the (hidden) dangers of sodium azide

Sodium AzideThe (Hidden) Dangers of

Meet Your Moderator

James Ciccone

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Meet Your Presenter

Ryan MillerEngineering Project Manager

Triumvirate Environmental

Agenda

Background on Sodium Azide

Handling, Storage & Disposal

Sodium Azide Remediation

Summary/Q&A

What is Sodium Azide?

• Chemical formula: NaN3

• An inorganic, odorless,

colorless salt

• Very acutely toxic

• Can be explosive

Solubility of Common Azides

Name Formula Mol. Weight

(g/mol)

Solubility

(g/100 mL H2O @20 °C)

Sodium Azide NaN3 65.01 40.8

Potassium Azide KN3 81.12 50.8

Lead(II) Azide Pb(N3)2 291.20 0.0249

Silver Azide AgN3 149.89 0.000793

Available Toxicity Data of

Common Azides

Name Formula Toxicity (LD50)

Sodium Azide NaN3 27 mg/kg

Ammonium Azide NH4N3 Very Toxic

Barium Azide Ba(N3)2 Toxic

Health Effects• Ingestion of even small concentrations can be fatal

• Mixing with water or acid creates toxic hydrazoic gas

• Contact with transition metals can lead to the formation of

explosive, shock sensitive metal azides

Where is it Used?• Air Bags: 2NaN3 2 Na + 3N3

• Preservatives

• Pesticides

• Mutagen

• Probe Reagent

Hematology Equipment

Sodium Azide Discharge

Agenda




Summary/Q&A

Sodium Azide Warnings

Warning from the FDA: • Sodium Azide Solutions: Potential for Explosions from

Improper Handling and Disposal, August 5, 2015.

Sodium Azide Handling

• Proper personal protective equipment

• Avoid contact with acids or heavy metals

• Avoid disturbing corroded materials if the corrosion

may be due to sodium azide

• Avoid exposure of potentially concentrated sodium

azide to friction or shock

Sodium Azide Storage• Do not store tubing or other materials that may have

been in contact with solutions containing sodium

azide

• Collect sodium azide waste into a plastic reservoir

and label the container with the proper name

• Clearly label all medical devices, collection containers

and waste disposal fixtures that use products

containing sodium azide

Sodium Azide Disposal• Follow local, state and federal regulations regarding

handling and disposal of hazardous waste

• Dispose of solutions per instrument and analyzer label

instructions

• Contain waste in plastic receptacles intended for hazardous

material as per Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

guidelines

• The Clean Water Act allows disposal in sanitary sewer

systems if the concentration is less than 1% of total annual

wastewater from facility

• Flush sodium azide solutions with at least 100-fold excess of

water

Sodium Azide Lab Pack Waste

P-Listed Wastes

• Acutely Hazardous Material

• Affects Generator Status

• LQGs: P-listed waste > 2.2 pounds per

calendar month

• SQGs: Cannot accumulate > 2.2 pounds at

any time

• CESQGs: Cannot accumulate > 2.2 pounds

at any time

• VSQGs (MA): Cannot accumulate ANY

Agenda




Summary/Q&A

Sodium Azide Remediation:

NIOSH & CDC

• NIOSH and the CDC Published

Decontamination Procedures for

Azide Contamination Plumbing

• Current Intelligence Bulletin 13:

Explosive Azide Hazard, DHHS

(NIOSH) Publication Number

78-127, August 16, 1976

Sodium Azide Remediation: NIOSHRemediation involves isolating the plumbing, introducing a 10%

sodium hydroxide solution and allowing it to soak in the isolated

system for 16 hours

The solution is then collected and the system rinsed for a

minimum of 15 minutes

Sodium Azide Remediation: NIOSH

Sodium Azide Remediation: NIOSHNext, a Nitrous Acid solution containing 20% acetic acid and 20% sodium

nitrite is added to the system and allowed to soak for 24 hours

Following another 15 minute flush with water and a visual

inspection, the plumbing is cleared for removal


Sodium Azide Remediation Waste

Agenda




Summary/Q&A

Summary

• Sodium azide is extremely toxic and

potentially explosive

• Discharge of sodium azide solutions into

plumbing containing metals leads to

potential explosions

• Remediation of contaminated plumbing is

possible

QUESTIONS?

Eliot, ME

Lowell, MA

Somerville, MA

Cranston, RI

Portland, CT

Astoria, NY

Woodstown, NJ

Baltimore, MD

Jeannette, PA

Ashland, VA

Durham, NC

Orlando, FL

Davie, FL

Locations

Thank You!

1-888-TEI-WOWS www.triumvirate.comRyan Miller

[email protected]

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