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Sodium hydroxide - Identification, toxicity, use, water pollution potential, ecological toxicity and regulatory information

Note: See Working with the Information on this Page section below for important notes about this data.

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Chemical ID
 Identifying information, including synonyms, ID numbers, use type, chemical classification, a link to a list of all products containing this chemical and a list of the top crops this pesticide is used on in California.
Poisoning Symptoms
 Signs and symptoms of poisoning, first aid, and links to treatment information for this chemical.
Toxicity
 Link to information on toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.
Regulatory
 Links to world-wide registration status as well as regulatory information for the U.S. and California.
Water
 Water quality standards and physical properties affecting water contamination potential.
Ecotoxicity
 Toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Related Chems
 List of chemicals in the same family, including breakdown products, salts, esters, isomers, and other derivatives.
 

Chemical Identification and Use for Sodium hydroxide
Basic Identification Information About This Chemical
Chemical Name: Sodium hydroxide
CAS Number: 1310-73-2
U.S. EPA PC Code: 075603
CA DPR Chem Code: 362
Molecular Weight: 40
Molecular Structure:
Use Type: Fungicide , Herbicide , Microbiocide , pH Adjustment
Chem Class: Inorganic
View Related Chemicals
 
Additional Resources About This Chemical Class and Use Type

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.
Historical Use of this Chemical
Top five crops and sites for this pesticide in California
Uncultivated Agricultural Area   Rice   Soil Preplant   Walnuts   Corn for Forage  
View All Crops and Sites
 
Other Names for this Chemical
About Chemical Synonyms
00362 (CA DPR Chem Code Text) , 00362 (CA DPR Chem Code) , 075603 (US EPA PC Code Text) , 1310-73-2 (CAS number) , 1310732 , 1310732 (CAS number without hyphens) , 362 (CA DPR Chem Code) , 362 (CA DPR Chem Code) , 75603 (US EPA PC Code) , Hidroxido De Sodio , hydroxyde de sodium , Natriumhydroxide , Sodium hydroxide , Sodiumhydroxide , soude caustique
 
Products Containing This Chemical
Current and historic U.S. registered products
View U.S. Products All Products Currently Registered Products
 

Signs and Symptoms of Sodium hydroxide Poisoning

NOTE! There may be other diseases and chemicals that have similar symptoms.

If you have a poisoning emergency in the United States call 1-800-222-1222.
If the victim has collapsed or is unconscious, call 911.

Symptoms of Sodium hydroxide Exposure from the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC)

Report a Poisoning
View full ICSC Cards: English   Español   Française   Chinese   Dutch   Finnish   German   Hungarian   Japanese   Swahili   Thai   Urdu  
NOTE! AVOID ALL CONTACT!
 General First Aid: IN ALL CASES CONSULT A DOCTOR!

Route of Exposure

Symptoms

First Aid
Inhalation Corrosive. Burning sensation. Cough. Laboured breathing. Shortness of breath. Sore throat. Symptoms may be delayed (see Notes). Fresh air rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration if indicated. Refer for medical attention.
Skin Corrosive. Redness. Serious skin burns. Pain. Blisters. Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention.
Eyes Corrosive. Redness. Pain. Blurred vision. Severe deep burns. First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible) then take to a doctor.
Ingestion Corrosive. Abdominal pain. Burning sensation. Shock or collapse. Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Give plenty of water to drink. Refer for medical attention.
Notes for ICSC Information
Other UN number: UN1824 Sodium hydroxide solution Hazard class 8. The applying occupational exposure limit value should not be exceeded during any part of the working exposure. The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation are therefore essential. NEVER pour water into this substance; when dissolving or diluting always add it slowly to the water.
 

Toxicity Information for Sodium hydroxide

  Note: Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on humans. Why?

Summary Toxicity Information

PAN Bad Actor
Chemical 1 		Acute
Toxicity 2 		Carcinogen Cholinesterase
Inhibitor 		Ground
Water Contaminant 		Developmental or
Reproductive Toxin 		Endocrine
Disruptor
No
 
Indicates high toxicity in the given toxicological category. Indicates no available weight-of-the-evidence summary assessment. For additional information on toxicity from scientific journals or registration documents, see the "Additional Resources for Toxicity " section of the chemical detail page.
1. PAN Bad Actors are chemicals that are one or more of the following: highly acutely toxic, cholinesterase inhibitor, known/probable carcinogen, known groundwater pollutant or known reproductive or developmental toxicant. NOTE! Because there are no authoritative lists of Endocrine Disrupting (ED) chemicals, EDs are not yet considered PAN Bad Actor chemicals.
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.

Additional Resources about the Toxicity of this Chemical

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.

