CARBON MONOXIDE

Diamond	Hazard	Value	Description
4 3 0	Health	3	Can cause serious or permanent injury.
	Flammability	4	Burns readily. Rapidly or completely vaporizes at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature.
	Instability	0	Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
	Special

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide rich atmospheres may be fatal. It is easily ignited. It is just lighter than air and a flame can flash back to the source of leak very easily. Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may violently rupture and rocket.

• Highly Flammable

Highly flammable.

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Asphyxiation due to carbon dioxide production may result.

Behavior in Fire: Flame has very little color. Containers may explode in fire. (USCG, 1999)

Inhalation causes headache, dizziness, weakness of limbs, confusion, nausea, unconsciousness, and finally death. 0.04% conc., 2-3 hr. or 0.06% conc., 1 hr.- headache and discomfort; with moderate exercise, 0.1-0.2% will produce throbbing in the head in about 1/2 hr., a tendency to stagger in about 1 1/2 hr., and confusion of the mind, headache, and nausea in about 2 hrs. 0.20-25% usually produces unconsciousness in about 1/2 hr. Inhalation of a 0.4% conc. can prove fatal in less than 1 hr. Inhalation of high concentrations can cause sudden, unexpected collapse. Contact of liquid with skin will cause frostbite. (USCG, 1999)

Bromine trifluoride and carbon monoxide react explosively at high temperatures or concentrations [Mellor 2 Supp. 1:166 1956]. The same is true for various oxidizers such as: chlorine dioxide, oxygen (liquid), peroxodisulfuryl difluoride. The product of the reaction between lithium and carbon monoxide, lithium carbonyl, detonates violently with water, igniting the gaseous products [Mellor 2, Supp. 2:84 1961]. Potassium and sodium metals behave similarly. Cesium oxide, iron(III) oxide, and silver oxide all react, in the presence of moisture, at ambient temperatures with carbon monoxide causing ignition, [Mellor, 1941, vol. 2, 487]. Contact of very cold liquefied gas with water may result in vigorous or violent boiling of the product and extremely rapid vaporization due to the large temperature differences involved. If the water is hot, there is the possibility that a liquid "superheat" explosion may occur. Pressures may build to dangerous levels if liquid gas contacts water in a closed container [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980].

• Reducing Agents, Weak

No information available.

Excerpt from 119 [Gases - Toxic - Flammable]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.

SPILL: See ERG Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances on the UN/NA 1016 datasheet.

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from 119 [Gases - Toxic - Flammable]:

DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam.

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or alcohol-resistant foam. FOR CHLOROSILANES, DO NOT USE WATER; use AFFF alcohol-resistant medium-expansion foam. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. Damaged cylinders should be handled only by specialists.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from 119 [Gases - Toxic - Flammable]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. FOR CHLOROSILANES, use AFFF alcohol-resistant medium-expansion foam to reduce vapors. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Carbon monoxide:

Skin: FROSTBITE - Compressed gases may create low temperatures when they expand rapidly. Leaks and uses that allow rapid expansion may cause a frostbite hazard. Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent the skin from becoming frozen.

Eyes: FROSTBITE - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact with the liquid that could result in burns or tissue damage from frostbite.

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: WHEN WET (FLAMMABLE) - Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard (i.e., for liquids with a flash point <100°F).

Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift.

Provide: FROSTBITE WASH - Quick drench facilities and/or eyewash fountains should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use where there is any possibility of exposure to liquids that are extremely cold or rapidly evaporating. (NIOSH, 2023)

Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)

Chemical	CAS Number	State	QS	QC	SL	C3	TF	TP	RC	TK	RF
Carbon monoxide	630-08-0	Vapor							330	330	330

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(DuPont, 2023)

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Carbon monoxide:

Eye: FROSTBITE - If eye tissue is frozen, seek medical attention immediately; if tissue is not frozen, immediately and thoroughly flush the eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the lower and upper eyelids. If irritation, pain, swelling, lacrimation, or photophobia persist, get medical attention as soon as possible.

Skin: FROSTBITE - If frostbite has occurred, seek medical attention immediately; do NOT rub the affected areas or flush them with water. In order to prevent further tissue damage, do NOT attempt to remove frozen clothing from frostbitten areas. If frostbite has NOT occurred, immediately and thoroughly wash contaminated skin with soap and water.

Breathing: RESPIRATORY SUPPORT - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible. (NIOSH, 2023)

• CARBON MONOOXIDE
• CARBON MONOXIDE
• CARBON MONOXIDE, COMPRESSED
• CARBON OXIDE
• CARBON OXIDE (CO)
• FLUE GAS
• MONOXIDE