Material Safety Data Sheet

Sodium Metabisulfite

1. PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME: Sodium Metabisulfite
OTHER/GENERIC NAMES: Anhydrous Sodium Bisulfite
Sodium Pyrosulfite
ABS
PRODUCT USE: Drug manufacture, food additive, water treatment,
textile manufacture, photographic chemicals,
and other chemical processes.

2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENT NAME CAS NUMBER WEIGHT %
Sodium metabisulfite 7681-57-4 >98
Sodium sulfite 7757-83-7 <1.5
Trace impurities and additional material names not listed above may
appear in Section 15 of this MSDS. These
materials may be listed for local "Right-To-Know" compliance and for
other reasons.
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard: This product is considered
hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.

3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: Fine, white granular product with a pungent
sulfur dioxide gas
odor. May irritate the skin. May cause irritation and/or burns to the
eyes. Harmful if
swallowed or inhaled. May cause severe and possibly fatal allergic
reactions if inhaled or
swallowed by some asthmatics and other ‘sulfite-sensitive’
individuals. Reacts with acids to
form toxic and irritating sulfur dioxide gas. Releases sulfur dioxide
if heated above 300ºF.
POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS
SKIN: Repeated or prolonged contact with dust may cause irritation.
Contact with solutions will cause skin
irritation.
EYES: Dust or mist may irritate or burn the eyes. Solutions will
irritate or burn.

INHALATION: Contact with acids, water and/or ice, releases sulfur

dioxide gas which may be harmful or
deadly if inhaled. May cause severe or deadly allergic reactions in
some asthmatics and
sulfite sensitive individuals. Inhalation of dust or mist can
irritate the respiratory tract. Possible
signs and symptoms of allergic reactions include bronchoconstriction,
sweating, flushing,
hives, rapid heart rate, decreased blood pressure and anaphylaxis.
INGESTION: May irritate the gastrointestinal tract. May cause severe
or deadly allergic reactions in some
asthmatics and sulfite sensitive individuals. Very large doses may
cause violent colic,
diarrhea, depression, and even death.
DELAYED EFFECTS: None known.
Ingredients found on one of the three OSHA designated carcinogen
lists are listed below.
INGREDIENT NAME NTP STATUS IARC STATUS OSHA LIST
No ingredients listed in this section.

4. FIRST AID MEASURES

SKIN: Immediately wash skin with plenty of soap and water. Remove
contaminated clothing and wash before
reuse. Get medical attention if irritation persists.
EYES: Flush eyes immediately with water for at least 15 minutes. Get
medical attention.
INHALATION: Promptly remove to fresh air. Get immediate medical
attention if signs of suffocation, irritation or
other symptoms develop.
INGESTION: If conscious, immediately give a large quantity of water
or milk and induce vomiting by touching
finger to back of throat. Get immediate medical attention. Never give
anything by mouth to an
unconscious person.
ADVICE TO PHYSICIAN: Treat symptomatically. Note potential for
anaphylactic shock with allergic individuals.

5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

FLAMMABLE PROPERTIES
FLASH POINT: Not flammable
FLASH POINT METHOD: Not applicable
AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE: Not applicable
UPPER FLAME LIMIT (volume % in air): Not applicable
LOWER FLAME LIMIT (volume % in air): Not applicable
FLAME PROPAGATION RATE (solids): Not applicable
OSHA FLAMMABILITY CLASS: Not applicable
EXTINGUISHING MEDIA:
Material is not flammable. Use extinguishing media appropriate for
material in surrounding fire.
UNUSUAL FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS:
Releases toxic and irritating sulfur dioxide at fire temperatures.
SPECIAL FIRE FIGHTING PRECAUTIONS/INSTRUCTIONS:
Wear NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing apparatus.

6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

IN CASE OF SPILL OR OTHER RELEASE: (See section 8 for recommended
personal protective equipment.)
Promptly sweep up material with minimum dusting and shovel into an
empty container with a cover. Cautiously
spray residue with plenty of water. Provide ventilation to clear
sulfur dioxide fumes which may be generated by
contact with water.
Spills and releases may have to be reported to Federal and/or local
authorities. See Section 15 regarding
reporting requirements.

7. HANDLING AND STORAGE

NORMAL HANDLING: (See section 8 for recommended personal protective
equipment.)
Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing. Do not breathe dust. Do
not eat or drink in the work area. Use normal
personal hygiene and housekeeping. Keep away from water, ice, acids,
heat and oxidizing agents. For Food
Grade product, see precautions in section 16 regarding on-board use
in preserving shrimp and fish.
STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from water, ice,
acids and oxidizing agents. Releases sulfur dioxide
gas slowly at ambient temperatures.

8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION

ENGINEERING CONTROLS:
Local exhaust if dusty conditions exist or if there is a release of
sulfur dioxide gas. Do not use in unventilated
spaces, e.g., the holds of fishing boats, walk-in coolers or confined
spaces.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
SKIN PROTECTION: For handling dry material, wear cotton gloves and
full work clothing, including longsleeved
shirt and trousers. When handling solutions and there is prolonged or
repeated contact, wear impervious gloves, clothing and boots.
EYE PROTECTION: Wear a hard hat (or other head covering) and chemical
safety goggles. Do not wear
contact lenses.
RESPIRATORY
PROTECTION:
Where required, use a NIOSH-approved respirator for dust, mist and/or
sulfur
dioxide gas, as conditions indicate. Some exposures may require a
NIOSHapproved
self-contained breathing apparatus or supplied-air respirator.
ADDITIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Eyewash and safety shower is recommended.
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES
INGREDIENT NAME ACGIH TLV OSHA PEL OTHER LIMIT
Sodium metabisulfite 5 mg/m3 TWA ----- -----
1 = Limit established by General Chemical Corporation.
2 = Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (AIHA).
3 = Biological Exposure Index (ACGIH).
OTHER EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR POTENTIAL DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS:
Sulfur dioxide: OSHA TWA = 5 ppm
ACGIH TLV = 2 ppm
ACGIH STEL = 5 ppm

