UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
Table of Contents
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Page
1. Chemical Product
2. Composition and Information on Ingredients
3. Hazards Identification
4. First Aid Measures
5. Fire and Explosion Data
6. Accidental Release Measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Exposure Controls/ Personal Protection
9. Physical and Chemical Properties
10. Stability and Reactivity Data
11. Toxicological Information
12. Ecological Information
13. Disposal Considerations
14. References
15. Appendices
16. Revision History
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UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
1.
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Chemical Product
Product Name: Zinc Oxide
Chemical name: Zinc Oxide
Synonyms: Zinc White; Chinese white; Calamine
Chemical Formula: ZnO
2.
Composition and Information on Ingredients
Composition: Zinc Oxide
Toxicological Data on Ingredients:
LDLo 500mgkg-1 [Oral Human]
3.
Hazards Identification
Potential Acute Health Effects: Slight irritation occurs with skin contact, eye contact and
ingestion. May cause coughing, sub-sternal pain, upper respiratory tract irritation, rales,
chills, nausea, fever and vomiting due to over exposure. Hazardous if inhaled, freshly formed
zinc oxide can lead to metal fume fever.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not applicable
MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: For mammalian somatic cells, bacteria and/or yeast
TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not applicable
DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not applicable
Page 2 of 8
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
4.
First Aid Measures
General measures:
Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing and shoes, and immediately flush skin with
plenty of water. Cover irritated skin with emollient. Wash clothing and shoes before reuse.
Serious skin contact: Get medical attention if irritation persists.
Eye contact: Immediately remove any contact lenses, and flush eyes with plenty of warm
water for at least 15 minutes, including the eyelids to remove dust particles. Get medical
attention.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting unless directed by a medical personnel
Serious ingestion: Seek medical attention.
Inhalation: Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband and remove to fresh
air. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Seek
medical attention.
Serious inhalation: Not applicable
5.
Fire and Explosion Data
Flammability of the Product: Not flammable
Auto-Ignition Temperature: Not applicable
Flash points: Not applicable
Flammable limits: Not applicable
Products of Combustion: Zinc oxide fumes
Fire Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:
Explosion Hazards in Presence of Various Substances: Zinc oxide and magnesium can
react explosively when heated.
Page 3 of 8
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Fire fighting media and Instructions: Water spray, carbon dioxide, dry chemical or foam
should be used as extinguishing materials. Fire fighters should wear appropriate protective
equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus
Special Remarks on Fire Hazards: Slow addition of zinc oxide to cover linseed oil varnish
causes generation of heat and ignition. Zinc oxide fumes may be released in a fire involving
zinc oxide.
Special Remarks on Explosion Hazards: May explode when mixed with chlorinated
rubber.
6.
Accidental Release Measures
NB: Wear appropriate protective equipment/clothing including gloves before removing
any spills.
Small spills: Vacuum or carefully sweep the spilled material, avoiding to create dusty
conditions and preventing wind dispersal, for disposal or recovery.
Large spill: Use a shovel to put the material into a convenient waste disposal container and
finish cleaning by spreading water on the contaminated surface.
7.
Handling and Storage
Precautions: Keep locked up and do not ingest or breathe dust. Keep away from
incompatibles such as acids.
Storage: Keep container tightly closed. Keep container in a cool, well-ventilated area, avoiding
temperatures above 25°C (77°F).
8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Airborne Exposure Limits:
TWA: 5 STEL: 10 (mg/m3) from ACGIH (TLV) [United States]
Inhalation TWA: 15 (mg/m3) from OSHA (PEL) [United States]
Inhalation Total. TWA: 5 STEL: 10 CEIL: 25 (mg/m3) from NIOSH
Page 4 of 8
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Inhalation TWA: 5 STEL: 10 (mg/m3) from OSHA (PEL) [United States]
Engineering Controls: Use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation, or other
engineering controls to keep airborne levels below recommended exposure limits.
Personal Protection: Wearing of safety glasses, lab coat, properly fitted filter respirator and
chemical–resistant, impervious gloves and boots.
