in most rocks and soils, and in many natural waters. Lithium is a member of the alkali metals and does not occur as the free metal in nature. Lithium concentrations in the earth's crust are estimated to be 20 to 70 ppm by weightit is the 27th most abundant element. Lithium is found in small amounts in nearly all igneous rocks and in the waters of many mineral springs. Lepidolite, spodumene, petalite, and amblygonite are the most important lithium containing minerals. The production and use of lithium compounds in ceramics, glass and primary aluminum production, the manufacture of lubricants and greases, primary and secondary (rechargeable) batteries, the production of synthetic rubber, the manufacture of polyester fiber, the production of antioxidants and antihistamines, as catalysts, and in the treatment of mood disorders may result in the release of lithium compounds to the environment through various waste streams. If release to air lithium compounds should exist in the particulate phase in the ambient atmosphere since the ionic nature of lithium compounds makes them essentially non-volatile. Particulate-phase lithium may be physically removed from the air by wet and dry deposition. The adsorption of lithium was measured on aquifer materialFreundlich coefficients ranged from 4.5 to 5.5. Lithium has been found to sorb slightly to humic soils with a Kp of 4.6 at pH 5. These data indicate that lithium compounds are not expected to adsorb strongly to soils and sediments. Lithium ion would not be expected to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions under environmental conditions, and would exist in its +1 oxidation state either in compounds or as dissolved ions. The ionic nature of lithium compounds makes them essentially non-volatilelithium compounds would not volatilized from dry soil surfaces. Due to the ionic nature of lithium compounds, volatilization from moist surfaces will not occur. In water, adsorption to suspended solids and sediments is not expected to be important fate processes for lithium compounds. Lithium ions may undergo precipitation, sorption, or ligand exchange reactions in the environment. Due to the ionic nature of most lithium compounds, volatilization from water surfaces will not occur. Bioconcentration is not expected to be an important fate process due to the ionic nature of lithium compounds. Occupational exposure to lithium compounds may occur through inhalation and dermal contact at workplaces where lithium compounds are produced or used. Since lithium is found various environmental media, the general public would be exposed to small amounts of lithium via inhalation of ambient air, ingestion of food and drinking water. (SRC) |
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| Antidote and Emergency Treatment | Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). 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 pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during treatment ... . 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 ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Lithium 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. Positive-pressure ventilation techniques with a bag-valve-mask device may be beneficial. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if 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 ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Lithium and related compounds/Ingestion of lithium metal ... is caustic. Dilution with water or other water-containing materials may produce a reaction that exacerbates the corrosive activity. Consideration may be given to gastric lavage with a large diameter tube for removal of material and then dilution with large amounts of water. Esophagoscopy may be of assistance in this procedure and to assess extent of damage. Treatment is otherwise symptomatic and supportive. Administration of activated charcoal is not useful because it does not bind to lithium ions and obscures endoscopic findings |
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| Effects During Pregnancy and Lactation | ◈ What is lithium? |
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| RAIS Toxicity Values | 0.002PPRTV Current |
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