TREATMENT OF CHEMICAL AGENT CASUALTIES NOR NAVSURNLANT SHIPS

File: 082696_doc1_071.txt
Page: 071
Total Pages: 652
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                                             PHOSGENE

             SECTION II    (continued)

                 Appearance and Odor:  Colorless gas; colorless, fuming liquid; suffocating
                 odor reminiscent of moldy hay (*Merck 1976).  In dilute concentration has
                 odor of green corn (*Arena 1974); odor similar to decaying fruit at room
                 temperature (*~ncyc Occupat ~ealth and Safety 1971).


             SECTION III - HEALTH HAZARD DATA

                 OSHA PEL:   TWA 0.4 mg/m~ (0.1 ppm) (NIOSH 1987, p. 192).

                 ACGIH TLV:     TWA 0.4 mg/m3 (0.1 ppm) (ACGIH 1986-87, p. 27).

                 IDLH:  2 ppm (NIOSH 1987, p. 192)

                 Other Limits Recommended: NIOSH: 0.1 ppm (10 hour TWA); Ceiling 0.2 ppm for
                 15 minutes (NIOSH 1987, p. 192). EEGL 0.2 ppm (60 minutes) (NRC 1984b, pp.
                 69-86).

                 Routes of Entry: Inhalation: Yes (*Sax 1975)
                                  Skin: Yes (*DOT 1984)
                                  Ingestion: Not Found

                 Health Hazards (Acute, Delayed, and Chronic):  Phosgene is a lung toxicant
  `\ )           that caus~s damage to the capillaries, bronchioles and. alveoli of the lungs
                 (U.S. Ar~y 1975, p. 3-1) by decomposition to hydrochloric acid. There is
                 little immediate irritant effect upon the respiratory tract, and the
                 warning properties of the gas are therefore very slight. Pulmonary edema,
                 bronchopneumonia and occasionally lung abscesses develop.   Degenerative
                 changes in the nerves have been reported as later developments. A
                 concentration of 2S ppm is dangerous for exposures lasting 30-60 minutes
                 and 50 ppm is rapidly fatal after even short exposure (Sax 1984, p. 2210).

                 Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure:    Not Found


             SECTION IV-- FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA

                 Flash Point (Method Used): Not Found
                 Flammable Limits:
                     LEL:  Not Found
                     UEL:  Not Found

                 Extinguishing Methods: Nonflammable (NFPA 1984, p. 49-73).    For small
                 fires, use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Use water spray, fog, or foam
                 for larger fires. Do not get water inside containers. Move container from
                 fire area if you can do so without risk. Stay away from the ends of tanks,
                 and cool exposed containers with water until well after the fire is out.
                 Isolate the area until gas has dispersed (*DOT 1984).

                 Special Fire Fighting Procedures: If necessary to stop flow of gas, use
                 water spray to protect the personnel effecting shutoff. Sodium hydroxide
                 or anhydrous ammonia have been used to neutralize phosgene (*NFPA 1975).