Thallium

Excerpt from ERG Guide 151 [Substances - Toxic (Non-Combustible)]:

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

- Thallium is non-combustible.

Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

Rinse with plenty of water (remove contact lenses if easily possible).

Refer immediately for medical attention.

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].

Store separated from strong acids, fluorine, other halogens food and feedstuffs

In the presence of water, a hydroxide is formed. Thallium is therefore stored under petroleum spirit, glycerine, or deaerated water. On prolonged storage under water with free access of air, metallic thallium becomes covered with large crystals of thallium(I) carbonate, and the water becomes saturated with this salt. To protect against oxidation, rods of thallium are coated with paraffin.

1. Ventilate area of spill. ... 2. For small quantities, sweep onto paper or other suitable material, place in sealed container for disposal. Large quantities may be reclaimed; However, if this is not practical, collect spilled material in the most convenient & safe manner & deposit in sealed containers for disposal. 3. Liquids containing sol thallium compounds may be absorbed in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material & deposited in sealed containers for disposal. /Thallium and thallium cmpd/

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.

Sweep spilled substance into sealable containers. Carefully collect remainder, then remove to safe place. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. (Extra personal protection: P3 filter respirator for toxic particles.)

Reuse: Return to the suppliers. Recommendable methods: Solidification, & landfill. Not recommendable method: Thermal destruction. Peer review: Convert sol cmpd to insol form, solidify and landfill. (Peer-review conclusions of an IRPTC expert consultation (May 1985))

Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands before eating.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap. Refer for medical attention.

Where thallium compounds must be used, strict safety precautions should be observed to prevent ingestion, inhalation or skin contact. Food, drink and cigarettes ... prohibited at the work site. /Thallium and thallium compounds/

One of the main methods of removing thallium (both radioactive and normal) from humans is to use Prussian blue, which is a material which absorbs thallium. Up to 20 g per day of Prussian blue is fed by mouth to the person, and it passes through their digestive system and comes out in the stool. Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are also used to remove thallium from the blood serum. At later stage of the treatment additional potassium is used to mobilize thallium from the tissue.

Among the distinctive effects of thallium poisoning are loss of hair (which led to its initial use as a depilatory before its toxicity was properly appreciated) and damage to peripheral nerves (victims may experience a sensation of walking on hot coals), although the loss of hair only generally occurs in low doses; in high doses the thallium kills before this can take effect. (Wikipedia) Thallium toxicity is complex and severe. It affects several systems in human body, including liver, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, reproductive, renal, and nervous systems. Among them, liver is an important organ which possibly assists metabolic reduction of metals; hence, it could be a noticeable organ for thallium toxicity. This is confirmed by the other study on thallium-induced toxicity in experimental animals which reported highest accumulation in liver, kidney, and ileum. (A15464)

The substance can be absorbed into the body by ingestion.

Thallium can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Ingestion is an important route of exposure.

Dermal; inhalation; ingestion

Thallium(I) compounds have a high aqueous solubility and are readily absorbed through the skin. Part of the reason for thallium's high toxicity is that, when present in aqueous solution as the univalent thallium(I) ion (Tl+), it exhibits some similarities with essential alkali metal cations, particularly potassium (due to similar atomic radii). It can thus enter the body via potassium uptake pathways. Other aspects of thallium's chemistry differ strongly from that of the alkali metals, such its high affinity for sulfur ligands. Thus this substitution disrupts many cellular processes (for instance, thallium may attack sulfur-containing proteins such as cysteine residues and ferredoxins). (Wikipedia) A 2013 study found evidence that the thallium(I)-induced liver toxicity is a result of the disruptive effect of this metal on the mitochondrial respiratory complexes (I, II, and IV), which are the obvious causes of metal-induced reactive oxygen species formation and ATP depletion. The latter two events, in turn, trigger cell death signaling via opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore and cytochrome c expulsion. (A15464)

No acute symptoms expected.

Abdominal pain. Nausea. Vomiting. Headache. Weakness. Muscle pain. Blurred vision. Restlessness. Convulsions. Increased heart rate. Symptoms may be delayed.

- Acute eye exposure is unlikely to result in any local or systemic effects other than mild local irritation.

- Adverse effects due to thallium poisoning are usually delayed by 12 to 24 hours in acute poisoning and reach their maximum by the second or third week after exposure.

- See Ingestion Exposure.

- See Ingestion Exposure.

The following medical procedures should be made available to each employee who is exposed to ... thallium /and thallium/ compounds at potentially hazardous levels: Initial Medical Examination: A complete history and physical examination: The purpose is to detect existing conditions that might place the exposed employee at increased risk, and to establish a baseline for future health monitoring. Examination of the eyes, nervous system, lung, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and body hair should be stressed. Urinalysis: Since kidney damage has been observed in humans exposed to thallium, a urinalysis should be obtained to include at a minimum specific gravity, albumin, glucose, and a microscopic /examination/ on centrifuged sediment. Periodic Medical Examination: These medical examinations should be repeated on an annual basis. /Thallium and thallium compounds/

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 FEV 1 ... have been found to be better predictors of chronic airflow obstruction. /Thallium/

/EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDIES/ ... Data /were presented/ on the health of workers employed in a magnesium sea water battery plant; exposure to thallium was in the form of fume from alloying in the furnaces, skin contact in the strip-rolling of the thallium-magnesium alloy, and as a dust generated in the scrap-brushing of the alloy. Some workers had exposures above 0.1 mg/cu m as indicated by urinary thallium concentrations of up to 236 ug/L. A urine thallium concentration of 100 ug/L corresponds to a 40-hour/week exposure to 0.1 mg/cu m. There were no statistically significant differences in cardiovascular or gastrointestinal effects in the cohort of 86 exposed workers compared with 79 unexposed controls in the same factory. /Thallium alloy dusts/

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Thallium is included on this list with an effective date of June 1, 1987 and a sunset date of June 1, 1997.

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). No reporting of releases 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).

(AZ) ARIZONA 13 ug/L

(MN) MINNESOTA 0.6 ug/L