Material Safety Data Sheet

acc. to OSHA and ANSI
  Printing date 03/11/2002 Reviewed on 04/15/1999  
  •   1 Identification of substance:

    • Product details:


    • Trade name: Cadmium selenide


    • Stock number: 11057


    • Manufacturer/Supplier:

      • Alfa Aesar, A Johnson Matthey company
      Johnson Matthey Catalog Company, Inc.
      30 Bond Street
      Ward Hill, MA 01835-8099
      Emergency Phone: (978) 521-6300
      CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
      Web Site: www.alfa.com

    • Information department: Health, Safety and Environmental Department

    • Emergency information:

      • During normal hours the Health, Safety and Environmental Department. After normal hours call Chemtrec at (800) 424-9300.
  •   2 Composition/Data on components:

    • Chemical characterization:

      •            Description: (CAS#)                                        
                  Cadmium selenide (CAS# 1306-24-7), 100%
    • Identification number(s):

    • EINECS Number: 215-148-3

    • EU Number: 048-001-00-5
  •   3 Hazards identification

    • Hazard description: Xn Harmful

    • Information pertaining to particular dangers for man and environment

      • R 20/21/22 Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
  •   4 First aid measures

    • After inhalation

      • Supply fresh air. If required, provide artificial respiration. Keep patient warm.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
    • After skin contact

      • Immediately wash with water and soap and rinse thoroughly.
      Seek immediate medical advice.
    • After eye contact

      • Rinse opened eye for several minutes under running water. Then consult a doctor.
    • After swallowing Seek immediate medical advice.
  •   5 Fire fighting measures

    • Suitable extinguishing agents

      • Product is not flammable. Use fire fighting measures that suit the surrounding fire.
    • Special hazards caused by the material, its products of combustion or

      •   resulting gases:
      In case of fire, the following can be released:
      Toxic metal oxide fume
    • Protective equipment:

      • Wear self-contained respirator.
      Wear fully protective impervious suit.
  •   6 Accidental release measures

    • Person-related safety precautions:

      • Wear protective equipment. Keep unprotected persons away.
      Ensure adequate ventilation
    • Measures for environmental protection:

      • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits.
    • Measures for cleaning/collecting:

      • Dispose contaminated material as waste according to item 13.
      Ensure adequate ventilation.
    • Additional information:

      • See Section 7 for information on safe handling
      See Section 8 for information on personal protection equipment.
      See Section 13 for disposal information.
  •   7 Handling and storage


    • Handling

    • Information for safe handling:

      • Keep container tightly sealed.
      Store in cool, dry place in tightly closed containers.
      Ensure good ventilation at the workplace.
      Prevent formation of dust.
    • Information about protection against explosions and fires:

      • The product is not flammable

    • Storage

    • Requirements to be met by storerooms and receptacles:

      • No special requirements.
    • Information about storage in one common storage facility:

      • Do not store together with acids.
    • Further information about storage conditions:

      • Keep container tightly sealed.
      Store in cool, dry conditions in well sealed containers.
  •   8 Exposure controls and personal protection

    • Additional information about design of technical systems:

      • Properly operating chemical fume hood designed for hazardous chemicals and having an average face velocity of at least 100 feet per minute.

      Components with limit values that require monitoring at the workplace:


      Selenium and selenium compounds (as Se)
                         mg/m3
      ACGIH TLV           0.2
      Austria MAK         0.1
      Belgium TWA         0.2
      Denmark TWA         0.1
      Finland TWA         0.1; 0.3-STEL
      Germany MAK         0.1
      Hungary             0.1-STEL
      Japan OEL           0.1
      Korea TLV           0.2
      Netherlands MAC-TGG 0.2
      Poland TWA          0.1; 0.3-STEL
      Sweden NGV          0.1
      Switzerland MAK-W   0.1
      United Kingdom TWA  0.1
      USA PEL             0.2

      Cadmium and compounds, as Cd
                            mg/m3
      ACGIH TLV             0.01; A2-inhalable particulate
                            0.002; A2-respirable particulate
      Belgium TWA           0.05
      Denmark TWA           0.01
      Finland TWA           0.02; carcinogen
      Ireland TWA           0.025; carcinogen
      Netherlands TWA       0.005
      Russia                0.01; 0.05-STEL
      Sweden TWA            0.02; carcinogen
      Switzerland TWA       0.05
      United Kingdom TWA    0.025; except CdO, CdS and CdS pigments
      USA PEL (respirable)  0.005
    • Additional information: No data


    • Personal protective equipment

    • General protective and hygienic measures

      • The usual precautionary measures for handling chemicals should be followed.
      Keep away from foodstuffs, beverages and feed.
      Remove all soiled and contaminated clothing immediately.
      Wash hands before breaks and at the end of work.
      Avoid contact with the eyes and skin.
    • Breathing equipment:

