| hazard classes and categories | Flam. Sol. 1 (65.74%)Pyr. Liq. 1 (37.64%)Water-react. 2 (98.99%)Not ClassifiedSubstance or mixture which in contact with water emits flammable gas - category 2Pyrophoric solid - category 1Flammable solid - category 1Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure - Category 1 (lung)Hazardous to the aquatic environment (Long-term) - Category 4Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flamm - Category 2, Category 3Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure - Category 1 (respiratory system)Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure - Category 1 (respiratory system)Flammable - 3rd degree, Reactive - 1st degreePyr. Sol. 1Water-react. 2Flam. Sol. 1 |
| precautionary statement codes | P210, P222, P231, P231+P232, P233, P240, P241, P280, P302+P335+P334, P370+P378, P402+P404, and P501 |
| hazards summary | Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. It is always found combined with other elements such as oxygen, silicon, and fluorine. Aluminum as the metal is obtained from aluminum-containing minerals. Small amounts of aluminum can be found dissolved in water. Aluminum metal is light in weight and silvery-white in appearance. Aluminum is used for beverage cans, pots and pans, airplanes, siding and roofing, and foil. Aluminum is often mixed with small amounts of other metals to form aluminum alloys, which are stronger and harder. Aluminum compounds have many different uses, for example, as alums in water-treatment and alumina in abrasives and furnace linings. They are also found in consumer products such as antacids, astringents, buffered aspirin, food additives, and antiperspirants.One of the difficulties in studying the adverse effects of aluminum is the frequent contamination of biological specimens with aluminum from the environment, e.g., improperly cleaned glassware. More than 95% of aluminum is excreted in the urine. The occupational lung disease Shaver's disease was thought to be caused by chronic inhalation of dusts containing aluminum minerals such as bauxite and corundum, often contaminated with silica. Studies of workers in Europe confirmed that stamped aluminum powder, even in the absence of silica, caused lung fibrosis (aluminosis) in past decades. Stamped aluminum powder is mainly used to make pyrotechnics. it commonly contains lubricating agents such as stearin or mineral oils. A study of a group of 64 aluminum welders for 1-24 years found no evidence of pulmonary fibrosis. Evidence of neurotoxicity was found in welders with urine aluminum levels >100 ug/L compared with welders with lower levels. Whether or not the neurobehavioral effects are reversible is not known. High levels of aluminum e.g., in dialysis patients or after chronic use of antacids, can interfere with bone remodeling and contribute to osteomalacia. Total parenteral nutrition solutions containing more that 4-5 ug/day can cause increased aluminum levels associated with CNS and bone toxicity. The TLV applies to insoluble aluminum compounds (metal, aluminum oxide, stamped aluminum, aluminum in bauxite ore dust, emery). Workers exposed to high levels of aluminum dust (40 years of exposure at 2.5 mg/m3) have x-ray and mild pulmonary function changes. In studies of animals chronically inhaling aluminum oxide, 2.45 mg Al/m3 is the NOAEL. The cases of aluminosis in Germany were related to the mineral oil used as a lubricant. Levels measured in patients with dialysis encephalopathy (59 ug/L in serum and 330 ug/L in urine) are estimated to be equivalent to workers being exposed for 40 years to 1.6 mg/m3. Klatzo et al. in 1965 suggested that aluminum played a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. That hypothesis is no longer supported. The cause of potroom asthma in aluminum smelter workers is unknown. Hazards present in this environment include fluorides, sulfur dioxide, and coal tar pitch volatiles. There is no convincing evidence of an allergic mechanism. Potroom asthma develops from 1 week to 10 years after first exposure. Interstitial fibrosis among aluminum powder workers was reported in the 1940s. Occupational asthma in a welder (manual metal arc welding on aluminium) and a foundry worker (aluminum chloride) confirmed by bronchoprovocation testing. Aluminum metal can cause contact urticaria. Aluminum welders in the train and truck manufacturing industry with an average 15 years of experience had no increased symptoms compared to the control group. Measured air levels of total dust were 5-8 mg/m3. Trialkylaluminum compounds are potentially corrosive to the skin and respiratory tract, but they are very reactive with air and water and practically never gain systemic access to exert internal toxicity. Soluble aluminum compounds include nitrates, acetates, sulfates, chlorides, bromides, iodides, and salts of Na, K, and ammonium. Insoluble aluminum compounds include all hydroxides, carbonates, and phosphates that are not ammonium compounds. See Aluminum production. |