Toxic Gas Effects

An acknowledgment is also made to JBF Associates, Inc. (J. S. Arendt, D. F. Montague, H. M. Paula, L. E. Palko) for their preparation of the subsection on common cause failure analysis (Section 3.3.1) and inclusion of additional material in the section on fault tree analysis (Section 3.2.1), and the Meridian Corporation (C. O. Schultz and W. S. Perry) for the preparation of the section on toxic gas effects (Section 2.3.1). 

Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment Dust mask goggles or face shield protective gloves Symptoms Following Exposure Inhalation of dust irritates nose and throat. Contact with eyes causes irritation General Treatment for Exposure INHALATION move to fresh air. EYES flush immediately with physiological saline or water get medical care if irritation persists. SKIN flush with water Toxicity by Inhalation (Thresholdlimit Value) Data not available Short-Term Exposure Limits Data not available Toxicity by Ingestion Grade 1 oral LDjq 11.7 g/kg (rat) Late Toxicity Chronic effects in humans are unknown Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics Not pertinent liqidd or Solid Irritant Characteristics Data not available Odor Threshold Data not available. 

Some possible effects of a toxic gas release are listed below ... 

Tlie reader should also note that tlie risk to people can be defined in terms of injury or fatality. The use of injuries as a basis of risk evaluation may be less disturbing tlian tlie use of fatalities. However, tliis introduces problems associated with degree of injury and comparability between different types of injuries. Further complications am arise in a risk assessment when dealing witli multiple hazards. For example, how are second-degree bums, fragment injuries, and injuries due to toxic gas e.xposure combined Even where only one type of effect (e.g., tlueshold to.xic exposure) is being evaluated, different durations of e.xposure can markedly affect tlie severity of injury. 

Effect models describe the impact of the physical effects of a fire, e.xplosion, or toxic gas release on exposed people, the environment or property, based on the results of tlie source, dispersion, and fire and explosion models. 

The performance of aluminium hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide-filled systems can be enhanced by incorporation of zinc hydroxystannate in halogen-free rubbers giving reduced smoke and toxic gas emission, coupled with higher flame retardancy. This action will be complimentary to the water release and endothermic effects of aluminium hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide filler systems. 

Certain (ACGIH) criteria may be appropriate for use as benchmarks. The ACGIH threshold limit values — TLV-STELs and TLV-Cs — are designed to protect workers from acute effects resulting from exposure to chemicals such effects include irritation and narcosis. These criteria are discussed in chapter 2. These criteria can be used for toxic gas dispersion but typically produce a conservative result because they are designed for worker exposures. 

Environmentally safe destruction of obsolete chemical weapons must be performed In facilities which assure total containment of blast effects and toxic gas In the event of an accidental detonation. Functional process requirements and recommended structural design procedures for containment rooms to accomplish this purpose are presented. The requirements presented are consistent with Department of the Army and Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board requirements. 

Caution Arsine is a flammable and highly toxic gas that does not provide adequate warning of hazardous levels. Inhalation is the major route of arsine exposure, although there is little information about absorption through the skin or toxic effects on the skin or eyes. Contact with liquid arsine may result in frostbite. 

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