Material Safety Data Sheet: VX (Lethal Nerve Agent)
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LETHAL NERVE AGENT (VX)
SECTION I - GENERAL INFORMATION
DATE: 14 September 1988
REVISED: 28 February 1996
MANUFACTURER'S ADDRESS:
U.S. ARMY CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE COMMAND
EDGEWOOD RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT,
AND ENGINEERING CENTER (ERDEC)
ATTN: SCBRD-ODR-S
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 20101-5423
Emergency telephone #' s: 0700-1630 EST: 410-671-4411/4414
After: 1630 EST: 410- 278-5201, Ask for Staff Duty Officer
CAS REGISTRY NUMBERS: 50782-69-9, 51848-47-6, 53800-40-1,
70938-84-0
CHEMICAL NAME:
O-ethyl-S-(2-iisopropylaminoethyl) methyl phosphonothiolate
TRADE NAME AND SYNONYMS:
Phosphonothioic acid, methyl-, S-(2-bis(1-methylethylamino)ethyl) 0-ethyl ester
O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate
S-2-Diisopropylaminoethyl O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate
S-2((2-Diisopropylamino)ethyl) O-ethyl methylphosphonothiolate
O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate
O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylthiolphosphonoate
S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) o-ethyl methyl phosphonothiolate
Ethyl-S-dimethylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate
VX
EA 1701
TX60
CHEMICAL FAMILY: Sulfonated organophosphorous compound
FORMULA/CHEMICAL STRUCTURE:
C11H26NO2PS
NFPA 704 HAZARD SIGNAL:
Health - 4
Flammability - 1
Reactivity - 1
Special - 0
SECTION II - HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS EXPOSURE FORMULA % BY WEIGHT AIRBORNE EXPOSURE LIMIT (AEL) VXC11H26NO2PS100%0.00001 mg/m3
SECTION III - PHYSICAL DATA
BOILING POINT : 298 C (568 F)
VAPOR PRESSURE (mm Hg): 0.0007 @ 20 C
VAPOR DENSITY (AIR=1): 9.2
FREEZING/MELTING POINT : Below -51 C
LIQUID DENSITY (g/cc): 1.0083 @ 20 C
PERCENTAGE VOLATILE BY VOLUME: 10.5 mg/m3 @ 25 C
SOLUBILITY: Slightly soluble in water at room temperature.
Soluble in organic solvents.
APPEARANCE AND ODOR: Colorless to straw colored liquid & odorless,
similar in appearance to motor oil.
SECTION IV - FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA
FLASHPOINT: 159 C (McCutchan - Young)
FLAMMABILITY LIMITS (% by volume): Not Available
LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: Not Applicable
UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: Not Applicable
EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: Water mist, fog, foam, CO2. Avoid using
extinguishing methods that will cause splashing or spreading of the VX.
SPECIAL FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: All persons not
engaged in extinguishing the fire should be immediately evacuated
from the area. Fires involving VX should be contained to prevent
contamination to uncontrolled areas. When responding to a fire
alarm in buildings or areas containing VX , fire fighting personnel
should wear full firefighter protective clothing (without TAP
clothing) during chemical agent firefighting and fire rescue
operations. Respiratory protection is required. Positive pressure,
full face piece, NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA) will be worn where there is danger of oxygen
deficiency and when directed by the fire chief of chemical
accident/incident (CAI) operations officer. In cases where
firefighters are responding to a chemical accident/incident for
rescue/reconnaissance purposes they will wear appropriate levels of
protective clothing (See Section VIII).
Do not breathe fumes. Skin contact with nerve agents must be
avoided at all times. Although the fire may destroy most of the
agent, care must still be taken to assure the agent or contaminated
liquids do not further contaminate other areas or sewers. Contact
with liquid VX or vapors can be fatal.
UNUSUAL FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS: None known.
SECTION V - HEALTH HAZARD DATA
AIRBORNE EXPOSURE LIMITS (AEL): The permissible
airborne exposure concentration for VX for an 8-hour workday of a
40-hour work week is an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of
0.00001 mg/m3. This value can be found in "AR 40-8,
Occupational Health Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of
Occupational Exposure to Nerve Agents GA, GB, GD, and VX." To
date, however, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has not promulgated a permissible exposure concentration
for VX.
VX is not listed by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC), American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH), Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), or National Toxicology Program (NTP) as
a carcinogen.
EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: VX is a lethal cholinesterase
inhibitor. Doses which are potentially life-threatening may be only
slightly larger than those producing least effects. Death usually
occurs within 15 minutes after absorption of a fatal dosage.
Effective dosages for vapor are estimated for exposure durations of
2-10 minutes.
Symptoms of overexposure may occur within minutes or hours,
depending upon the dose. They include: miosis (constriction of
pupils) and visual effects, headaches and pressure sensation, runny
nose and nasal congestion, salivation, tightness in the chest,
nausea, vomiting, giddiness, anxiety, difficulty in thinking,
difficulty sleeping, nightmares, muscle twitches, tremors, weakness,
abdominal cramps, diarrhea, involuntary urination and defecation.
With severe exposure symptoms progress to convulsions and
respiratory failure.
EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES:
INHALATION: Hold breath until respiratory protective mask is
donned. If severe signs of agent exposure appear (chest tightens,
pupil constriction, incoordination, etc.), immediately administer, in
rapid succession, all three Nerve Agent Antidote Kit(s), Mark I
injectors (or atropine if directed by physician). Injections using the
Mark I kit injectors may be repeated at 5 to 20 minute intervals if
signs and symptoms are progressing until three series of injections
have been administered. No more injections will be given unless
directed by medical personnel. In addition, a record will be
maintained of all injections given. If breathing has stopped, give
artificial respiration. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be used
when approved mask-bag or oxygen delivery systems are not
available. Do not use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when facial
contamination exists. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen.
Seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.
EYE CONTACT: IMMEDIATELY flush eyes with water for 10-15
minutes, then don respiratory protective mask. Although miosis
(pinpointing of the pupils) may be an early sign of agent exposure,
an injection will not be administered when miosis is the only sign
present. Instead, the individual will be taken IMMEDIATELY to a
medical treatment facility for observation.
SKIN CONTACT: Don respiratory protective mask and remove
contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with
copious amounts of soap and water, 10% sodium carbonate
solution, or 5% liquid household bleach. Rinse well with water to
remove excess decontaminant. Administer nerve agent antidote kit,
Mark I, only if local sweating and muscular twitching symptoms are
observed. Seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY .
INGESTION: Do not induce vomiting. First symptoms are likely to
be gastrointestinal. IMMEDIATELY administer Nerve Agent
Antidote Kit, Mark I. Seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY .
SECTION VI - REACTIVITY DATA
STABILITY: Relatively stable at room temperature. Unstabilized
VX of 95% purity decomposes at a rate of 5% a month at 71 C.
INCOMPATIBILITY: Negligible on brass, steel, aluminum.
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: During a basic
hydrolysis of VX up to 10% of the agent is converted to
diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioic acid (EA2192).
Based on the concentration of EA2192 expected to be formed
during hydrolysis and its toxicity (1.4 mg/kg dermal in rabbit at 24
hours in a 10/90 wt.% ethanol/water solution), a Class B poison
would result. The large scale decon procedure, which uses both
HTH and NaOH, destroys VX by oxidation and hydrolysis.
Typically the large scale product contains 0.2 - 0.4 wt.% EA2192 at
24 hours. At pH 12, the EA2192 in the large scale product has a
half-life of about 14 days. Thus, the 90-day holding period at pH
12 results in about a 64-fold reduction of EA2192 (six half-lives).
This holding period is sufficient to reduce the toxicity of the
product below that of a Class B poison. Other less toxic products
are ethyl methylphosphonic acid, methylphosphinic acid,
diisopropyaminoethyl mercaptan, diethyl methylphosphonate, and
ethanol. The small scale decontamination procedure uses sufficient
HTH to oxidize all VX thus no EA2192 is formed.
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: Does not occur.
SECTION VII - SPILL, LEAK, AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURES
STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN CASE MATERIAL IS RELEASED OR
SPILLED: If leaks or spills occur, only personnel in full protective
clothing (See Section VIII ) will remain in area. In case of
personnel contamination see (Section V) for emergency and first
aid instructions.
RECOMMENDED FIELD PROCEDURES (For Quantities
greater than 50 grams): (NOTE: These procedures can only be used
with the approval of the Risk Manager or qualified safety
personnel). Spills must be contained by covering with vermiculite,
diatomaceous earth, clay or fine sand. An alcoholic HTH mixture is
prepared by adding 100 milliliters of denatured ethanol to a 900-
milliliter slurry of 10% HTH in water. This mixture should be made
just before use since the HTH can react with the ethanol. Fourteen
grams of alcoholic HTH solution are used for each gram of VX.
