Class A poisons

CLASS A POISON (usa) A toxic gas/liquid of such a nature that a very small amount of the gas, or vapour of the liquid, in air is dangerous to life. 

Poison, Class B A D.O.T. term for liquid, solid, paste, or semisolid substances other than Class A poison of irritating materials that are known or presumed on the basis of animal tests to be so toxic to man as to afford a hazard to health during transportation. 

Poison C Liquids or solids that evolve toxic or strongly irritating fumes heated or when exposed to air (excluding class A poisons). 

The mode of action of mushroom-produced mycotoxins varies considerably. Alpha amanitin, amatoxin produced by some species of Amanita, is a class A poison that acts by inhibiting a critical nuclear polymerase that enables the cell to make protein. Once the function of this RNA polymerase is curtailed, basic life processes cease. Attempts to kill alpha amanitin with antibodies have proven to be even more harmful to patients than the poison itself. Most forms of mushroom poisoning can be treated with rapid lavage (induced vomiting) or medically approved ingestion of charcoal to absorb the toxin before it is absorbed into the stomach. 

Both of these gases are listed as Class A poisons and extremely dangerous by the U.S. DOT. In Canada, they are identified for special treatment within the poison gas classification. Specific information on the safe handling of gases of this type is provided in the individual gas monographs. 

All DOT compressed gas cylinders use safety relief devices except those containing class A poison gases. In this case, the risk of exposure to the gas fumes is considered more hazardous than the chance of a cylinder failure. Gases that do not have pressure relief devices are usually allowed less maximum cylinder contents or use higher safety factor cylinders. 

Production and Shipment. Estimated adiponitrile production capacities in the U.S. in 1992 were about 625 thousand metric tons and worldwide capacity was in excess of lO metric tons. The DOT/IMO classification for adiponitrile is class 6.1 hazard, UN No. 2205. It requires a POISON label on all containers and is in packing group III. Approved materials of constmction for shipping, storage, and associated transportation equipment are carbon steel and type 316 stainless steel. Either centrifugal or positive displacement pumps may be used. Carbon dioxide or chemical-foam fire extinguishers should be used. There are no specifications for commercial adiponitrile. The typical composition is 99.5 wt % adiponitrile. Impurities that may be present depend on the method of manufacture, and thus, vary depending on the source. 

With respect to the hazards of fire and explosion, nitrobenzene is classified as a moderate hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Nitrobenzene is classified by the ICC as a Class-B poisonous Hquid. 

Aniline is shipped in tank tmck and tank car quantities and is classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as a Class B poison (UN 1547), and must carry a poison label. 

Shipment nd Stora.ge, Sulfur monochloride is minimally corrosive to carbon steel and iron when dry. If it is necessary to avoid discoloration caused by iron sulfide formation or chloride stress cracking, 310 stainless steel should be used. Sulfur monochloride is shipped in tank cars, tank tmcks, and steel dmms. When wet, it behaves like hydrochloric acid and attacks steel, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steels, copper and copper alloys, and many nickel-based materials. Alloys of 62 Ni—28 Mo and 54 Ni—15 Cr—16 Mo are useful under these conditions. Under DOT HM-181 sulfur monochloride is classified as a Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) Zone B, as well as a Corrosive Material (DOT Hazard Class B). Shipment information is available (140). 

Methyl bromide is sold both as the essentially pure compound, 99.5% minimum, with not more than 0.010% water and 0.001% acidity as HBr, and with small amounts of chloropicrin [76-06-2], CCI2NO2. During 1992 methyl bromide in tank cars was priced at 1.70/kg. Methyl bromide is suppHed in 37,850- and 60,560-L tank cars and in 12,220-L ISO cylinders. Repackagers supply methyl bromide in 0.45 kg or 0.68 kg cans for such appHcations as fumigating tobacco seed beds. Alone or in formulations, it is classified as a poison, class B, and requires a poison label. 

Class A—immediately dangerous to life and health based on oxygen level less than 19.5 percent and/or airborne presence of toxic or poisonous substances in concentration constituting IDLH conditions flammabihty up to 20 percent of lower flammable limit. 

CLASS B POISON (usa) Any substance known to be so toxic that it poses a severe health hazard during transportation. 

During basic hydrolysis of VX up to about 10% of the agent if converted to EA2191 (diisopropylaminoethyl methylphos-phonothioic acid). Based on the concentration of EA2192 expected to be formed during hydrolysis and its toxicity (1.4 mg/kg dermal in rabbit at 24 h in a 10/90% by wt ethanol/water solution), a Class B poison would result. 

Hazard Class A series of nine descriptive terms that have been established by the UN Committee of Experts to categorize the hazardous nature of chemical, physical, and biological materials. These categories are flammable liquids, flammable solids, explosives, gases, oxidizers, radioactive materials, corrosives, poisonous and infectious substances, and dangerous substances. 

Properties. Phenol is a solid at room temperature and is usually handled as a powder. In its pure form, it is white in color but exposure to sunlight or air will cause it to turn reddish. Phenol is and acts like acid. It burns, its corrosive, and it has an odor and taste that will knock you over—literally. It s a Class B poison. 

Fume Characteristics. In commercial blasting, one needs to know what poisonous gases condensed pro diets may be produced and in what proportions they may be found in the atmosphere following a blast. The poisonous gases are referred to in the expl industry as fumes. Limitations of the various methods used to measure fumes (Bichel gauge, Craw-shaw gage Trauzl block) have been recognized for years. The LTSBurMines classification of permissibles into Class A Class B is based on a closed-bomb method... 

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