TREATMENT OF CHEMICAL AGENT CASUALTIES NOR NAVSURNLANT SHIPS

File: 082696_doc1_036.txt
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                                          HYDROCYANIC ACID

1)         SECTION III - HEALTH HAZARD DATA

               OSHA PEL: 10 ppm (11 mg/rn3), as cyanide (NIOSH 1987 p. 138)

               ACGIH TLY: Ceiling 10 mg/rn3 (10 ppm) (skin) (ACGIH 1986-87 p. 20)

               IDLH: 50 ppm, as cyanide (NiOSH 1987, p. 158)

               Other Limits Recommended: NIOSH: 5 ~g/mS (4.7 pprn) (CN) 10 minute ceiling
               (NIOSH 1987, p. 138)

               Routes of Entry: Inhalation: Yes (*Goodman 1975)
                                Skin: Yes (*Encyc Occupat Health and Safety 1983)
                                Ingestion: Yes (*Gosselin 1976)

               Health Hazards (Acute, Delayed, and Chronic): It is super toxic.
               Breathing in a small amount of the gas or swallowing a very small amount
               may be fatal (*NF?A 1978; *Gosselin 1976). Average fatal dose is 50-60 mg.
               A few minutes of exposure to 300 ppm may result in death. Exposure to 150
               ppm for 1/2 to 1 hour may endanger life (Merck 1983, p. 696).

               Medical Conditions Generally Aggra~ated by Exposure: Not Found


           SECTION IV-- FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA

               Flash Point (Method Used): 00F, -180C (CC) (*NFPA 1978)
               Flammable Limits:
                   LEL: 5.6% (*NFPA 1978)
                   UEL: 40.0% (*NF?A 1978)

               Extinguishing Methods: Use dry chemicals, alcohol foam, or carbon dioxide
               (*NFPA 1978). Small fires: let burn unless leak can be stopped
               immediately. Large fires: water spray, fog or foam. Move container from
               fire area if you can do it without risk. Stay away from ends of tanks.
               Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety device or
               any discoloration of tank due to fire. Cool container with water using
               unmanned device until well after fire is out. Isolate area until gas has
               dispersed (*DOT 1984).

               Special Fire Fighting Procedures: Firefighting should be done from a safe
               distance. A few whiffs of gas, or liquid penetrating firefighter's
               protective clothing, could be fatal. Only special protective clothing

               should be worn. Water spray should be used to keep containers cool (*NFPA
               1978). Keep unnecessary people away; isolate hazard area and deny entry.
               Stay upwind; keep out of low areas. Ventilate closed spaces before
               entering them. Wear positive pressure breathing pparatus and special
               protective clothing. Evacuate area endangered by gas. Isolate for 1/2
               mile in all directions if tank car or truck is involved in fire (*DOT
               1984).

               Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards: Unstabilized hydrocyanic acid may
               polymerize spontaneously with explosive violence (*Hawley 1981). Flashback
               along vapor trail may occur (*CHRIS 1978). The explosion hazard is severe
j              when this material is exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizers (*Sax 1975). It