Data sheets are compiled to let the common people know the risks of a chemical. They are accurate and have to be.
Lets compare the chemicals sodium fluoride and say boron.
We will start by looking at the headlines in the data sheets.
Sodium fluoride
2. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
3. COMPOSITION AND INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
4. FIRST AID MEASURES
6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
7. HANDLING AND STORAGE
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
These headings were taken from the data sheet of Sodium fluoride.
Note the number of pages
2. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
Classified as Dangerous Goods by the criteria of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code) for Transport by
Road and Rail; DANGEROUS GOODS.
This material is hazardous according to Safe Work Australia; HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL.
Classification of the chemical:
Acute Oral Toxicity - Category 3
Skin Irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation - Category 2A
SIGNAL WORD: DANGER
Product Name: SODIUM FLUORIDE Issued: 25/03/2015
Substance No: 000031020001
Hazard Statement(s):
H301 Toxic if swallowed.
H315 Causes skin irritation.
H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
Version: 6
Precautionary Statement(s):
Prevention:
P264 Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
P280 Wear protective gloves / protective clothing / eye protection / face protection.
Page 1 of 7
Safety Data Sheet
Response:
P301+P310 IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician.
P330 Rinse mouth.
P321 Specific treatment (see First Aid Measures on Safety Data Sheet).
P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P332+P313 If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
P362 Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do.
Continue rinsing.
P337+P313 If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
Storage:
P405 Store locked up.
Disposal:
P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local, regional, national, international regulations.
Other Hazards:
AUH032 Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas.
Poisons Schedule (SUSMP): S6 Poison.
3. COMPOSITION AND INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
Components CAS Number Proportion Hazard Codes
Sodium fluoride 7681-49-4 >=95% H301 H319 H315
4. FIRST AID MEASURES
For advice, contact a Poisons Information Centre (e.g. phone Australia 131 126; New Zealand 0800 764 766) or a
doctor at once. Urgent hospital treatment is likely to be needed.
Inhalation:
Remove victim from area of exposure - avoid becoming a casualty. Remove contaminated clothing and loosen
remaining clothing. Allow patient to assume most comfortable position and keep warm. Keep at rest until fully
recovered. Seek medical advice if effects persist.
Skin Contact:
If skin or hair contact occurs, immediately remove any contaminated clothing and wash skin and hair thoroughly with
running water. If swelling, redness, blistering or irritation occurs seek medical assistance.
Eye Contact:
If in eyes, hold eyelids apart and flush the eye continuously with running water. Continue flushing until advised to stop
by a Poisons Information Centre or a doctor, or for at least 15 minutes.
Product Name: SODIUM FLUORIDE Issued: 25/03/2015
Ingestion:
Immediately rinse mouth with water. If swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting. Give a glass of water. Seek immediate
medical assistance.
Substance No: 000031020001
Indication of immediate medical attention and special treatment needed:
Treat symptomatically. For large exposures, systemic effects (hypocalcemia and hypomagnesia) may occur.
Version: 6
5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES
Page 2 of 7
Safety Data Sheet
Suitable Extinguishing Media:
Not combustible, however, if material is involved in a fire use: Fine water spray, normal foam, dry agent (carbon
dioxide, dry chemical powder).
Hazchem or Emergency Action Code: 2Z
Specific hazards arising from the chemical:
Non-combustible material.
Special protective equipment and precautions for fire-fighters:
Decomposes on heating emitting toxic fumes, including those of hydrogen fluoride , and sodium oxide . Fire fighters to
wear self-contained breathing apparatus and suitable protective clothing if risk of exposure to products of
decomposition.
6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Emergency procedures/Environmental precautions:
Clear area of all unprotected personnel. If contamination of sewers or waterways has occurred advise local
emergency services.
Personal precautions/Protective equipment/Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Wear protective equipment to prevent skin and eye contact. Avoid breathing in dust. Work up wind or increase
ventilation. Collect and seal in properly labelled containers or drums for disposal. DO NOT allow material to get wet.
7. HANDLING AND STORAGE
This material is a Scheduled Poison S6 and must be stored, maintained and used in accordance with the relevant
regulations.
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid skin and eye contact and breathing in dust. Avoid handling which leads to dust formation. Keep out of reach of
children.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Store in a cool, dry, well ventilated place. Protect from moisture. Store away from foodstuffs. Store away from
incompatible materials described in Section 10. Keep containers closed when not in use - check regularly for spills.
Product Name: SODIUM FLUORIDE
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
Issued: 25/03/2015
Substance No: 000031020001
Control Parameters: No value assigned for this specific material by Safe Work Australia. However, Workplace
Exposure Standard(s) for constituent(s):
Version: 6
Fluorides (as F): 8hr TWA = 2.5 mg/m3
Page 3 of 7
As published by Safe Work Australia Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants.
TWA - The time-weighted average airborne concentration of a particular substance when calculated over an
eight-hour working day, for a five-day working week.
These Workplace Exposure Standards are guides to be used in the control of occupational health hazards. All
atmospheric contamination should be kept to as low a level as is workable. These workplace exposure standards
should not be used as fine dividing lines between safe and dangerous concentrations of chemicals. They are not a
measure of relative toxicity.
Safety Data Sheet
Appropriate engineering controls:
Ensure ventilation is adequate and that air concentrations of components are controlled below quoted Workplace
Exposure Standards. Keep containers closed when not in use.
