Valid 08/2001 - 10/2001

Sigma Chemical Co.
P.O. Box 14508
St. Louis, MO 63178 USA
Tel: 314-771-5765





             M A T E R I A L  S A F E T Y  D A T A  S H E E T
             
SECTION 1. - - - - - - - - - CHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION- - - - - - - - - -
    CATALOG #:            L4000
    NAME:                 LANTHANUM OXIDE
SECTION 2. - - - - - COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS - - - - - -
    CAS #:  1312-81-8
    MF: LA2O3
    EC NO:  215-200-5
  SYNONYMS
    DILANTHANUM OXIDE * DILANTHANUM TRIOXIDE * LANTHANA * LANTHANIA
    (LA2O3) * LANTHANUM(III) OXIDE * LANTHANUM(3+) OXIDE * LANTHANUM
    SESQUIOXIDE * LANTHANUM TRIOXIDE *
SECTION 3. - - - - - - - - - - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION - - - - - - - - -
  LABEL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
    IRRITANT
    IRRITATING TO EYES AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.
    IN CASE OF CONTACT WITH EYES, RINSE IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OF
    WATER AND SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.
    DO NOT BREATHE DUST.
    WEAR SUITABLE GLOVES AND EYE/FACE PROTECTION.
SECTION 4. - - - - - - - - - - FIRST-AID MEASURES- - - - - - - - - - -
    IF SWALLOWED, WASH OUT MOUTH WITH WATER PROVIDED PERSON IS CONSCIOUS.
    CALL A PHYSICIAN.
    IF INHALED, REMOVE TO FRESH AIR. IF NOT BREATHING GIVE ARTIFICIAL
    RESPIRATION. IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, GIVE OXYGEN.
    IN CASE OF CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY WASH SKIN WITH SOAP AND COPIOUS
    AMOUNTS OF WATER.
    IN CASE OF CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY FLUSH EYES WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF
    WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES.
SECTION 5. - - - - - - - - - FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES - - - - - - - - - -
  EXTINGUISHING MEDIA
    NONCOMBUSTIBLE.
    USE EXTINGUISHING MEDIA APPROPRIATE TO SURROUNDING FIRE CONDITIONS.
  SPECIAL FIREFIGHTING PROCEDURES
    WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING TO
    PREVENT CONTACT WITH SKIN AND EYES.
SECTION 6. - - - - - - - - ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES- - - - - - - - -
    EVACUATE AREA.
    WEAR RESPIRATOR, CHEMICAL SAFETY GOGGLES, RUBBER BOOTS AND HEAVY
    RUBBER GLOVES.
    SWEEP UP, PLACE IN A BAG AND HOLD FOR WASTE DISPOSAL.
    AVOID RAISING DUST.
    VENTILATE AREA AND WASH SPILL SITE AFTER MATERIAL PICKUP IS COMPLETE.
SECTION 7. - - - - - - - - - - HANDLING AND STORAGE- - - - - - - - - - -
    REFER TO SECTION 8.
SECTION 8. - - - - - - EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION- - - - - -
    WASH CONTAMINATED CLOTHING BEFORE REUSE.
    WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING.
    WEAR APPROPRIATE NIOSH/MSHA-APPROVED RESPIRATOR, CHEMICAL-RESISTANT
    GLOVES, SAFETY GOGGLES, OTHER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
    SAFETY SHOWER AND EYE BATH.
    MECHANICAL EXHAUST REQUIRED.
    DO NOT BREATHE DUST.
    AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING.
    AVOID PROLONGED OR REPEATED EXPOSURE.
    IRRITATING DUST.
    KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED.
    STORE UNDER NITROGEN.
    STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE.
    ABSORBS CO2 FROM AIR.
    HYGROSCOPIC
SECTION 9. - - - - - - - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES - - - - - - -
  PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    SPECIFIC GRAVITY:     6.51
SECTION 10. - - - - - - - - -STABILITY AND REACTIVITY - - - - - - - - -
  CONDITIONS TO AVOID
    PROTECT FROM MOISTURE.
  INCOMPATIBILITIES
    PROTECT FROM MOISTURE.
    STRONG ACIDS
    STRONG OXIDIZING AGENTS
    CARBON DIOXIDE.
  HAZARDOUS COMBUSTION OR DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS
    NATURE OF DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS NOT KNOWN.
SECTION 11. - - - - - - - - - TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION - - - - - - - -
  ACUTE EFFECTS
    MATERIAL IS IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND UPPER
    RESPIRATORY TRACT.
    MAY BE HARMFUL BY INHALATION, INGESTION, OR SKIN ABSORPTION.
    CAUSES EYE AND SKIN IRRITATION.
    TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND
    TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED.
  RTECS #: OE5330000
    LANTHANUM OXIDE
  IRRITATION DATA
    EYE-RBT 100 MG MLD                            ATDAEI 12,625,1993
  TOXICITY DATA
    ORL-RAT LD50:>9968 MG/KG                      EQSSDX 1,1,1975
    ONLY SELECTED REGISTRY OF TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
    (RTECS) DATA IS PRESENTED HERE. SEE ACTUAL ENTRY IN RTECS FOR
    COMPLETE INFORMATION.
SECTION 12. - - - - - - - - - ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION - - - - - - - - - -
    DATA NOT YET AVAILABLE.
SECTION 13. - - - - - - - - - DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS - - - - - - - - -
    BURY IN A LANDFILL SITE APPROVED FOR THE DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL
    AND HAZARDOUS WASTES.
    OBSERVE ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
SECTION 14. - - - - - - - - - - TRANSPORT INFORMATION - - - - - - - - -
    CONTACT SIGMA CHEMICAL COMPANY FOR TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION.
SECTION 15. - - - - - - - - - REGULATORY INFORMATION - - - - - - - - - -
  EUROPEAN INFORMATION
    IRRITANT
    R 36/37
    IRRITATING TO EYES AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.
    S 26
    IN CASE OF CONTACT WITH EYES, RINSE IMMEDIATELY WITH PLENTY OF
    WATER AND SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.
    S 22
    DO NOT BREATHE DUST.
    S 37/39
    WEAR SUITABLE GLOVES AND EYE/FACE PROTECTION.
  REVIEWS, STANDARDS, AND REGULATIONS
    OEL=MAK
    NOES 1983: HZD X2060; NIS 8; TNF 406; NOS 11; TNE 22403; TFE 11140
    EPA TSCA SECTION 8(B) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
SECTION 16. - - - - - - - - - - OTHER INFORMATION- - - - - - - - - - - -
    THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT BUT DOES NOT PURPORT TO
    BE ALL INCLUSIVE AND SHALL BE USED ONLY AS A GUIDE. SIGMA, ALDRICH,
    FLUKA SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE RESULTING FROM HANDLING
    OR FROM CONTACT WITH THE ABOVE PRODUCT. SEE REVERSE SIDE OF INVOICE OR
    PACKING SLIP FOR ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE.
    COPYRIGHT 2001 SIGMA-ALDRICH CO.
    LICENSE GRANTED TO MAKE UNLIMITED PAPER COPIES FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY