Common Name: AMMONIUM CARBAMATE

CAS Number: 1111-78-0 RTK Substance number: 0091

DOT Number: NA 9083 Date: January 1996 Revision: March 2002
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HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS

* Ammonium Carbamate can affect you when breathed in. The following exposure limits are for Ammonia:
* Exposure can irritate the skin and eyes causing redness
and tearing. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit
* Breathing Ammonium Carbamate can irritate the nose, (PEL) is 50 ppm averaged over an 8-hour
throat and lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of workshift.
breath.
NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is
IDENTIFICATION 25 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and
Ammonium Carbamate is a white crystalline (sand-like) 35 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15 minute
powder. It is used as a fertilizer and ammoniating agent. work period.

ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is

REASON FOR CITATION
25 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and
* Ammonium Carbamate is on the Hazardous Substance
35 ppm as a STEL (short-term exposure limit).
List because it is cited by DOT and EPA.
* Definitions are provided on page 5.
WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
* Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING
ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust
EXPOSED ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be
The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers worn.
to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public * Wear protective work clothing.
employers to provide their employees with information and * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to
training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The
Ammonium Carbamate.
federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200,
* Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
requires private employers to provide similar training and
addition, as part of an ongoing education and training
information to their employees.
effort, communicate all information on the health and
* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely safety hazards of Ammonium Carbamate to potentially
evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area exposed workers.
air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results
from your employer. You have a legal right to this
information under OSHA 1910.1020.
* If you think you are experiencing any work-related health
problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational
diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you.
AMMONIUM CARBAMATE page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Mixed Exposures

potential and most severe health hazards that may result from * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung
exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may
and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure.
potential effects described below. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- reduce your risk of developing health problems.
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
Acute Health Effects Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most
immediately or shortly after exposure to Ammonium effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to
Carbamate: enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at
the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also
* Exposure can irritate the skin and eyes causing redness and reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is
tearing. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is
* Breathing Ammonium Carbamate can irritate the nose, sometimes necessary.
throat and lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of
breath. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider:
(1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the
Chronic Health Effects substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether
The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls
some time after exposure to Ammonium Carbamate and can should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when
last for months or years: significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible.

Cancer Hazard In addition, the following control is recommended:

* According to the information presently available to the New
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, * Where possible, automatically transfer Ammonium
Ammonium Carbamate has not been tested for its ability Carbamate from drums or other storage containers to
to cause cancer in animals. process containers.

Reproductive Hazard Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous

* According to the information presently available to the New exposures. The following work practices are recommended:
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
Ammonium Carbamate has not been tested for its ability * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by
to affect reproduction. Ammonium Carbamate should change into clean clothing
promptly.
Other Long-Term Effects * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family
* Ammonium Carbamate can irritate the lungs. Repeated members could be exposed.
exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by
phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of
exposure to Ammonium Carbamate.
MEDICAL * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate
work area for emergency use.
* If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency
Medical Testing shower facilities should be provided.
If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * On skin contact with Ammonium Carbamate,
following are recommended: immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical.
* Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Ammonium Carbamate
* Lung function tests. is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be
swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking,
Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and applying cosmetics, smoking, or using the toilet.
present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for
* Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean-
damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP.
exposure.

Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right

to this information under OSHA 1910.1020.
AMMONIUM CARBAMATE page 3 of 6

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH
approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece
WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for mode. For increased protection use in combination with an
some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a
done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.
controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * Exposure to 300 ppm (as Ammonia) is immediately
may be appropriate. dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure
above 300 ppm (as Ammonia) exists, use a NIOSH
OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full
appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-
to train employees on how and when to use protective pressure mode.
equipment.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may
not apply to every situation.
Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic
health effects?
Clothing A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from
* Avoid skin contact with Ammonium Carbamate. Wear repeated exposures to a chemical.
protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/
manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short-
protective glove/clothing material for your operation. term effects?
* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear)
A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated
should be clean, available each day, and put on before
exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make
work.
you immediately sick.
Eye Protection Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been
* Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or
exposed to chemicals?
goggles.
A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is
* Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with
increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is
corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances.
determined by the length of time and the amount of
material to which someone is exposed.
Respiratory Protection
IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS.
Q: When are higher exposures more likely?
Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a
written program that takes into account workplace conditions, A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust
requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping,
medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. etc.), other physical and mechanical processes (heating,
pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large
* For field applications check with your supervisor and your surface areas such as open containers), and "confined
safety equipment supplier regarding the appropriate space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers,
respiratory equipment. small rooms, etc.).
* Where the potential exists for exposure over 25 ppm (as
Ammonia), use a NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for
with a cartridge which is specifically approved for community residents?
Ammonia. Increased protection is obtained from full A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in
facepiece powered-air purifying respirators. cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those
* If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can found in the workplace. However, people in the
smell, taste, or otherwise detect Ammonium Carbamate, community may be exposed to contaminated water as
or if while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This
breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while may be a problem for children or people who are already
wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area ill.
immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal
is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the
seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator.
* Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your
workplace. You may need a combination of filters,
prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a
chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of
chemicals.
AMMONIUM CARBAMATE page 4 of 6

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The following information is available from:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

Occupational Health Service
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
(609) 984-1863
(609) 984-7407 (fax)

Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/

Industrial Hygiene Information

Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions
regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust
ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good
hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including
respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of
industrial hygiene survey data.

Medical Evaluation
If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to
chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the
Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational
Health Service, who can help you find the information you
need.

Public Presentations
Presentations and educational programs on occupational health
or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions,
trade associations and other groups.

Right to Know Information Resources

The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer
questions about the identity and potential health effects of
chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health,
references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the
Right to Know Survey, education and training programs,
labeling requirements, and general information regarding the
Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to
(609) 984-2202.
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AMMONIUM CARBAMATE page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response
Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the
TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat
of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or
generic hazards of material involved in a transportation
The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public
Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.

A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that
determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators,
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards
that regulates the transportation of chemicals. to OSHA.

EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.

A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
which adopts and enforces health and safety standards.
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will
ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison
Inhalation Hazards.
HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal
EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
measure of concentration by volume in air.
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a
scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
cancer-causing potential. energy under certain conditions.

A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
in another. damaging the fetus.

mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure
It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). limit recommended by ACGIH.

A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a
a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure
lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and
therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Common Name: AMMONIUM CARBAMATE HANDLING AND STORAGE
DOT Number: NA 9083
NAERG Code: 154 * Prior to working with Ammonium Carbamate you should
CAS Number: 1111-78-0 be trained on its proper handling and storage.
* Ammonium Carbamate is not compatible with
OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES,
Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA
PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES,
FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE);
REACTIVITY Not Found Not Rated STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); and STRONG ACIDS
(such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC).
Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated
3=serious; 4=severe area away from HEAT, MOISTURE and DIRECT
SUNLIGHT.
FIRE HAZARDS
FIRST AID
* Use dry chemical, CO2 or water spray extinguishers.
* POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, For POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-222-1222
including Nitrogen Oxide and Ammonia.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be Eye Contact
trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids.
SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES
Skin Contact
If Ammonium Carbamate is spilled, take the following steps: * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash
contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water.
* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from
area of spill until clean-up is complete. Breathing
* Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe * Remove the person from exposure.
manner and deposit in sealed containers. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
* Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete.
* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Ammonium PHYSICAL DATA
Carbamate as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your
state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or Water Solubility: Highly soluble in cold water
your regional office of the federal Environmental Decomposes in hot water
Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations.
* If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES
properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be
applicable. Chemical Name:
Carbamic Acid, Monoammonium Salt
============================================ Other Names:
FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire Ammonium Aminoformate
department. You can request emergency information from the
following: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial
CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP purposes.
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NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SENIOR SERVICES
Right to Know Program
PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
(609) 984-2202
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