9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

APPEARANCE: Fine, white granular material.
PHYSICAL STATE: Solid.
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 190.11
CHEMICAL FORMULA: Na2S2O5
ODOR: Pungent sulfur dioxide odor.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY (water = 1.0): 1.48
SOLUBILITY IN WATER (weight %): 39% at 16C
pH: 1% solution – 4.3
BOILING POINT: Not applicable.
MELTING POINT: Begins to rapidly decompose above 150C
VAPOR PRESSURE: Not applicable.
VAPOR DENSITY (air = 1.0): Not applicable.
EVAPORATION RATE: Not applicable. COMPARED TO: Not applicable
% VOLATILES: Not applicable.
FLASH POINT: Not flammable.
(Flash point method and additional flammability data are found in
Section 5.)

10.STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

NORMALLY STABLE? (CONDITIONS TO AVOID):
Normally stable. Avoid elevated temperatures. Temperatures above 150C
cause the rapid evolution of toxic and
corrosive sulfur dioxide gas.
INCOMPATIBILITIES:
Oxidizers: may cause strong exothermic reactions.
Acids, water and ice: releases sulfur dioxide gas which is toxic,
corrosive, and potentially deadly. Water and/or ice
speeds the production of sulfur dioxide gas.
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS:
Sulfur dioxide and sodium sulfide residue. Sodium sulfide is
flammable, a dangerous fire risk, a strong irritant to
skin and tissue, and is incompatible with acids.
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION:
Will not occur.

11.TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
IMMEDIATE (ACUTE) EFFECTS:
Sodium metabisulfite – LD50 (oral, rat) = 424 mg/kg
Sodium bisulfite – LD50 (oral, mouse) = 820 mg/kg
DELAYED (SUBCHRONIC AND CHRONIC) EFFECTS:
Sodium sulfite has been demonstrated to be mutagenic in microbial
systems; however, it is not mutagenic in
studies involving insects and is not considered to present a
mutagenic threat to multi-cell organisms.
OTHER DATA:
None

12.ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
For Sodium sulfite:
2600 ppm/24, 48 & 96 hr/mosquito fish/TLm/fresh water
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): 0.12 lb/lb, instantaneous

13.DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
RCRA
Is the unused product a RCRA hazardous
waste if discarded? No.
If yes, the RCRA ID number is: Not applicable.
OTHER DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Dispose of in accordance with applicable Federal, State and Local
regulations.
The information offered in section 13 is for the product as shipped.
Use and/or alterations to the product such as
mixing with other materials may significantly change the
characteristics of the material and alter the RCRA
classification and the proper disposal method.

14.TRANSPORT INFORMATION
US DOT HAZARD CLASS: Not regulated.
US DOT ID NUMBER: Not applicable.
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Not applicable.
For additional information on shipping regulations affecting this
material, contact the information number found in
Section 1.

15.REGULATORY INFORMATION
TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (TSCA)
TSCA INVENTORY STATUS: All components are listed on TSCA Inventory of
Chemical Substances.
OTHER TSCA ISSUES: None.
SARA TITLE III/CERCLA
"Reportable Quantities" (RQs) and/or "Threshold Planning Quantities"
(TPQs) exist for the following ingredients.
INGREDIENT NAME SARA/CERCLA RQ (lb) SARA EHS TPQ (lb)
No ingredients listed in this section.
Spills or releases resulting in the loss of any ingredient at or
above its RQ requires immediate notification
to the National Response Center [(800) 424-8802] and to your Local
Emergency Planning Committee.
SECTION 311 HAZARD CLASS: Immediate.
SARA 313 TOXIC CHEMICALS:
The following ingredients are SARA 313 "Toxic Chemicals" and may be
subject to annual reporting requirements.
CAS numbers and weight percents are found in Section 2.
INGREDIENT NAME COMMENT
No ingredients listed in this section.
STATE RIGHT-TO-KNOW
In addition to the ingredients found in Section 2, the following are
listed for state right-to-know purposes.
INGREDIENT NAME WEIGHT % COMMENT
No ingredients listed in this section.
ADDITIONAL REGULATORY INFORMATION:
None
WHMIS CLASSIFICATION (CANADA):
D2B
FOREIGN CHEMICAL CONTROL INVENTORY STATUS:
Listed on Canadian DSL and EU EINECS.

16.OTHER INFORMATION
CURRENT ISSUE DATE: April, 2003
PREVIOUS ISSUE DATE: January, 2002
CHANGES TO MSDS FROM PREVIOUS ISSUE DATE ARE DUE TO THE FOLLOWING:
Change in company name.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
Sodium Metabisulfite
MSDS Number: EGC-0004 Page 7 of 7
Current Issue Date: April, 2003
OTHER INFORMATION: Only NF grade is for use in drug formulation. Only
Food Grade material is for use as a
food additive.
On-board ship use of Food Grade material to preserve shrimp and fish:
NEVER apply dry material to shrimp or fish. ALWAYS prepare and use a
solution in a
well-ventilated area.
NEVER use below deck or in any confined space such as a hold or
cooler. Injury or
death may occur.
ALWAYS use on deck with plenty of ventilation.
Follow mixing and use directions printed on bag.