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Summary Report NA/989

Strontium Aluminate

SLE (Australia) Pty Ltd (ABN 43 076 351 310) of 32 Shearson Crescent

Mentone VIC 3194 has submitted a standard notification statement in

support of their application for an assessment certificate for strontium

aluminate (lanthanide doped). The notified chemical is intended to be used

as a luminescent pigment in terrazzo pavers and fabric dyes, after

encapsulation in microspheres of an inert matrix. Approximately 200 tonnes

of the notified chemical will be imported or locally manufactured per

annum for each of the first five years, with approximately 90 % of the

finished pigment being exported.

ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL

EFFECTS

Hazard Assessment

Toxicological date were submitted for the product, Luxalum GID 300, which

contains a high proportion (potentially > 60 % w/w) notified chemical, in

a form in which it is encapsulated in an inert matrix and has a low

bioavailability. The toxicity for the notified chemical itself may be

higher than indicated by the toxicity results for the product. The

notified chemical is likely to be sparingly soluble, and act as a source

of strontium, aluminium and lanthanide ions in biological systems. The

toxicity of the notified chemical may be estimated from the known toxicity

of these elements.

The product used in the toxicity testing contains the notified chemical in

an inert matrix, and the results of the tests reflect this. The product

has low acute oral and dermal toxicity to rats, and is not irritating to

rabbit skin or sensitising to guinea pig skin. It is a slight irritant to

rabbit eyes, with iris and conjunctival effects which cleared by 72 hours.

These effects are likely to be due to mechanical irritation from insoluble

particulate matter. In a 28 day repeat dose oral toxicity study, no

treatment related adverse effects were seen at the only tested dose of

1000 mg/kg bw/day. It was found to not be genotoxic in an in vitro and an

in vivo test. No report on the inhalation toxicity of the notified

chemical was provided by the notifier.

The constituent ions of the notified chemical (strontium, aluminium and

deliberately added impurities) are all of low acute oral toxicity, and are

not likely to produce irritant effects unless in reactive forms. Soluble

aluminium salts have a ASCC exposure standard of 2 mg/m3. The notifier

stated that no adverse effects have been seen in workers handling the

notified chemical.

Based on the information provided by the notifier, the notified chemical

is not classified as a hazardous substance in accordance with the ASCC

Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substance.

Occupational Health and Safety

When the notified chemical is ground to a fine powder (6 - 70 micron

diameter), there is possible inhalation exposure, and also ocular exposure

to particulate matter. The inhalation of airborne dusts will be reduced to

a great extent by the high specific gravity of the notified chemical, the

small proportion in the respirable size range, and the use of local

exhaust ventilation. Based on the toxicity of the constituent ions of the

notified chemical, minimal health risks are expected if precautions are

taken to maintain the airborne dust levels at below the ASCC exposure

standard for soluble aluminium compounds of 2 mg/m3.

After incorporation of the notified chemical into the product Luxalum GID

300, exposure by inhalation and ocular dust contact become more probable,

due to the low specific gravity of the product. The toxicity is however

reduced by encapsulation, and the exposure standard for general dust of 10

mg/m3 should be applied for the product. The notifier stated that the

blender, grinder, reactor, screening and drum filling areas are under

local exhaust ventilation, and that workers will wear industrial clothing,

chemical goggles or face shields, gloves and a particulate respirator.

No data were provided for workers handling the product in production of
dyes or glowstones. For these workers, there will be potential inhalation

and ocular exposure during weighing and addition of the product to the

mixing vessels where the end use products are produced. Similar

precautions to those described above for workers handling Luxalum GID 300

during manufacture should be used, and the exposure standard for general

dusts observed. Following incorporation into the products, the likelihood

of production of airborne dusts is very low, and as the notified chemical

is encapsulated, little occupational risk is likely.