9.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Physical state and appearance: Solid powder, white
Odour: Odourless
Taste: Bitter
Molecular Weight: 81.38g
pH (1% solution/water): Not applicable
Boiling Point: Not applicable
Melting Point: Sublimes at 1975°C
Critical Temperature: Not applicable
Specific Gravity (Water = 1): 5.61
Vapour Pressure (mmHg): Not applicable
Vapour Density: Not applicable
Volatility: Not applicable
Odour Threshold: Not applicable
Water/Oil Distribution Coefficient: Not applicable
Ionicity (in Water): Not applicable
Dispersion Properties: Not applicable
Solubility: Insoluble in cold water and hot water but soluble in dilute acetic acid, or mineral
acids, ammonia, ammonium carbonate and fixed alkali hydroxide solution.
10.
Stability and Reactivity Data
Stability: Stable
Corrosivity: Non-corrosive in presence of glass
Instability temperature: Not applicable
Conditions of Instability: Not applicable
Page 5 of 8
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Incompatibles: Chlorinated rubber, linseed oil, magnesium, hydrogen fluoride, aluminium
with hexachloroethane, zinc chloride, phosphoric acid.
Polymerization: Not applicable
11.
Toxicological Information
Toxicity to animals:
LD50 7950mg/kg Oral Mouse
LDLo >2000mg/kg Dermal Rat
LDLo 500mg/kg Oral Human
LD50 >5700 mg/m³ Inhalation Rat [Klimisch et al. 1982]
Effects on humans:
Acute potential health effects: Mild skin irritation, mechanical eye irritation and
conjunctivitis, mechanical irritation of the respiratory tract and ‘metal fume fever’ with
symptoms similar to flu (headache, chills, fever, sweats, nausea, vomiting, cough, muscle
aches and pains), digestive tract irritation.
Chronic potential health effects: may affect blood, metabolism, and the thyroid
MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not applicable
TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not applicable
DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not applicable
12.
Ecological Information
Ecotoxicity: Very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long-term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment. Water contaminated with this material must be contained and prevented
from being discharged to any waterway, sewer or drain.
Daphnia magna (EC50) 48 hours >1000 mg/l
Oncorhynchus mykiss 96hours 1.1mg/l (LC50)
Lepomis macrochirus 96 hours >320 mg/l (LC50)
Pimephales promelas 96 hours 2246 mg/l (LC50)
Selenastrum 72 hours 0.17 mg/l
Capricornutum.[Lisec1997] (EC50)
Page 6 of 8
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
13.
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Disposal Considerations
Waste Disposal: What is not recycled must be handled as hazardous waste and sent to an
approved incinerator or disposed in an approved waste facility. Dispose in the container
marked HEAVY METALS WASTE.
14.
-
References
Umicore Zinc Chemicals. Material Safety Data Sheet; Zinc Oxide. [Online]. 2005
[cited
2013
Oct
16].
Available
from:
URL:http://www.northcotepottery.com.au/safety-datasheets/uploadedFiles/1144114590550-9674.pdf
-
Sciencelab.com Material Safety Data Sheet; Zinc Oxide. [Online]. 2013 [cited 2013
Oct
16].
Available
from:
URL:
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927329
-
Miltex. Material Safety Data Sheet; Zinc Oxide. [Online]. 2005 [cited 2013 Oct 16].
Available
from:
URL:
http://www.miltex.com/prodinfo/msds/Zinc%20Oxide%20MSDS.pdf
-
Laguna Clay Company. MSDS for Zinc Oxide. [Online]. 2007 [cited 2013 Oct 16].
Available
from:
URL:
http://www.lagunaclay.com/msds/pdf/3rawmat/adry/mzinc506.pdf
-
Zochem Inc. A Horsehead Company. Material Safety Data Sheet. Material Name:
Zinc Oxide. [Online]. 2013 [cited 2013 Oct 16]. Available from: URL:
http://www.zochem.com/media/download/MSDS%20-%20Zinc%20Oxide%20%20current.pdf
Page 7 of 8
UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET
ZINC OXIDE
Ref. No.
MSDS /PD/33_01
Valid for:
2 years from approval
15.
Appendices
Not applicable
16.
Revision History
Version Number
Amendments/ Reasons for change
01
Initial Release
Page 8 of 8