      • Use suitable respirator when high concentrations are present.
      Refer to 29CFR1910.1027 for regulations on respiratory protection required during exposure to cadmium and cadmium compounds.
    • Protection of hands: Impervious gloves

    • Eye protection: Safety glasses

    • Body protection: Protective work clothing.
  •   9 Physical and chemical properties:


    • Form: Powder

    • Color:

      • Red
      Black
    • Odor: Odorless

    •                                      Value/Range  Unit    Method      

    • Change in condition

    • Melting point/Melting range:                 >1350 ° C

    • Boiling point/Boiling range:       Not determined

    • Sublimation temperature / start:   Not determined


    • Flash point:                       Not applicable


    • Ignition temperature:              Not determined


    • Decomposition temperature:         Not determined


    • Danger of explosion:

      • Product does not present an explosion hazard.

    • Explosion limits:

    • Lower:                             Not determined

    • Upper:                             Not determined


    • Vapor pressure:                    Not determined


    • Density:               at   20 ° C            5.81 g/cm³


    • Solubility in / Miscibility with

    • Water:                             Insoluble
  •  10 Stability and reactivity

    • Thermal decomposition / conditions to be avoided:

      • Decomposition will not occur if used and stored according to specifications.
    • Materials to be avoided: Acids

    • Dangerous reactions No dangerous reactions known

    • Dangerous products of decomposition:

      • Hydrogen selenide
      Toxic metal oxide fume
  •  11 Toxicological information

    • Acute toxicity:

    • Primary irritant effect:

    • on the skin: Irritant to skin and mucous membranes.

    • on the eye: Irritating effect.

    • Sensitization: No sensitizing effects known.

    • Subacute to chronic toxicity:

      • Cadmium and cadmium compounds are highly toxic and experimental carcinogens.  Exposure affects the respiratory tract, kidneys, and liver.  Ingestion may cause nausea, salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. Ingestion or inhalation of cadmium/cadmium compounds may be fatal.
      Selenium may cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, bronchial irritation, gastrointestinal distress, vasopharyngeal irritation, garlic odor on breath and sweat, metallic taste, pallor, irritability, excessive fatigue, loss of fingernails and hair, pulmonary edema, anemia and weight loss.
    • Additional toxicological information:

      • Danger through skin absorption.
      To the best of our knowledge the acute and chronic toxicity of this substance is not fully known.
      EPA-B1: Probable human carcinogen, limited evidence of carcinogenicity from epidemiologic studies.
      IARC-1: Carcinogenic to humans: sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity.
      NTP-2: Reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen: limited evidence from studies in humans or sufficient evidence from studies in experimental animals.
      Carcinogen as defined by OSHA.
      ACGIH A2: Suspected human carcinogen: Agent is carcinogenic in experimental animals at dose levels, by route(s) of administration, at site(s), of histologic type(s), or by mechanism(s) considered relevant to worker exposure.  Available epidemiologic studies are conflicting or insufficient to confirm an increased risk of cancer in exposed humans.
  •  12 Ecological information:

    • General notes:

      • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits.
  •  13 Disposal considerations


    • Product:

    • Recommendation

      • Consult state, local or national regulations for proper disposal.

    • Uncleaned packagings:

    • Recommendation:

      • Disposal must be made according to official regulations.
  •  14 Transport information

      • Not a hazardous material for transportation.

    • DOT regulations:

    • Hazard class:             None


    • Land transport ADR/RID  (cross-border)

    • ADR/RID class:                None


    • Maritime transport IMDG:

    • IMDG Class:               None


    • Air transport ICAO-TI and IATA-DGR:

    • ICAO/IATA Class:          None


    • Transport/Additional information:

      • Not dangerous according to the above specifications.
  •  15 Regulations


    • Product related hazard informations:


    • Hazard symbols: Xn Harmful


    • Risk phrases:

      • 20/21/22 Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.

    • Safety phrases: 22       Do not breathe dust.


    • National regulations

      • All components of this product are listed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory.
      This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

    • Information about limitation of use:

      • For use only by technically qualified individuals.
      This product contains cadmium and is subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and 40CFR372.
      This product contains selenium and is subject to the reporting requirements of section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and 40CFR372.

    • Other regulations, limitations and prohibitive regulations

      • Refer to 29CFR1910.1027 for regulations concerning cadmium and cadmium compounds.
  •  16 Other information:

      • Employers should use this information only as a supplement to other information gathered by them, and should make independent judgement of suitability of this information to ensure proper use and protect the health and safety of employees.  This information is furnished without warranty, and any use of the product not in conformance with this Material Safety Data Sheet, or in combination with any other product or process, is the responsibility of the user.

    • Department issuing MSDS: Health, Safety and Environmental Department.

    • Contact: Darrell R. Sanders