Lead, dross

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Description of first aid measures

EYE CONTACT: Ensure that contact lenses are removed before rinsing eyes. Separate eyelids, wash the eyes thoroughly with water (15 min). Seek medical attention if irritation persists

INHALATION:  Move person to fresh air. Seek medical attention.

SKIN CONTACT: Remove any contaminated clothing. Wash skin with water and soap immediately and rinse thoroughly.  Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

INGESTION: Give water or milk to drink. If swallowed, induce vomiting under medical supervision.

Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed

Typical clinical manifestations of lead poisoning include weakness, irritability, asthenia, nausea, abdominal pain with constipation, and anaemia.

Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatments needed

Symptoms of poisoning may occur after several hours; therefore medical observation for at least 48 hours after the accident is recommended.

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing media

The product itself does not burn. Dry chemical or sand. Extinguishing media which shall not be used for safety reasons: Water.

Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture

Fumes from fire may be toxic, including heavy metal fumes and oxides of sulphur.

Advice for fire fighters

Self-contained breathing apparatus with full-face piece.

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures

Do not inhale fumes or dust. Use personal protective equipment.

Environmental precautions

Do not allow to enter sewers / surface or ground water. In case of spillage to water course or public sewers inform responsible authorities.

Methods and materials for containment and clearing up

Vacuum or sweep up spillage. Collect and put in marked container for disposal. Avoid generating dust.  Avoid discharge to drainage.

Handling and storage

Precautions for safe handling

Handle lead material in such a way, that distribution of dust is minimized. Use proper industrial hygiene. Do not inhale fumes or dust. Open and handle receptacle with care.

Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities

Keep container tightly closed. Store in a cool, dry place, and away from food and feeding stuff.

Specific end uses(s)

Not applicable. This product is a transported isolated intermediate.

Transport information

Shipping

SpecialProvisions

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

Shipping

Remarks

Shipping

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Control parameters

EU              0.15 mg/m³  

Austria              0.1 mg/m³

Belgium              0.15 mg/m³

Denmark              0.05 mg/m³

Finland              0.1 mg/m³

France              0.1 mg/m³

Germany (AGS)       0.1 mg/m³

Ireland              0.15 mg/m³

Italy              0.15 mg/m³

Latvia              0.005 mg/m³

Poland              0.05 mg/m³

Spain              0.15 mg/m³

Sweden              0.1 mg/m³

Switzerland              0.1 mg/m³

UK              0.15 mg/m³

Biological action levels, inorganic lead:

EU       70 µg/dL (Binding Limit Value)

Germany       40 µg/dL

      10 µg/dL (for woman, age below 45 years) [Suspended]

France       40 µg/dL

      30 µg/dL µg/dL (for woman of reproductive capacity)

Ireland       70 µg/dL

Spain       70 µg/dL

UK       60 µg/dL

      30 µg/dL (for woman of reproductive capacity)

DNELs for workers:

Exposure pattern:       Long-term - systemic effects

Route:              Systemic (μg lead /dL blood)

DNEL:              40 μg/dL - Adult neurological function;

             10 μg/dL - Developmental effect on foetus of pregnant women

Ecological toxicity values

The following Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs) were used to determine the environmental risk:

Exposure pattern              Route              Descriptor                                   PNEC

Long-term – chronic effects       Freshwater              PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration)              3.1 μg Pb/L (dissolved)

Long-term – chronic effects       Marine              PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration)              3.5 μg Pb/L (dissolved)

Long-term – chronic effects       Freshwater Sediment       PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration)              174.0 mg Pb/kg dw1 / 41.0 mg Pb/kg dw2

Long-term – chronic effects       Marine Sediment       PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration)              164.0 mg Pb/kg dw

Long-term – chronic effects       Soil              PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration)              212.0 mg Pb/kg dw

Long-term – chronic effects       Sewage Treatment Plant       PNEC (Predicted No Effect Concentration)              0.1 mg Pb/L

1: without bioavailability correction; 2: with bioavailability correction

Guidance on how to comply with these PNECs is given in the Exposure Scenarios.

