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Silica Sand MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET Last Updated January 18, 2005

Northern Filter Media Company www.northernfiltermedia.com

1. CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

 Product Name: Silica Sand Product Number: 

 Synonyms: Silicon Dioxide, Silica Sand, 

 CAS Number: Not applicable to blends.

 Company Identification: Northern Filter Media Web: www.northernfiltermedia.com

2509 Pettibone Ave., Muscatine, IA 52761 www.zeobest.com

(563) 263-2711 (For product information)

 1-202-483-7616 (For emergencies - Chemtrec)

2. COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS: 

 CONTAINING: HAZARDOUS AND/OR REGULATED COMPONENTS

 Chemical Name Amount CAS Number OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV

 Silicon Dioxide, SiO2 >93% 14808-60-7 0.1 mg/m3 0.1 mg/m3

(respirable dust)

 Particulates Not Otherwise Classified or Regulated 15 mg/m3 respirable

 COMPOSITION COMMENT: Silica, Crystalline Quartz (respirable).

California Prop 65: This product does contain an ingredient which is known to the state of California 

to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. SiO2, Silicon Dioxide from long term 

inhalation. See Section 15.

HAZARDS DISCLOSURE: This product contains known hazardous materials in reportable levels as 

defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 except as listed above. As 

defined under Sara 311 and 312, this product contains known hazardous materials.

 

3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

Excessive inhalation of crystalline silica is a serious health concern.

 HMIS/NFPA Rating:

 Health - 1, Flammability - 0, Reactivity – 0, Personal Protection Index - t

 NFPA/HMIS Definitions: 0-Least, 1-Slight, 2-Moderate, 3-High, 4-Extreme

 Protective Equipment: t = Dust respirator under dust generating conditions.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

 INHALATION: 

Acute, short term exposure; mild and temporary discomfort to respiratory tract. Similar to nuisance 

dust. Excessive inhalation of crystalline silica is a serious health concern.

INGESTION: Not Listed.

SKIN CONTACT: No hazard known or expected.

EYE CONTACT: Dust may cause mechanical irritation, redness, pain, and corneal damage if not 

flushed out promptly.

CHRONIC EXPOSURE: Chronic, long term exposure (10 years - 30 years), may result in pulmonary 

fibrosis (silicosis). Aggravates bronchitis, asthma and emphysema.
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Silica Sand MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET Last Updated January 18, 2005

Northern Filter Media Company www.northernfiltermedia.com

CONDITIONS GENERALLY AGGRAVATED BY EXPOSURE: Bronchitis, Emphysema and Asthma. 

Smoking is known to aggravate the effects of exposure. Persons with silicosis may develop 

tuberculosis. Exposure to crystalline silica may also result in scleroderma and/or kidney disease.

4. FIRST AID MEASURES

 INHALATION FIRST AID: 

If a respiratory problem develops from dust. Remove victim to fresh air and provide oxygen if 

breathing is difficult. Get medical attention. If the victim has difficulty breathing or tightness of the 

chest, is dizzy, vomiting or unresponsive, give 100% oxygen with rescue breathing or CPR as 

required and transport to the nearest medical facility. Normally all that is required will be to bring 

victim to fresh clean air.

SKIN CONTACT FIRST AID: Not Required.

 EYE CONTACT FIRST AID: 

 If dust comes into contact with eyes, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 

minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately. 

 INGESTION FIRST AID: First aid procedures not normally required.

 STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT: Always have plenty of water available for first aid. Get 

medical attention if any symptoms develop or persist.

5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

 FLAMMABLE PROPERTIES: Not flammable.

 FLAMMABLE LIMITS IN AIR, % by Volume: Not applicable

 AUTO IGNITION TEMPERATURE: Not available

 EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: Water, dry chemical, alcohol foam, or carbon dioxide. Material floats on

water. Water spray may be used to keep exposed material cool. Do not allow water runoff to enter 

sewers or waterways.

FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS: NONE

6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS: Physical form requires no obvious personal protective equipment when 

cleaning up spills. Wear a dust mask if particulate count exceeds limits.

 

 SPILLS PROCEDURE: Material may be wetted with water to reduce dust and collected for reprocessing 

or disposal.

 ENVIRONMENTAL PRECAUTIONS: None.

 

7. HANDLING AND STORAGE

 RECOMMENDED STORAGE CONDITIONS: Avoid conditions of extreme humidity.

 SHELF LIFE: Indefinite if stored properly.

HANDLING (PERSONNEL): Handle in accordance with good hygiene and safety procedures. Avoid 

breathing dust if present. Wash thoroughly after handling.
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Silica Sand MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET Last Updated January 18, 2005

Northern Filter Media Company www.northernfiltermedia.com

8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION

 AIRBORNE EXPOSURE LIMITS: See Section 2 above.