Detailed Toxicity Information
Acute Toxicity 2
 Sodium hydroxide
WHO Acute Hazard
TRI Acute Hazard
Material Safety Data Sheets
Acute rating from U.S. EPA product label
U.S. NTP Acute Toxicity Studies
      View Studies
Cholinesterase Inhibitor		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Available
Highly Toxic
No NTP Studies

No
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.
 
Cancer Information
 Sodium hydroxide
IARC Carcinogens
U.S. NTP Carcinogens
California Prop 65 Known Carcinogens
U.S. EPA Carcinogens
TRI Carcinogen		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Endocrine Disruption
 Sodium hydroxide
Illinois EPA list
Keith list
Colborn list
Benbrook list
Danish Inert list
EU list		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity
 Sodium hydroxide
CA Prop 65 Developmental Toxin
U.S. TRI Developmental Toxin
CA Prop 65 Female Reproductive Toxin
CA Prop 65 Male Reproductive Toxin
U.S. TRI Reproductive Toxin 		Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Chemicals of Special Concern
 Sodium hydroxide
PAN Bad Actors
PAN Dirty Dozen list		 Yes
Not Listed
 

Water Pollution Potential and Criteria for Sodium hydroxide

Water Pollution Potential

PAN Ground Water Contaminant Rating Insufficient Data
 

Sorry, no water quality standards or criteria have been established for this chemical by the U.S. or Canadian governments; however, there may be criteria established for related chemicals.
 

Regulatory Information for Sodium hydroxide

International Regulatory Status
Registration in Selected Countries Registration in Selected Countries:
Sodium hydroxide
 
UNEP Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
UNEP Prior Informed Consent Chemical (PIC)
WHO Obsolete Pesticide		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 

U.S. and California Regulatory Status
U.S. EPA Registered
U.S. EPA Hazardous Air Pollutant
U.S. EPA Minimum Risk Pesticide (25b list)

CA Registered
CA Groundwater Contaminant
CA Toxic Air Contaminant 		Yes
Not Listed
No

Yes
Not Listed
Not Listed
 

Maximum Tolerance and Residue Levels
Codex Alimentarius
   (UN FAO Maximum Residue Limits)
U.S. Maximum Tolerance Levels
European Union Maximum Residue Levels 		Go to web site

Go to web site
Go to web site
 

Ecotoxicity for Sodium hydroxide

Note! Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on the environment. Why? Click on underlined terms for definitions and additional information.

Aquatic Ecotoxicity
All Toxic Effects for Organism Group
Organism Group Effects Noted
Crustaceans Mortality, Physiology
Fish Biochemistry, Mortality, No Effect Coded
Insects Mortality
MarineBenthicCommunity Reproduction
Molluscs Mortality
NematodesandFlatworms Mortality
Zooplankton Intoxication, Mortality
~ Un-Assigned Mortality
View All Aquatic Ecotoxicity Studies and References
 
Summary of Acute Toxicity for Organism Group
Organism Group Average Acute Toxicity Acute Toxicity Range
Fish Not Acutely Toxic Not Acutely Toxic
View All Acute Summaries
 

Terrestrial Ecotoxicity

We are seeking funding to incorporate terrestrial ecotoxicity data analogous to the aquatic ecotoxicity data in the space above. Watch this space!

Related Chemicals for Sodium hydroxide
CAS Number Relation Reason Chemical Name Chem Detail Registration Symptoms California Use Chem Use Type U.S. EPA Reg PAN Bad Actor
1310-73-2 Parent P Sodium hydroxide View View View View pH Adjustment, Fungicide, Herbicide, Microbiocide Yes Yes
1336-21-6 Related 7 Ammonium hydroxide View View View View Fungicide, pH Adjustment, Herbicide, Microbiocide No Not Listed
1310-65-2 Related 7 Lithium hydroxide View View View View pH Adjustment, Fungicide, Herbicide, Microbiocide No Not Listed
1310-58-3 Related 7 Potassium hydroxide View View View View pH Adjustment, Fungicide, Herbicide, Microbiocide No Not Listed
 
Working with the Information on this Page

Click on underlined terms for definitions or go to the Pesticide Tutorial overview page.

Any underlined term with a book icon has additional information.

* Data marked with an asterisk indicates that this chemical is not explicitly listed on the corresponding list. Instead, it belongs to a group of chemicals that IS designated on the list. For example, if an agency assigns a classification of reproductive toxicant to "mercury compounds", that classification is applied to all mercury compounds in the PAN Pesticide database, which are then marked with an asterisk.

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Citation: Kegley, S.E., Hill, B.R., Orme S., Choi A.H., PAN Pesticide Database, Pesticide Action Network, North America (San Francisco, CA, 2010), http:www.pesticideinfo.org.
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