Public Health

The notified chemical will be encased in microspheres to make Luxalum GID

300 which are further mixed with polyester resin chips at 5% Luxalum GID

300 for incorporation into terrazzo pavement, or further mixed with an

aqueous acrylic emulsion at 60% Luxalum GID 300 for incorporation into a

dyestuff for application to safety vests. These applications render the

notified chemical inaccessible to human contact. It is only in the early

stages of its life cycle before it is encased, that the notified chemical

may be accessible to human contact following a transport accident. The low

likelihood of contact with the notified chemical, the low toxicity of the

notified chemical and of Luxalum GID 300 suggest that it will not pose a

significant hazard to public health when used in the proposed manner.

Environmental Effects

It is estimated that a maximum of 2.5 tonnes per annum of the notified

chemical could be released during its manufacture, subsequent formulation

into Luxalum G.I.D. 300 microspheres, and the down stream use of this

product in the production of terrazzo pavers and in dyeing of fabric. The

majority of the released material will be disposed of into landfill,

although a small amount (estimated as 100 kg per annum) may be released

into the sewer during production of pigment formulations for dyeing.

Although the released chemical will very likely slowly dissolve to

liberate strontium and lanthanide ions, a worst case scenario indicates

that the Predicted Environmental Concentrations of Sr2+ and the lanthanide

ions together would be 3.6 milligrams per litre and 8 micrograms per litre

respectively.

At the end of their useful lives the terrazzo pavers and fabrics

containing the notified chemical would be placed into landfill, and in

this situation the notified chemical will be slowly released as the pavers

and fabric are broken down.

Overall most of the notified chemical will eventually be disposed of into

landfill, and the component metals will be slowly liberated as the crystal

structure of the strontium aluminate breaks down. However, the release of

these elements will be diffuse and at relatively low levels. The

lanthanide elements would associate as hydroxides with soils and

sediments.

When incorporated into microspheres in Luxalum G.I.D. 300, the notified

chemical has been shown to be non toxic to Australian bass (a saltwater

species), with a LOEL of 1 g/L. However, it is uncertain whether the

observed effects were physical in origin (eg. microspheres entering the

gills) or due to chemical toxicity from dissolved strontium or lanthanide

metals. However, the chemical is unlikely to enter water courses at

concentrations as high as 1 g/L, so no adverse environmental effects on

fish are anticipated from usage of the material as described in the

notification.

On the basis of the expected low environmental exposure and relatively

high LOEC for the Australian bass fish (the one species for which

ecotoxicity data was provided), use of the new chemical as indicated in

the notification is expected to have a low environmental hazard. The

chemical is not considered to pose a risk to the environment based on its

reported use pattern.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Control Measures

Occupational Health and Safety

Employers should implement the following engineering controls to

minimise occupational exposure to the notified chemical in pure

particulate form or in the product Luxalum GID 300:

Local exhaust ventilation should be used at all points where grinding

or handling of dry powder occur.
Employers should implement the following safe work practices to minimise

occupational exposure during handling of the notified chemical in pure

particulate form:

The ASCC exposure standard of 2 mg/m3 for soluble aluminium compounds

should be observed.

Employers should implement the following safe work practices to minimise

occupational exposure during handling of the product Luxalum GID 300:

The ASCC exposure standard of 10 mg/m3 for dusts in general should be

observed.

Employers should ensure that the following personal protective equipment

is used by workers to minimise occupational exposure to the notified

chemical in pure particulate form or in the product Luxalum GID 300:

Safety goggles or face shield, industrial clothing, gloves;

If engineering controls do not reduce dust levels to below the

appropriate exposure standards, particulate respirators should be

used.

Guidance in selection of personal protective equipment can be obtained

from Australian, Australian/New Zealand or other approved standards.

A copy of the MSDS should be easily accessible to employees.

If products and mixtures containing the notified chemical are classified

as hazardous to health in accordance with the ASCC Approved Criteria for

Classifying Hazardous Substances, workplace practices and control

procedures consistent with provisions of State and Territory hazardous

substances legislation must be in operation.

Secondary notification

The Director of Chemicals Notification and Assessment must be notified in

writing within 28 days by the notifier, other importer or manufacturer:

(1) Under Section 64(1) of the Act; if

further data or evidence relating to adverse effects on aquatic life

forms becomes available.

or

(2) Under Section 64(2) of the Act:

if any of the circumstances listed in the subsection arise.

The Director will then decide whether secondary notification is required.

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