If in the handling and application of this material, safe exposure levels could be exceeded, the use of engineering
controls such as local exhaust ventilation must be considered and the results documented. If achieving safe exposure
levels does not require engineering controls, then a detailed and documented risk assessment using the relevant
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (refer to PPE section below) as a basis must be carried out to determine the
minimum PPE requirements.
Individual protection measures, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
The selection of PPE is dependent on a detailed risk assessment. The risk assessment should consider the work
situation, the physical form of the chemical, the handling methods, and environmental factors.
OVERALLS, SAFETY SHOES, CHEMICAL GOGGLES, GLOVES, DUST MASK.
Wear overalls, chemical goggles and impervious gloves. Avoid generating and inhaling dusts. If determined by a risk
assessment an inhalation risk exists, wear a dust mask/respirator meeting the requirements of AS/NZS 1715 and
AS/NZS 1716. Always wash hands before smoking, eating, drinking or using the toilet. Wash contaminated clothing
and other protective equipment before storage or re-use.
We will now look at Boron
Section 2: Composition and Information on Ingredients
Section 3: Hazards Identification
Section 4: First Aid Measures
Section 5: Fire and Explosion Data
Section 6: Accidental Release Measures
Section 7: Handling and Storage
Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Total pages is two for all the above for boron.
Note the number of pages
Section 2: Composition and Information on Ingredients
Composition:
Name CAS # % by Weight
Boron 7440-42-8 100
Toxicological Data on Ingredients: Boron: ORAL (LD50): Acute: 650 mg/kg [Rat]. 560 mg/kg [Mouse].
Section 3: Hazards Identification
Potential Acute Health Effects: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of
ingestion, of inhalation.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator), of ingestion, of inhalation. CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not
available.
Section 4: First Aid Measures
Eye Contact:
Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15
minutes. Get medical attention if irritation occurs.
p. 2
Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Get medical attention if irritation develops.
Serious Skin Contact: Not available.
Inhalation:
If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical
attention.
Serious Inhalation:
Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Seek
medical attention.
Ingestion:
Do NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious
person. If large quantities of this material are swallowed, call a physician immediately. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar,
tie, belt or waistband.
Serious Ingestion: Not available.
Section 5: Fire and Explosion Data
Flammability of the Product: Flammable.
Auto-Ignition Temperature: 580°C (1076°F)
Flash Points: Not available.
Flammable Limits: Not available.
Products of Combustion: Not available.
Fire Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:
Slightly flammable to flammable in presence of open flames and sparks, of heat. Non-flammable in presence of shocks.
Explosion Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:
Slightly explosive in presence of open flames and sparks. Non-explosive in presence of shocks.
Fire Fighting Media and Instructions:
Flammable solid. SMALL FIRE: Use DRY chemical powder. LARGE FIRE: Use water spray or fog. Cool containing vessels
with water jet in order to prevent pressure build-up, autoignition or explosion.
Special Remarks on Fire Hazards:
Material in powder form, capable of creating a dust explosion. When amorphous boron is heated in dry ammonia, reaction
proceeds with incandescence and hydrogen is evolved. Boron ignites in bromine vapor at 700 C. Boron ignites in chlorine @
410 C. Fluorine attacks boron @ ordinary temperature and the resulting mass becomes incandescent. Iodic acid attacks boron
below 40 deg. C and the resulting mass becomes incandescent. Concentrated nitric acid and boron react so violently that the
mass is raised to incandescence. A mixture of boron and sulfur becomes incandescnet at 600 C. A reaction between nitrosyl
fluoride and boron is accompanied by incandescence.
Special Remarks on Explosion Hazards:
Fine dust dispersed in air in sufficient concentrations, and in the presences of an ignition source is a potential dust explosion
hazard. Silver fluoride reacts explosively Boron at ordinary temperatures.
Section 6: Accidental Release Measures
Small Spill: Use appropriate tools to put the spilled solid in a convenient waste disposal container.
Large Spill:
Flammable solid. Stop leak if without risk. Do not touch spilled material. Use water spray curtain to divert vapor drift. Prevent
entry into sewers, basements or confined areas; dike if needed. Eliminate all ignition sources. Call for assistance on disposal.
Section 7: Handling and Storage
p. 3
Precautions:
Keep away from heat. Keep away from sources of ignition. Ground all equipment containing material. Do not ingest. Do not
breathe dust. Wear suitable protective clothing. If ingested, seek medical advice immediately and show the container or the
label. Keep away from incompatibles such as oxidizing agents, acids.
Storage:
Keep container in a cool, well-ventilated area. Keep container tightly closed and sealed until ready for use. Avoid all possible
sources of ignition (spark or flame).
Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Engineering Controls:
Use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation, or other engineering controls to keep airborne levels below recommended
exposure limits. If user operations generate dust, fume or mist, use ventilation to keep exposure to airborne contaminants
below the exposure limit.
Personal Protection: Safety glasses. Lab coat. Dust respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent.
Gloves.
Personal Protection in Case of a Large Spill:
Splash goggles. Full suit. Dust respirator. Boots. Gloves. A self contained breathing apparatus should be used to avoid
inhalation of the product. Suggested protective clothing might not be sufficient; consult a specialist BEFORE handling this
product.
Exposure Limits: Not available
These two chemicals are used in different ways and have different warnings and severity of warnings
One of these is put into water supply for drinking and the other is banned
One has bad health benefits and the other is good in small dosages.
you can chose one for internal consumption and the other is forced on you
Do your own research I know which one I would freely consume....
