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For Emergency Call: CHEMTREC -- (800) 424-9300
Effective Date: April 17, 2000
Product Name: Urea
CAS Number: 57-13-6
Chemical Name: Urea
Chemical Family: Amides
Synonyms and Common Trade Names:
Carbamide
Carbonyldiamine
Carbonyl Diamide
Company Identification
Distributor's Name: Chemical Solutions,
Inc.
Address: P. O. Box 675, Franklin,
MA 02038-0675
Telephone: 508/520-3900
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Component Name
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Typical
Weight
Percentage
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CAS Number
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| Urea |
96.6-97.6
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57-13-6
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| Biuret (H2NCONHCONH2) |
1.0-1.5
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108-19-0
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| Water |
0.1-0.4
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7732-18-5
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Urea reaction products
with formaldehyde
(primarily methylenediurea) |
1.3-1.5
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68611-64-3
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3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
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When heated, decomposes to carbon dioxide and ammonia; if
burned, emits small amounts of nitrogen oxides. Can cause
redness and irritation of skin and eyes.
White granules with either no odor or having a slight odor
of ammonia (in presence of moisture).
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Potential Health Effects
Eyes: Contact may cause eye irritation
including stinging, watering and redness.
Skin: Contact may cause irritation
including redness, itching and pain. No harmful effects from skin
absorption.
Inhalation (Breathing): Urea dust
may cause irritation of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract.
Ingestion (Swallowing): Low degree
of toxicity by ingestion. May cause irritation of the digestive
tract if ingested. Nausea and vomiting may occur after exposure
to large volumes.
Signs and Symptoms: Effects of
overexposure may include irritation of the nose, throat and digestive
tract, nausea, vomiting, coughing and shortness of breath.
Cancer: Inadequate data available.
Target Organs: Inadequate data
available.
Developmental: Inadequate data
available.
Other Comments: None known.
Medical Conditions Aggravated by Exposure:
Conditions aggravated by exposure may include skin disorders and
respiratory (asthma-like) disorders.
Eyes: Hold eyelids open and flush
eyes immediately with water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical
attention if necessary.
Skin: Wash affected areas with
soap and water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated
clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean
shoes before reuse. Get medical attention if symptoms occur.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air and
rest. If cough or difficulty in breathing develops, administer
oxygen by qualified personnel. Seek medical attention if necessary.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth and drink
plenty of water. Induce vomiting if exposed to high volumes of
a low concentration. Seek medical attention if necessary.
Notes to Physician: None
Urea is not flammable.
Flash Point (test method): Not
applicable
Flammable Limits: Not applicable
Explosive Limits: Not applicable
Autoignition Temperature: Not applicable
Extinguishing Media: Use water,
carbon dioxide, foam, or dry chemical.
NFPA Fire Rating:
Flammability 0
Health Hazard 1
Reactivity 0
Specific Hazard Not applicable
Key: Least = 0, Slight = 1, Moderate
= 2, High = 3, Extreme = 4
Special Firefighting Procedures: Fire
fighters should use NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus
and full protective equipment when fighting chemical fires.
Unusual Fire and Explosive Hazards:
Urea forms hazardous decomposition products, including ammonia.
Refer to Section 10 for details.
Recover any reusable product, taking care not to generate excess
dust. Use caution as product may be slippery when wet. Keep product
out of sewage and drainage systems and all bodies of water as
it may be toxic to aquatic organisms. Clean up spills immediately.
Place contaminated materials in disposable containers and dispose
of in a manner consistent with applicable regulations. Contact
local environmental or health authorities for approved disposal
of this material.
Neutralizing Chemicals: Not applicable
Handling: The use of respiratory
protection is advised when dust concentrations exceed any
established exposure limits (see Section 8).
Storage: Keep dry. Urea will absorb
moisture from air. If storage piles become wet, surrounding
floor may be slippery. Reacts with hypochlorites to form nitrogen
trichloride, which explodes
spontaneously in air. Reacts with nitric acid to form urea nitrate
that decomposes explosively when heated.
Engineering Controls: Use process
enclosure, general dilution ventilation, or local exhaust systems,
where necessary, to maintain airborne dust concentrations below
the OSHA standard.
Personal Protective Equipment
Eyes: No personal protective equipment
normally required. If dusting of dry product or splashing of solutions
is possible, use chemical safety goggles and/or full-face shield.
Skin: No personal protective equipment
normally required. If dusting of dry product or splashing of solutions
is possible, wear protective gloves and clothing.
Respiratory: Protection is not
normally required. Wear a dust mask or other appropriate respiratory
protection during operations that generate airborne dust concentrations
exceeding the relevant standards or when effective engineering
controls are not feasible . A respiratory protection program that
meets OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.134 requirements must be followed
whenever workplace conditions warrant a respirator’s use.
Exposure Guidelines*
Although standards for urea have not been established, the following
nuisance dust standards are applicable.
ACGIH TLV: 10 mg/m3 – inhalable
particulate; 3 mg/m3 – respirable particulate
OSHA PEL: 15 mg/m3 TWA (total)
(7); 5 mg/m3 TWA (respirable)
* TLV = Threshold Limit Values; PEL = Permissible Exposure Limits;
TWA = 8-hour Time-weighted Average
9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Appearance: White granules
Odor: Odorless or slight ammonia
odor
Odor threshold level: Not available
Physical state: Solid
pH: 7.2 (10% water solution)
Vapor pressure: Not applicable
Vapor density (air = 1): Not applicable
Boiling point: Not applicable
Melting point: Decomposes at 270.8°F
(132.7°C)
Solubility in water: 119 g per
100 g water at 77°F (25°C)
Specific gravity (H20 = 1): 1.34
at 68°F (20°C); (heavier than water)
Evaporation rate (butyl acetate = 1):
Not applicable
Viscosity: 1.78 mPas (46% solution)
at 68°F (20°C); 1.81 mPas (46% solution) at 278.60°F
(137°C); 1.90 mPas (saturated solution) at 68°F (20°C)
Percentage volatile by volume (%):
Not applicable
Molecular weight: 60.06
Molecular formula: NH2CONH2
10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
Stability (thermal, light, etc.): Stable
under normal conditions of storage and handling.