Agitate the decontamination mixture as the VX is added. Continue
the agitation for a minimum of one hour. This reaction is
reasonablely exothermic and evolves substantial off gassing. The
evolved reaction gases should be routed through a decontaminate
filled scrubber before release through filtration systems. After
completion of the one hour minimum agitation, 10% sodium
hydroxide is added in a quantity equal to that necessary to assure
that a pH of 12.5 is maintained for a period not less than 24 hours.
Hold the material at a pH between 10 and 12 for a period not less
than 90 days to ensure that a hazardous intermediate material is not
formed (See Section VI). Scoop up all material and clothing and
place in a DOT approved container. Cover the contents with
decontaminating solution as above. After sealing, the exterior of the
container will be decontaminated and labeled according to EPA
and DOT regulations. All leaking containers will be over packed
with vermiculite placed between the interior and exterior
containers. Decontaminate and label according to EPA and DOT
regulations. Dispose of the material according to waste disposal
methods provided below. Dispose of decontaminate according to
Federal, State, and local regulations. Conduct general area
monitoring to confirm that the atmospheric concentrations do not
exceed the airborne exposure limits (See Sections II and VIII).
If the alcoholic HTH mixture is not available then the following
decontaminants may be used instead and are listed in the order of
preference: Decontaminating Agent D2 (DS2), Supertropical
Bleach Slurry (STB), and Sodium Hypochlorite.
RECOMMENDED LABORATORY PROCEDURES (For
Quantities less than 50 grams): If the active chlorine of the Calcium
Hypochlorite (HTH) is at least 55%, then 80 grams of a 10% slurry
are required for each gram of VX. Proportionally more HTH is
required if the chlorine activity of the HTH is lower than 55%. The
mixture is agitated as the VX is added and the agitation is
maintained for a minimum of one hour. If phasing of the VX/decon
solution continues after 5 minutes, an amount of denatured ethanol
equal to a 10 wt.% of the total agent/decon will be added to help
miscibility. Scoop up all material and clothing and place in a DOT
approved container. Cover the contents with decontaminating
solution as above. After sealing, the exterior of the container will
be decontaminated and labeled according to EPA and DOT
regulations. All leaking containers will be over packed with
vermiculite placed between the interior and exteriorcontainers.
Decontaminate and label according to EPA and DOT regulations.
Dispose of the material according to waste disposal methods
provided below. Dispose of decontaminate according to Federal,
State, and local regulations. Conduct general area monitoring to
confirm that the atmospheric concentrations do not exceed the
airborne exposure limits (See Sections II and VIII).
NOTE: ETHANOL SHOULD BE REDUCED TO PREVENT THE
FORMATION OF A HAZARDOUS WASTE. Upon completion of
the one hour agitation the decon mixture will be adjusted to a pH
between 10 and 11. Conduct general area monitoring to confirm
that the atmospheric concentrations do not exceed the airborne
exposure limits (See Sections II and VIII).
WASTE DISPOSAL METHOD: Open pit burning or burying of
VX or items containing or contaminated with VX in any quantity is
prohibited. The detoxified VX (using procedures above) can be
thermally destroyed by in a EPA approved incinerator in
accordance with appropriate provisions of Federal, State and local
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations.
NOTE: Some states define decontaminated surety material as a
RCRA Hazardous Waste.
SECTION VIII - SPECIAL PROTECTION INFORMATION
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: CONCENTRATION RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
< 0.00001 mg/m3A full face piece, chemical canister, air-purifying
protective mask will be on hand for escape. (The M9-, M17-, or M40-series masks areacceptable for this purpose. Other masks
certified as equivalent may be used).
>0.00001 or = 0.02 mg/m3A NIOSH/MSHA approved pressure demand full
face piece SCBA or supplied air respirators with escape air cylinder may be used. Alternatively, a full face piece, chemical canister air-purifying
protective mask is acceptable for this purpose (See DA PAM 385-61for determination of appropriate level)
>0.02 mg/m3 or unknownNIOSH/MSHA approved pressure demand full face piece SCBA suitable for use in high agent concentrations with protective ensemble (See DAPAM 385-61 for examples).VENTILATION:
Local exhaust: Mandatory. Must be filtered or scrubbed to limit
exit concentration to < 0.00001 mg/m3. Air emissions will meet
local, state and federal regulations.
