253 lines
9.1 KiB
Plaintext
253 lines
9.1 KiB
Plaintext
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Common Name: DECABORANE
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CAS Number: 17702-41-9
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DOT Number: UN 1868
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Substance number: 0597
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Date: February 1989 Revision: First
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HAZARD SUMMARY
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* Decaborane can affect you when breathed in and by passing
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through your skin. * Exposure can cause restlessness, headaches,
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dizziness, and nausea. High concentrations can cause muscle
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twitching, convulsions, unconsciousness, and death. High or
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repeated exposures may damage the liver and kidneys. * Vapor
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exposure may cause clouding of the eyes with loss of vision.
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Contact can cause severe eye burns and may also irritate the
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skin. * Decaborane may explode on contact with heat or flame, or
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with oxygenated or halogenated solvents. Contact with water can
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form flammable Hydrogen gas.
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IDENTIFICATION
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Decaborane is a colorless or white crystalline solid with a
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bitter odor. It is used in rocket propellants and in making
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other chemicals.
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REASON FOR CITATION
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* Decaborane is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is
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regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, NFPA, DOT and EPA.
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HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED
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* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated.
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This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You
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can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You
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have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.20. * If
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you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems,
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see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take
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this Fact Sheet with you.
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WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
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OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.05
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ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 0.15 ppm not to be
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exceeded during any (15 minute) work period. (Final Rule January
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1989).
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ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.05 ppm
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averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 0.15 ppm as a STEL (short
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term exposure limit).
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* The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
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contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air
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levels are less than the limits listed above.
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WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
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* Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
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ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust
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ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn.
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* Wear protective work clothing.
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* Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Decaborane and at
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the end of the workshift. * Post hazard and warning information
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in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education
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and training effort, communicate all information on the health
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and safety hazards of Decaborane to potentially exposed workers.
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HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
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Acute Health Effects
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The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
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immediately or shortly after exposure to Decaborane:
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* Exposure can cause restlessness, headaches, fatigue,
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clumsiness, nausea, hiccups and shaking. High levels can cause
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muscle twitches, convulsions, unconsciousness, and death. *
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Contact can cause severe eye burns, leading to permanent damage.
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It may also irritate the skin, causing a rash or burning feeling
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on contact. * Exposure to the vapor can irritate the eyes, nose,
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and throat.
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Chronic Health Effects
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The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at
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some time after exposure to Decaborane and can last for months or
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years:
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Cancer Hazard
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* According to the information presently available to the New
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Jersey Department of Health, Decaborane has not been tested for
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its ability to cause cancer in animals.
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Reproductive Hazard
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* According to the information presently available to the New
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Jersey Department of Health, Decaborane has not been tested for
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its ability to affect reproduction.
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Other Long-Term Effects
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* Repeated exposures may affect the ability to concentrate and
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damage the nervous system, causing tremors and spasms. *
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Decaborane may damage the liver and kidneys.
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* Overexposure may cause clouding of the cornea and eyes with
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loss of vision.
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MEDICAL
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Medical Testing
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Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, the
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following is recommended:
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* Examination of the nervous system.
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If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following
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may be useful:
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* Liver and kidney function tests.
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* Exam of the eyes and vision.
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Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and
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present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for
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damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
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exposure.
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Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right
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to this information under OSHA 1910.20.
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Mixed Exposures
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Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung cancer,
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emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may worsen
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respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you
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have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce your risk
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of developing health problems.
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WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
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Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
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substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of
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reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations
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and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical
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release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using
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respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the
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controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary.
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In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider:
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(1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance
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is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or
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eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for
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highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or
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breathing exposures are possible.
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In addition, the following control is recommended:
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* Where possible, automatically transfer Decaborane from drums or
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other storage containers to process containers.
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Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The
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following work practices are recommended:
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* Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Decaborane
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should change into clean clothing promptly. * Contaminated work
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clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed
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of the hazards of exposure to Decaborane. * Eye wash fountains in
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the immediate work area should be provided for emergency use. *
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On skin contact with Decaborane, immediately wash or shower to
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remove the chemical. * Wash any areas of the body that may have
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contacted Decaborane at the end of each work day, whether or not
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known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink
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where Decaborane is handled, processed, or stored, since the
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chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating or
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smoking. * Do not dry sweep for clean-up. Use a vacuum or a wet
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method to reduce dust during clean-up.
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FIRE HAZARDS
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* The solid can self-ignite in Oxygen, and mixtures with
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oxidizing materials can be explosive. * Decaborane is a
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combustible solid.
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* Use dry chemical or foam extinguishers. Avoid halogenated
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extinguishing agents, as they can react violently. * POISONOUS
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GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE.
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* CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE.
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* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained
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and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.
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SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES
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If Decaborane is spilled or leaked, take the following steps:
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* Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of
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spill or leak until cleanup is complete. * Remove all ignition
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sources.
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* Ventilate area of spill or leak.
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* Collect powdered material in the most convenient manner and
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deposit in sealed containers. * It may be necessary to contain
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and dispose of Decaborane as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your
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Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional
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office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for
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specific recommendations.
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HANDLING AND STORAGE
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* Prior to working with Decaborane you should be trained on its
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proper handling and storage. * Decaborane must be stored to avoid
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contact with OXIDIZERS, such as PERMANGANATES, NITRATES,
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PEROXIDES, CHLORATES, and PERCHLORATES; or HALOGENATED COMPOUNDS,
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since violent reactions occur. * Store in tightly closed
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containers in a cool, well ventilated area away from HEAT and
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WATER. HEAT can cause an explosion. Contact with WATER can
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slowly produce flammable Hydrogen gas. Detached storage is
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preferable. * Sources of ignition such as smoking and open flames
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are prohibited where Decaborane is handled, used, or stored.
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FIRST AID
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Eye Contact
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* Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15
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minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical
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attention immediately.
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Skin Contact
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* Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area
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with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention
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immediately.
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Breathing
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* Remove the person from exposure.
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* Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if
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heart action has stopped. * Transfer promptly to a medical
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facility.
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PHYSICAL DATA
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Vapor Pressure: 0.05 mm Hg at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C)
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Flash Point: 176 degrees F (80 degrees C)
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Water Solubility: Insoluble
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OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES
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Chemical Name:
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Decaborane
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Other Names and Formulations:
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Boron Hydride; Nido-Decaborane; Decaboron Tetradecahydride
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