Incompatibility (materials to avoid):
Nitric acid, sodium nitrite, nitrosyl perchlorate, gallium
perchlorate, hypochlorites, phosphorus pentachloride.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:
When heated above melting point, decomposes to ammonia and carbon
dioxide. If burned, emits small amounts of nitrogen oxides.
Hazardous Polymerization: Will
not occur
Conditions to Avoid: Decomposes
when heated above melting point.
Urea
Rat LD50 = 15 g/kg
Mouse LD50 = 11.5 g/kg
Urea dust at 22 mg/m3 caused mild irritation (species not specified)
In a repeated dose toxicity study, urea at 10%, 20%, and 40%
in ointment was applied to the back skin of rats for 4 weeks.
No dose-dependent toxicity was observed. There were no consistent
treatment-related effects on standard haematological parameters,
clinical chemistry, organ weights or organ histopathology, including
the testicles, prostate, seminal vesicles, ovaries and the uterus.
In a chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity screening study conducted
in mice over 12 months, urea was administered at 0.45%, 0.9%,
and 4.5% in the diet. No pathology was reported immediately following
treatment period. After 4 months, testes, prostate, and uterus
were histologically examined for occurrence of tumors in the survivors.
Although there was a statistically increased incidence of interstitial
cell adenomas of the testes in the high dose group, its biological
significance was deemed questionable, since the lesion may occur
in 100% of controls.
In a single oral dose study in mice, 2,000 mg/kg administered
on day 10 of pregnancy was not teratogenic. Urea in water was
given in 2 doses 12 hours apart by gavage to rats during pregnancy
for 14 days and the dams were allowed to deliver. No hypertrophy
or other kidney changes were detected nor were any teratogenic
effects noted. Urea caused developmental effects in chick embryos
when injected into eggs.
Urea was negative in tests of bacterial mutagenicity and demonstrated
low clastogenic potential in non-bacterial mutagenicity tests.
Chromosome breakage has been observed in some laboratory tests
using extremely high concentrations of urea. At near lethal doses,
urea was mutagenic in invivo non-bacterial tests in mice.
Urea is not recognized as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, or OSHA.
Oral rat LD50 > 5 g/kg
Dermal rat LD50 > 2 g/kg
Biuret is not recognized as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, or OSHA.
Urea can be toxic to domestic animals and has caused poisonings
when it was applied unevenly on pastures as a fertilizer. Large
amounts of urea can damage plant seedlings and inhibit germination.
At high concentrations, urea can be toxic to aquatic life. As
a readily available source of nitrogen, urea can also foster excessive
growth of algae or microorganisms in water systems. Notify local
health and wildlife officials and operators of nearby water intakes
upon contamination.
Ecotoxicity Information: The cell
multiplication toxicity threshold values for bacteria, green algae,
and protozoa are >10,000, >10,000, and 29 mg/L, respectively.
The critical range for the creek chub is 16,000 to 30,000 mg/L
in Detroit river water.
Environmental Fate Information:
Particulate-phase urea is physically washed out of the atmosphere
by dry and wet deposition. In the soil, urea degrades rapidly,
usually within 24 hours; however, degradation may be slower depending
on soil type, moisture content, and urea formulation. The ultimate
degradation products are carbon dioxide and ammonia. The soil
mobility is high based on an organic carbon partition coefficient
of 8. In water, biodegradation to carbon dioxide and ammonia is
the major fate pathway. The biodegradation rate increases with
increasing temperature
and presence of phytoplankton. Oxidation of urea by nitrifying
bacteria can increase biological oxygen demand. Bioaccumulation
of urea is very low. The 72-hour bioconcentration factor (BCF)
for carp is reported to be 1.
Urea is not considered a hazardous waste under Federal Hazardous
Waste Regulations 40 CFR 261. Consult local or state environmental
regulatory agencies for acceptable disposal procedures and locations.
Follow standard disposal procedures.
Urea is not listed as a hazardous material by the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT), Transport Canada (TC), International
Maritime Organization (IMO), and the United Nations (UN).
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration):
This material is considered to be
hazardous as defined by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.
SARA TITLE III (Superfund Amendment and
Reauthorization Act of 1986): No federal
requirements. User should contact local and state regulatory agencies
for information on additional
or more stringent reporting requirements.
Sections 311/312: This product
has been reviewed according to the U.S. EPA "Hazard Categories"
promulgated under Sections 311 and 312 of SARA Title III and is
considered, under applicable
definitions, to meet the following categories:
Immediate Health
DOT (Department of Transportation):
Please refer to Section 14 (Transport Information) for
guidance concerning transportation.
PROPOSITION 65:Not listed
This material has not been identified as a carcinogen by NTP,
IARC, or OSHA.
Issue Date: 4/17/00
Previous Issue Date: 06/01/96
The information in this MSDS is based on data available to us
as of the revision date given herein, and believed to be correct.
Judgments as to the suitability of information herein for the
individual user’s own use or purposes are the responsibility
of the individual user. Although reasonable care has been taken
in the preparation of such information, Chemical Solutions extends
no warranties, makes no representations (other than those warranties
and representations required by law), and assumes no responsibility
as to the accuracy or suitability of such information for application
to the individual user’s purpose or the consequences of its
use for such purpose. Check for updates prior to using.
Do you have any questions? Contact us today
at 508.520.3900
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