Wollastonite (Ca(SiO3))

116.16

115.924263

233-250-6

T57XQ6TH2A

DTXSID0024719

White to brown, red, gray, yellow solid; vitreous to pearly luster|White monoclinistic crystals

63.2

2.900 g/cm³

1540°C

1.62-1.64

Practically insol in water

0 mm Hg (approx) (NIOSH, 2016)

Insoluble in water.

Salts, Basic

These substances undergo chemical reactions only under relatively severe circumstances or in the presence of an effective catalyst that promotes reaction. They are resistant to ignition, although they may become flammable at very high temperatures. They will be resistant to oxidation/reduction, except in the most severe conditions. These materials may be nontoxic.

36/37

22-37/39-26

Xi

Stable.

P261, P264, P271, P280, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P337+P313, P403+P233, P405, P501

H319

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

McConnel EE et al; Inhal Toxicol 3: 323-37 (1991). Results of the rat inhalation bioassay for wollastonite calcium silicates.|Jones RN et al; Disease Related to Non-Asbestos Silicates; Occupational Lung Disorders, 3rd ed, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, Oxford, England pp 536-70 (1994)|Merchant JA; Human Epidemiology: A Review of Fiber Type and Characteristics in the Development of Malignant and Nonmalignant Disease; Environmental Health Perspectives 88: 287-93 (1990)

Flash point data for this compound are not available; however, it is probably nonflammable. (NTP, 1992)

|Danger|H319 (99.21%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]|P260, P261, P264, P271, P280, P285, P304+P340, P304+P341, P305+P351+P338, P312, P314, P337+P313, P342+P311, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 689 companies from 7 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.|Warning|H319 (100%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]|P261, P264, P271, P280, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P337+P313, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 235 companies from 7 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Fires involving this chemical can be controlled with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide or Halon extinguisher. (NTP, 1992)

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, you should dampen the solid spill material with water, then transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with water to pick up any remaining material. Seal your contaminated clothing and the absorbent paper in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Wash all contaminated surfaces with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned. STORAGE PRECAUTIONS: You should store this material at ambient temperatures. (NTP, 1992)

Skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for personal protective equipment for the body. Eyes: No recommendation is made specifying the need for eye protection. Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift). Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated. Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the work shift. (NIOSH, 2016)

Natural calcium silicate, found in metamorphic rocks. ... Occurrence: New York; California.

Exposure Routes: inhalation, skin and/or eye contact Symptoms: Irritation eyes, skin, upper respiratory system Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system (NIOSH, 2016)

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop. SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. If symptoms such as redness or irritation develop, IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital for treatment. INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. IMMEDIATELY call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing. INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. Be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital if advised by a physician. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. OTHER: Since this chemical is a known or suspected carcinogen you should contact a physician for advice regarding the possible long term health effects and potential recommendation for medical monitoring. Recommendations from the physician will depend upon the specific compound, its chemical, physical and toxicity properties, the exposure level, length of exposure, and the route of exposure. (NTP, 1992)

Results from studies in 1981 on 46 men exposed to wollastonite for an average of 21.5 yr (10-41 yr) in a Finnish quarry have been reported ... Chronic bronchitis was found in 11/46 workers (including 3/15 nonsmokers). Chest radiographs showed small irregular parenchymal opacities (grade 1/0 or 1/1) in seven, pleural thickening only (grade >/= a,3) in six men and both lung and pleural changes in seven; among the 138 referents, five had pulmonary fibrosis only, six had pleural thickening only, and one had both lung and pleural changes. Differences in smoking habits did not account for these changes.|The hemolytic and cytotoxic characteristics of wollastonite were assessed in an in-vitro study using human red blood cells and compared to results for chrysotile. Red blood cell cultures were established from blood samples donated by healthy volunteers. Hemolytic studies were conducted by incubating cell cultures in 0.2% dust suspensions of wollastonite or chrysotile at 37 degrees-C for 20 minutes. Hemoglobin content was determined spectrophotometrically at 545 nanometers. Peroxidative damage of polyunsaturated fatty acids was assessed by the formation of malonaldehyde (MDA) after incubation of either intact cell suspensions or hemolysate supernatant with varying concentrations of wollastonite or chrysotile. A dose and time dependent response was observed in the percentage of cell lysis with treatment of the dust suspensions; however, chrysotile was more effective in inducing hemolysis than wollastonite. Wollastonite was shown to induce the cytotoxic effects seen with chrysotile to a lesser degree: lipid-peroxidase stimulation in intact cells and hemolysate supernatant and a concentration dependent increase in MDA formation. The addition of vitamin-E, glutathione, and bovine serum albumin demonstrated a reduction of the cytotoxicity induced by wollastonite and chrysotile. The authors conclude that wollastonite is less toxic than chrysotile, and that the reduced toxicity seen in the in-vitro study can be extrapolated to in-vivo situations.|The incidence of fibrosis of the lung and pleura was studied in workers with long term exposure to wollastonite, a fibrous silicate material. Subjects of the study were 49 workers (40 men and nine women) in a Finnish limestone and wollastonite mine and mill. Mean exposure of the workers was 25 years. Mean concentrations of total dust in the mine and mill varied in 1981 from 0.3 to 67 mg/cu m, and fiber level ranged from 5.1 to 33 fibers/cubic centimeter, (f/cm3), determined by phase contrast optical microscopy. The average respirable fraction contained 15% wollastonite and 3% quartz. Later dust measurements revealed fiber concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 3.4f/cu m for wollastonite mining and milling. The subjects underwent a physical examination, and work histories and symptoms of chronic bronchitis were recorded. Chest radiographs were performed, and spirometry and diffusion capacity were measured. Four workers underwent high resolution computed tomography and bronchoalveolar lavage. Lung tissue specimens (autopsy samples) were available for two workers. Mineral fibers and asbestos bodies were analyzed from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue specimens, and the tissue was analyzed for lung fibrosis. Two workers were found to have small irregular lung opacities, but high resolution computed tomography revealed no parenchymal fibrosis in those workers. Nine workers, five of whom had been exposed to asbestos, had pleural plaques. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed no association of plaques with the duration of wollastonite or asbestos exposure. Wollastonite fibers or bodies were not found in any of the four workers who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage, nor in either of the workers whose lung tissue specimens were available. The authors conclude that no evidence was found that long term exposure to wollastonite causes parenchymal fibrosis of the lung and pleura. They further conclude that the findings indicate that wollastonite fibers are poorly retained in human lungs.

Ceramic Industry, 60%; plastics, paints and welding rod fluxes, 40% (1986)

Grades: fine, medium paint grades|/Available:/ low aspect ratio wollastonite, commonly in the region of 1:3-1:5 ... high aspect ratio wollastonite that generally ranges from 1:15-1:20|Grades of wollastonite available in the US /(mesh size)/: 200, 325, 400, 475, 1250, (10 micron top size)

Plastics product manufacturing|Many different forms...are known. ... Usually occur in hydrated form containing various percentages of water of crystallization. Names of calcium silicate minerals are...Wollastonite...Commercial calcium silicate sold for industrial use...Is prepared synthetically... /Calcium silicate/