Exposure controls

Organisational measures

Personal Hygiene: Ensure workers follow simple hygiene rules (e.g. do not bite nails and keep them cut short, avoid touching or scratching face with dirty hands or gloves); Ensure workers do not wipe away sweat with hands or arms; Ensure workers use disposable tissues rather than a handkerchief; Prohibit drinking, eating and smoking in production areas, or access to eating and non-production areas in working clothes; Ensure workers wash hands, arms, faces and mouths (but preferably shower) and change into clean clothing before entering eating areas; For high exposure workplaces, separate rooms for cleaning hands, removal of clothes, showers and clean clothes may be necessary; Ensure workers handle dirty working clothes with care; Allow no personal belongings to be taken into production areas, or items that have been used in production areas to be taken home. Ensure general shop cleanliness is maintained by frequent washing/vacuuming. Clean every workplace at the end of every shift.

Blood lead monitoring: Set in place a certified monitoring regime which covers all site activities; Define a policy for submitting workers to regular blood lead monitoring, including increased frequency for workers undertaking high-risk jobs and workers with elevated blood lead levels; Ensure all workers have a blood test prior to working on site. Set an “action level” that is typically 5 µg/dL below the exposure limit deemed to be safe. If the action level is exceeded, appropriate measures are to be taken, to prevent further increases in blood lead. If the safe threshold  is exceeded, continue or begin ban on overtime, ensure strict hygiene procedures are followed, undertake detailed inspections to ensure correct use of personal protective equipment, undertake detailed inspections to ensure recommended workplace procedures are followed, move employee to workplace where exposure is expected to be lower or remove from lead environment altogether, further increase blood lead sampling frequency, and continue frequent sampling until results are below the first action level.

Personal Protection Equipment

Respiratory protection: Suitable respiratory protective device recommended recommended if work activity is likely to result in formation of lead fumes, vapours or dust. In case of brief or low level exposure use dust mask or half mask with particle filter P2. Assess the need to wear respiratory protective equipment in production areas. Consider use effective masks accompanied by a compliance policy (ensure proper shaving; ensure workers do not remove RPE in production areas in order to communicate). Where masks are used, employ formal mask cleaning and filter changing strategies.

Hand Protection: Protective gloves. Material of gloves: Neoprene or Leather.

Eye protection: Safety glasses.

Skin protection: Wear protective work clothing. For workers in areas of significant exposure, provide sufficient working clothes to enable daily change into clean clothes. In such cases all work clothing should be cleaned by the employer on a daily basis and is not permitted to leave the work site.

Environmental Protection

One or more of the following measures may if necessary be taken to reduce emissions to water:

•       Chemical precipitation: used primarily to remove the metal ions

•       Sedimentation

•       Filtration: used as final clarification step

•       Electrolysis: for low metal concentration

•       Reverse osmosis: extensively used for the removal of dissolved metals

•       Ion exchange: final cleaning step in the removal of heavy metal from process wastewater

One or more of the following measures may if necessary be taken to reduce emissions to air:

•       Electrostatic precipitators using wide electrode spacing: Wet electrostatic precipitators:

•       Cyclones, but as primary collector Fabric or bag filters: high efficiency in controlling fine particulate (melting): achieve emission values Membrane filtration techniques can achieve

•       Ceramic and metal mesh filters. PM10 particles are removed

•       Wet scrubbers

Lead compound removal from treatment works should be at least the minimum default 84% removal used in the CSR. Solid material collected from on-site treatment must be sent for metal recovery or treated as hazardous waste. Waste water treatment sludge must be recycled, incinerated or landfilled and not used as agricultural fertiliser.

Stability and reactivity

Reactivity

Lead, dross is not a reactive substance and no reactive hazards are expected.

Chemical stability

Expected to be stable under normal conditions of use.

Possibility of hazardous reactions

No hazardous reactions expected under normal conditions of use.

Conditions to avoid

Avoid excessive exposure to heat.

Incompatible materials

Strong oxidizing agents

Hazardous decomposition products

No decomposition if used as directed.

Disposal considerations

Dispose of in accordance with local regulations.