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       *     HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE FACT SHEET      *
       *         RIGHT TO KNOW PROGRAM           *
       *     NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH     *
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Common Name:    DIMETHYL MERCURY

CAS Number:     593-74-8
DOT Number:     None
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Substance number:  0763
Date:  March 1989
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HAZARD SUMMARY
* Dimethyl Mercury is AN EXTREMELY TOXIC CHEMICAL that can cause
delayed PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE and DEATH with little or no
warning during exposure.   * Dimethyl Mercury should be handled
as a teratogen--with extreme caution. * It easily enters the body
through the lungs, skin and contaminated hands.
* Symptoms include a "pins and needles" feeling, weakness,
hearing loss, abnormal walking, tremors, personality changes and
other brain damage. * Contact can cause severe skin burns.
Symptoms do not begin until hours later, with redness and
blisters. * Dimethyl Mercury irritates the nose and throat. * Eye
contact causes severe irritation.

IDENTIFICATION
Dimethyl Mercury is a colorless liquid.  It is used as a reagent
and in making other chemicals.

REASON FOR CITATION
* Dimethyl Mercury is on the Hazardous Substance List because it
is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH. * This chemical is on
the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is a TERATOGEN.

HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED
* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated.
This may include collecting personal and area air samples.  You
can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You
have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.20. * If
you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems,
see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take
this Fact Sheet with you.

WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
* These exposure limits are recommended for alkyl Mercury
compounds and measured as Mercury.

OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.01
mg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 0.03 mg/m3, not to be
exceeded at any time.  (Final Rule January 1989).

ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.01 mg/m3
averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 0.03 mg/m3 as a STEL (short
term exposure limit).

* The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air
levels are less than the limits listed above.

WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
* Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
ventilation at the site of chemical release.  If local exhaust
ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn.
* Wear protective work clothing.
* Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Dimethyl Mercury
and at the end of the workshift. * Post hazard and warning
information in the work area.  In addition, as part of an ongoing
education and training effort, communicate all information on the
health and safety hazards of Dimethyl Mercury to potentially
exposed workers.

------------------------------------------------------------This
Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential
and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure.
Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other
factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential
effects described below.  ---------------------------------------
---------------------

HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION

Acute Health Effects
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
immediately or shortly after exposure to Dimethyl Mercury:

* Dimethyl Mercury easily enters the body through the lungs,
skin, and by swallowing if food, beverages or cigarettes are
carried into the work area, or if eating or smoking with
contaminated hands. * Skin contact causes severe burns, but
symptoms are delayed for 6 to 8 hours, with redness and later
blisters. * Breathing Dimethyl Mercury irritates the nose, throat
and bronchial tubes, with soreness and cough. * Eye contact can
cause severe irritation.

Chronic Health Effects
The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at
some time after exposure to Dimethyl Mercury and can last for
months or years:

Cancer Hazard
* According to the information presently available to the New
Jersey Department of Health, Dimethyl Mercury has not been tested
for its ability to cause cancer in animals.

Reproductive Hazard
* Dimethyl Mercury should be HANDLED WITH CAUTION since several
related Mercury compounds are known teratogens in humans.

Other Long-Term Effects
* Dimethyl Mercury is a VERY TOXIC CHEMICAL causing PERMANENT
BRAIN DAMAGE often with no warning at the time of exposure.
Severe poisoning can cause DEATH. * Evidence of brain or nerve
damage includes tingling or "pins and needles" in fingers, lips
and tongue, clumsiness and weakness.  Loss of vision is common
but affects the ability to see to the side rather than in front
such as reading, and can go unnoticed until severe.  Slurred
speech, reduced hearing, abnormal gait during walking, poor
coordination, tremors ("shakes"), shaky handwriting and
personality changes can also occur. * Mercury accumulates in the
body with repeated exposure.  It can take months or years for the
body to get rid of excess Mercury.

MEDICAL

Medical Testing
Before first exposure and every 6 to 12 months after, a complete
medical history and exam is strongly recommended, with:

* Exam of the nervous system, including handwriting.
* Visual exam, including "visual field" exam.
* Hearing test.
* Test for Mercury in hair and blood.

After suspected illness or overexposure, repeat these tests
promptly, again in 4 to 6 weeks and then as recommended by your
doctor.

Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and
present symptoms with an exam.  Medical tests that look for
damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
exposure.

Request copies of your medical testing.  You have a legal right
to this information under OSHA 1910.20.

Mixed Exposures
Creams to whiten or bleach skin may contain Mercury; if so, their
use increases risk.

WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES

Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of
reducing exposure.  The best protection is to enclose operations
and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical
release.  Isolating operations can also reduce exposure.  Using
respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the
controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary.

In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider:
(1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance
is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or
eye contact could occur.  Special controls should be in place for
highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or
breathing exposures are possible.

In addition, the following controls are recommended:

* Where possible, automatically transfer Dimethyl Mercury from
drums or other storage containers to process containers. *
Vigorous, periodic cleaning of all work surfaces.

Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures.  The
following work practices are recommended:
* Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Dimethyl
Mercury should change into clean clothing promptly. * Do not take
contaminated work clothes home.  Family members could be exposed.
* Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals
who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Dimethyl
Mercury. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate
work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of
skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. *
On skin contact with Dimethyl Mercury, immediately wash or shower
to remove the chemical.  At the end of the workshift, wash any
areas of the body that may have contacted Dimethyl Mercury,
whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat,
smoke, or drink where Dimethyl Mercury is handled, processed, or
stored, since the chemical can be swallowed.  Wash hands
carefully before eating or smoking. * For clean-up use a
specialized charcoal-filtered vacuum or suction pump to avoid
generating Mercury vapor.  Care should be taken not to disturb
spilled material.

FIRE HAZARDS

* Use dry chemicals appropriate for extinguishing metal fires. Do
not use water. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained
and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.


SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES

If Dimethyl Mercury is spilled or leaked, take the following
steps:

* Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of
spill or leak until clean-up is complete.  * For clean-up use a
specialized charcoal-filtered vacuum or suction pump to avoid
generating Mercury vapor.  Care should be taken not to disturb
spilled material. * Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand,
earth, or a similar material and deposit in sealed containers. *
It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Dimethyl Mercury as
a HAZARDOUS WASTE.  Contact your Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific
recommendations.

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FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department. You
can request emergency information from the following:

CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
NJDEP HOTLINE: (609) 292-7172
Other:
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HANDLING AND STORAGE

* Prior to working with Dimethyl Mercury you should be trained on
its proper handling and storage. * Store in tightly closed
containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from OXIDIZERS
(such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES and
NITRATES).

FIRST AID

In NJ, POISON INFORMATION 1-800-962-1253
Other:
Eye Contact
* Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15
minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids.  Seek medical
attention.

Skin Contact
* Quickly remove contaminated clothing.  Immediately wash
contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water.

Breathing
* Remove the person from exposure.
* Transfer promptly to a medical facility.


PHYSICAL DATA

Water Solubility: Insoluble

CHEMICAL NAME

Mercury, Dimethyl-

[Edited for length, repetitive non-specific material
removed.  For a complete sample factsheet, in the
Greenbase system search for :  factsheets models]
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intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes. ---------
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NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Right to Know Program
CN 368, Trenton, NJ  08625-0368
(609) 984-2202
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