Hazard Evaluation and Limiting Concentration

While the salts of lithium such as carbonate, sulfate, nitrate and chloride do not require special equipment for handling, all products derived from metallic lithium (e.g., organo-lithium compounds, lithium aluminum hydride) have a high reactivity and may even ignite when exposed to (humid) air. Therefore, production and handling must be carried out under an inert gas (e.g.. 

According to present information, there is no risk to human health from lithium intake via the environment (food, water, air), nor from the lithium industry or lithium-containing consumer products, even if the geologically or industrially local exposure were to be considerably higher than either the analyzed (Anke et al. 1995) or calculated (Weiner 

1991) mean intake (see Section 1.1.5). Abnormal lithium concentrations were not detected in blood samples of industrially exposed workers. It has also been found that lithium is not absorbed through the sMn, even in the form of its aqueous solution. However, an irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes, nose and respiratory organs may occur if these are exposed to lithium hydroxide dust (the aqueous solution of which shows highly alkaline reactions that may cause bums). Lithium hydrides and lithium amides may also have the same effect if lithium hydroxide is formed by hydrolysis (Deberitz 1993, Wietelmann and Bauer 

In Germany, the maximum concentration of lithium hydride in the workplace is 0.025 mg m (MAK) (Pflaumbaum etal. 

In the individual countries, lithium compounds (e.g., lithium carbonate, lithium citrate) and lithium preparations (e.g., lithium carbonate tablets, slow lithium carbonate 

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Hazard Evaluation and Limiting Concentrations (see also Part II, Chapter 8)... 

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