| toxicity summary | IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Pentasodium tripolyphosphate is a white powder which is soluble in water.r It is used as a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer. This chemical is one of the most widely used and most effective builder in heavy duty fabric washing compositions. Because of its high sequestration power, it also finds extensive application in automatic dish washing detergents. It forms stable hydrates and aids in the manufacture of crisp spray dried laundry powders. It is used in dairy substitute products: milk based pudding, whipped topping, sour cream, and cheese. It is used in water softening and as a peptizing agent; emulsifier and dispersing agent, it is an ingredient of cleansers in drilling fluids to control mud viscosity in oil fields; as preservative, sequestrant, and as a texturizer in foods. The active ingredient is no longer contained in any registered pesticide products used in the United States. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: If ingested in large amounts this chemical can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It has produced vesiculation when applied to intact and abraded skin of humans. Sodium and potassium hexametaphosphates, polyphosphates, tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, and other phosphates used as water softeners form complexes with calcium and, after ingestion, are capable of seriously reducing the serum level of ionic calcium. They have less corrosive effect on mucous membranes than sodium or potassium hydroxide. Eye contact with concentrated material can cause conjunctival edema and corneal destruction. Chronic dermatitis may follow repeated contact of the chemical that migrates to food from packaging materials. Occupational exposure involves acetyl cellulose makers, bronze alloy makers, munitions workers, smoke bomb and incendiary makers, pesticide rat poison worker, fertilizer makers, electroluminescent-coating makers, and semiconductor workers. ANIMAL STUDIES: This chemical induced emesis in dogs. Dietary administration in animals has caused decrease iron content in bone, liver, and spleen, and bone depletion of calcium. |