VENTILATION SYSTEM: A system of local and/or general exhaust is recommended to keep employee 

exposures below the Airborne Exposure Limits. Please refer to the ACGIH document, Industrial 

Ventilation, A Manual of Recommended Practices, most recent edition, for details. 

PERSONAL RESPIRATORS (NIOSH APPROVED): If the respirable particulate exposure limit is 

exceeded, wear a NIOSH approved dust mask.

 SKIN PROTECTION: In normal industrial use no skin protection is required. 

 EYE PROTECTION: When mechanically working this product, safety glasses with side shields or coverall 

goggles are recommended for airborne dust exposures in excess of the applicable limits.

9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

 FORM: solid sheet COLOR: Tan to off white granuals 

 ODOR: odorless BOILING POINT: 2230 C (4046 F)

 SOLUBILITY IN WATER: Insoluble in water SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 2.6 g/cm3

 MELTING/FREEZING POINT: Not available Evaporation Rate: Not applicable

 Auto ignition Temperature: Not available pH: Not applicable

 Flash Point & Method: Not applicable – non-flammable

 VOC = None VAPOR PRESSURE: @ 72 F 10 mm Hg 

10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

 STABILITY: The material is stable.

CONDITIONS TO AVOID: Contact with incompatibles, see below. 

 POLYMERIZATION: Polymerization will not occur.

 INCOMPATIBILITY: Contact with agents such as molten magnesium, fluorine, chlorine triflouride, 

manganese trioxide, oxygen difluoride, or hydrofluoric acid may cause fires or corrosive gases.

DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: None.

11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

 Toxicity: There are no toxicological data for this material.

 Adverse health effects are not known nor are expected under normal use.

Local effects: Dust may cause mechanical irritation of eyes. Chronic, long term exposure (10 years -

30 years), may result in pulmonary fibrosis (silicosis). Aggravates bronchitis, asthma & emphysema.

Sensitization: Not known to occur with this material.

Long term toxicity: Adverse health effects are not known nor are expected under normal use.

12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION 

Material offers no known environmental hazard.

13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS

 

 WASTE DISPOSAL: Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be handled as a non 

hazardous waste and sent to an approved waste facility. Processing, use or contamination of this 

product may change the waste management options. State and local disposal regulations may 

differ from federal disposal regulations. Dispose of material in accordance with federal, state and 

local requirements. May be land filled according to local, state and federal regulations. 

 CONTAMINATED MATERIALS: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
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Silica Sand MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET Last Updated January 18, 2005

Northern Filter Media Company www.northernfiltermedia.com

14. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

 

Domestic (Land, D.O.T.), International (Water, I.M.O.), International (Air, I.C.A.O.)

PRODUCT LABEL: Silica Sand UN NUMBER: Non-Regulated material

PACKAGE CLASS: 50 D.O.T. HAZARD CLASS: NA

D.O.T. PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Not regulated PACKING GROUP: NA

PRODUCT RQ (LBS): None

15. REGULATORY INFORMATION - FEDERAL REGULATORY STATUS

OSHA Classification: Product is hazardous according to the OSHA Hazard Communication 

Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200. As a respirable dust only.

This product is also regulated by the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA). 

Carcinogenicity: by IARC?: Yes (X) No ( ) by NTP?: Yes (X) No ( )

IARC classifies crystalline silica in Group 2A, "probably carcinogenic to humans."

NTP classifies respirable crystalline silica in a category of substances which may "reasonably be 

anticipated to be carcinogens."

California Prop 65: Yes (X) No ( )

Silica, crystalline (airborne particles of respirable size), is cited in 90 California Reg. Notice 984, 

Safe Drinking Water and Enforcement Act of 1986, as known to the state of California to cause

cancer.

Not on the 302 list of SARA reportable quantities.

Poison Schedule: None allocated. 

WHMIS: This MSDS has been prepared according to the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products 

Regulations (CPR) and the MSDS contains all of the information required by the CPR. 

This material or all of its components are listed on the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances under the 

Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). This material or all of its components are listed on the Canadian

Domestic Substances List (DSL). This material or all of its components are listed (or considered as having 

been notified) on the European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (EINECS). Other inventory lists: 

ENCS (Japan), Korea, Australia, China (Draft), PICCS (Philippines), Japan (ENCS).

16. OTHER INFORMATION

 Prepared By...........: Donato Polignone Part Number..........: 

 Approved By..........: Donato Polignone Title........................: MSDS Coordinator

 Approval Date........: January 18, 2005 Supersedes Date...: January 10, 2005

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The data in this Material Safety Data Sheet relates only to the specific material designated

herein. It does not relate to use in combination with any other material or in any process. This 

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) has been reviewed to fully comply with the guidance

contained in the ANSI MSDS standard (ANSI Z400.1-1998)

This information is furnished without warranty, expressed or implied, except that it is accurate to 

the best knowledge of Northern Gravel Company. The data on this sheet are related only to

the specific material designated herein. Northern Gravel Company assumes no legal

responsibility for use or reliance upon these data.

END OF MSDS