Specification

Carbon and Alloy Steels
Page 6 of 8 Revision Date: 12/21/2015
pigmentation of the affected area. Ingestion overexposures to iron may affect the gastrointestinal, nervous,
and hematopoietic system and the liver. Iron and steel founding, but not iron or iron oxide, has been listed
as carcinogenic (Group 1) by IARC.
When this product is welded, fumes are generated. Welding fumes may be different in composition from the
original welding product, with the chief component being ordinary oxides of the metal being welded. Chronic
health effects (including cancer) have been associated with the fumes and dusts of individual component
metals (see above), and welding fumes as a general category have been listed by IARC as a carcinogen
(Group 2B). There is also limited evidence that welding fumes may cause adverse reproductive and fetal
effects. Evidence is stronger where welding materials contain known reproductive toxins, e.g., lead, which
may be present in the coating material of this product.
Breathing fumes or dusts of this product may result in metal fume fever, which is an illness produced by
inhaling metal oxides. These oxides are produced by heating various metals including cadmium, zinc,
magnesium, copper, antimony, nickel, cobalt, manganese, tin, lead, beryllium, silver, chromium, aluminum,
selenium, iron, and arsenic. The most common agents involved are zinc and copper.
This product may contain small amounts of manganese. Prolonged exposure to manganese dusts or fumes
is associated with "manganism", a Parkinson-like syndrome characterized by a variety of neurological
symptoms including muscle spasms, gait disturbances, tremors, and psychoses.
This product may contain small amounts of cadmium. Primary target organs for cadmium overexposure are
the lung and the kidney. Because of its cumulative nature, chronic cadmium poisoning can cause serious
disease which takes many years to develop and may continue to progress despite cessation of exposure.
Progression of the disease may not reflect current exposure conditions. It is also capable of causing a painful
osteomalacia called “Itai-Itai” in postmenopausal women, and has caused developmental effects and/or
reproductive effects in male and female animals. Cadmium is a listed carcinogen by NTP, OSHA, and IARC
(Group 1).
This product may contain small amounts of chromium. Prolonged and repeated overexposure to chromium
dusts or fumes may cause skin ulcers, nasal irritation and ulceration, kidney damage and cancer of the
respiratory system. Chromium is skin sensitizer. Cancer is generally attributed to the hexavalent (+6) form
of chromium which is listed as a carcinogen by NTP and IARC (Group 1).
This product may contain small amounts of nickel. Prolonged and repeated contact with nickel may cause
sensitization dermatitis. Inhalation of nickel compounds has caused lung damage as well as sinus, nasal and
lung cancer in laboratory animals. Nickel is a listed carcinogen by NTP and IARC (Group 1).
This product may contain small amounts of vanadium. Adverse effects from dermal, inhalation or parenteral
exposure to various vanadium compounds have been reported. The major target for vanadium pentoxide
toxicity is the respiratory tract. Fumes or dust can cause severe eye and respiratory irritation, and systemic
effects. Chronic bronchitis, green tongue, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, rales, chronic productive cough,
and tightness of the chest have been reported following overexposure. Allergic reactions resulting from skin
and inhalation exposures have also been reported. A statistical association between vanadium air levels and
lung cancer has been suggested, but vanadium currently is not regarded as a human carcinogen.
This product may contain small amounts of lead. Lead can accumulate in the body. Consequently, exposure
to fumes or dust may produce signs of polyneuritis, diminished vision and peripheral neuropathy, such as
tingling and loss of feeling in fingers, arms and legs. Lead is a known reproductive and developmental toxin.
It is also associated with central nervous system disorders, anemia, kidney dysfunction and neurobehavioral
abnormalities. The brain is a major target organ for lead exposure. Elemental lead is listed as an IARC 2B
carcinogen.
The product may contain small amounts of copper. Copper dust and fumes can irritate the eyes, nose and
throat causing coughing, wheezing, nosebleeds, ulcers and metal fume fever. Other effects from repeated
inhalation of copper fumes include a metallic or sweet taste, and discoloration of skin, teeth or hair. Copper
also may cause an allergic skin reaction. Overexposure to copper can affect the liver.