Unhardened Portland Cement Concrete

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Trade Name: Unhardened portland cement concrete (See also hardened concrete.)
Producer’s Name: Granite Rock Company
Address: 350 Technology Dr
PO Box 50001
Watsonville, CA 95077-5001
Phone Number: 831.768.2000
Date Prepared: October 1999
Date Revised: January 2009
Prepared by: Paul C. Lessard, Ph.D.

1. ACGIH TLV: American Conference of Industrial Hygienist Threshold Limit Value (TLV) time-weighted average (TWA)
2. OSHA PEL: Occupational Safety and Health Administration Permissible Exposure Limit for an 8-hour time weighted average
3. NIOSH REL: National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Recommended Exposure Limit
4. Assumes concrete mix is composed of approximately 75% granite aggregate which contain approximately 13.5% silica as measured by DCM Science Labs, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
5. Assumes no asbestos present and 1% crystalline silica.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

Overview: This product contains a mixture of portland cement, water, and aggregates (sand and gravel). The naturally occurring aggregate, typically granite and/or limestone, contains varying amounts of crystalline silica as described herein. When working with this alkaline product, wear protective rubber gloves.

This product may also contain small quantities of admixtures from secondary producers including: Daravair M/R, WRDA with Hycol, Eclipse, Recover, Mira 85, Polarset, ADVA, DCI Corrosion Inhibitor (from W.R. Grace), fly ash (from Headwaters), Xypex, as well as colors and fibers. For information on these products, consult with Graniterock or the manufacturer.

When in the hardened state, portland cement concrete may yield dust containing crystalline silica when drilled, cut, sawed, or abraded in any way. Please see the Hardened Concrete Graniterock MSDS for additional information.

Potential Health Effects

• Eye Contact: If wet concrete contacts eyes, rinse immediately with water. If irritation persists, contact a physician.
• Skin Contact: Wet concrete is very alkaline and will burn and/or dry skin severely. Wear rubber gloves when handling.

FIRST AID MEASURES

• Eye Contact: Gently flush eyes with clean water. Seek medical aid if irritation persists or develops.
• Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water. Seek medical aid if irritation persists or develops.

FIRE & EXPLOSION

• Will not burn or explode under any conditions. Non-flammable and non-explosive.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

• Spill Response Procedures: Keep concrete and concrete rinse water away from streams, lakes, and storm drains by placing earthen beams across runoff pathway. Wait until concrete is sufficiently hardened to handle.
• Preparing Waste for Disposal: No special procedures required. Dispose of according to local, state and federal regulations. Not classified as a hazardous waste by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION

• Respiratory Protection: Not required when unhardened. However, protection is required when hardened. See Graniterock’s Hardened Concrete MSDS for additional information.
• Gloves: Water proof gloves should be used.
• Other Clothing: No special requirements.
• Work Practices: Avoid contact with skin.
• Hygiene Practices: Wash dust-exposed skin with soap and water.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• Vapor Density (air=1): None
• Specific Gravity: 2.2–2.5
• Melting Point: N/A
• Boiling Point: N/A
• Solubility in Water: Insoluble
• Evaporation Rate: None
• Vapor Pressure: None
• Appearance and Odor: Grey mixture containing aggregates and cement paste

STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

• Stability: Crystalline silica (quartz) is stable, will not polymerize, and is known to be compatible with all other substances except strong oxidizing agents such as fluorine, chlorine trifluoride, or oxygen difluoride.
• Hazardous Decomposition Products: Silica-containing respirable dust particles may be generated by handling and transport.

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Crystalline silica is a naturally occurring substance found in soil and rock formations. Crystalline silica is present in trace amounts in the atmosphere air as particulate. Crystalline silica is one of several crystalline polymorphs (including trydimite, cristobalite) of silicon dioxide. When heated to 870°C, crystalline silica transforms to trydimite, and when heated to 1,470°C it can transform to cristobalite. The OSHA PEL for trydimite and cristobalite are one-half the PEL for crystalline silica. Chronic or ordinary silicosis is the most common form of silicosis which can occur after many years of exposure to relatively low levels of airborne respirable dust.

Crystalline silica is listed by the National Toxicology Program in a category which may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen, and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogenic. After years of study, the non-governing IARC concluded in 1997 that there was “sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of crystalline silica in the forms of quartz or cristobalite from occupation sources.” The IARC noted that carcinogenicity was not detected in all industries, and that toxicity may depend on “external factors affecting its biological activity or distribution of its polymorphs.”

Crystalline silica is listed by the Governor of the State of California, under Proposition 65, as requiring the following warning: "Detectable amounts of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm may be found in this product.”

ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
There is no data that shows crystalline silica (quartz) is toxic to birds, fish, invertebrates, microorganisms or plants.

GRANITE ROCK COMPANY DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this MSDS is based on tests, experience and other information which Granite Rock Company believes reliable and is supplied for informational purposes only. Since conditions of use are outside of our control, Granite Rock Company disclaims any liability for damage or injury which results from use of the above information. Nothing contained herein shall constitute a guarantee, warranty (including warranty of merchantability) or representation (including freedom from patent liability) by Granite Rock Company with respect to the information, the material described, or its use for any specific purpose, even if that purpose is known to Granite Rock Company.

Unhardened Concrete