Special: Chemical laboratory hoods will have an average inward
face velocity of 100 linear feet per minute (lfpm) +/- 10% with the
velocity at any point not deviating from the average face velocity by
more than 20%. Existing laboratory hoods will have an inward face
velocity of 150 lfpm +/- 20%. Laboratory hoods will be located
such that cross-drafts do not exceed 20% of the inward face
velocity. A visual performance test using smoke-producing devices
will be performed in assessing the ability of the hood to contain
agent VX.
Other: Recirculation or exhaust air from chemical areas is
prohibited. No connection between chemical areas and other areas
through ventilation system is permitted. Emergency backup power
is necessary. Hoods should be tested at least semiannually or after
modification or maintenance operations. Operations should be
performed 20 centimeters inside hood face.
PROTECTIVE GLOVES: Butyl Rubber Glove M3 and M4
Norton, Chemical Protective Glove Set
EYE PROTECTION: At a minimum chemical goggles will be
worn. For splash hazards use goggles and face shield.
OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT: For laboratory operations,
wear lab coats, gloves and have mask readily accessible. In
addition, daily clean smocks, foot covers, and head covers will be
required when handling contaminated lab animals.
MONITORING: Available monitoring equipment for agent VX is
the M8/M9 detector paper, detector ticket, M256/M256A1 kits,
bubbler, Depot Area Air Monitoring System (DAMMS),
Automated Continuous Air Monitoring System (ACAMS), Real-
Time Monitor (RTM), Demilitarization Chemical Agent
Concentrator (DCAC), M8/M43, M8A1/M43A1, CAM-M1,
Hydrogen Flame Photometric Emission Detector (HYFED), the
Miniature Chemical Agent Monitor (MINICAM), and the Real
Time Analytical Platform (RTAP).
Real-time, low-level monitors (with alarm) are required for VX
operations. In their absence, an Immediately Dangerous to Life and
Health (IDLH) atmosphere must be presumed. Laboratory
operations conducted in appropriately maintained and alarmed
engineering controls require only periodic low-level monitoring.
SECTION IX - SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN HANDLING AND
STORING: When handling agents the buddy system will be
incorporated. No smoking, eating, and drinking in areas containing
chemicals is permitted. Containers should be periodically inspected
for leaks (either visually or by a detector kit). Stringent control
over all personnel practices must be exercised. Decontamination
equipment will be conveniently located. Exits must be designed to
permit rapid evacuation.Chemical showers, eyewash stations and
personal cleanliness facilities must be provided. Wash hands before
meals, each worker will shower thoroughly with special attention
given to hair, face, neck, and hands, using plenty of soap and water
before leaving at the end of the workday.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: VX must be double contained in liquid
and vapor tight containers when in storage or outside a ventilation
hood.
For additional information see "AR 385-61, The Army Toxic
Chemical Agent Safety Program," "DA PAM 385-61, Toxic
Chemical Agent Safety Standards," and "AR 40-8, Occupational
Health Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Occupational
Exposure to Nerve Agents GA, GB, GD, and VX."
SECTION X - TRANSPORTATION DATA
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Poisonous liquids, n.o.s.
DOT HAZARD CLASS: 6.1 Packing Group I, Zone A
DOT LABEL: Poison
DOT MARKING: Poisonous liquids, n.o.s. (O-ethyl S-(2-
diisopropylaminoethyl)methyl phosphonothiolate) UN 2810,
Inhalation Hazard
DOT PLACARD: Poison
EMERGENCY ACCIDENT PRECAUTIONS AND
PROCEDURES: See Sections IV, VII and VIII.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN TRANSPORTATION: Motor
vehicles will be placarded, regardless of quantity. Drivers will be
given full information regarding shipment and conditions in case of
an emergency. AR 50-6 deals specifically with the shipment of
chemical agents. Shipments of agent will be escorted in accordance
with AR 740-32.
While the Edgewood Research Development and Engineering
Center, Department of the Army believes that the data contained
herein are factual and the opinions expressed are those of the
experts regarding the results of the tests conducted, the data are not
to be taken as a warranty or representation for which the
Department of the Army or Edgewood Research Development, and
Engineering Center assume legal responsibility. They are offered
solely for your consideration, investigation, and verification. Any
use of these data and information must be determined by the user to
be in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws and
regulations.
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