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Firebrake@ ZB Material Safety Data SheetDATE OF ISSUEDecember 2006Supersedes April 2002 Version

1 Chemical product and company identification

Product name:Grade:Product use:Chemicalname/synonyms:

Firebrake ZBAllFlame retardantZinc borate hydrate (2335),dodecaboron, tetrazincdocosaoxide, heptahydrateInorganic boratesChemical family:

MANUFACTURER:U.S. Borax Inc.

26877 Tourney RoadValencia, CA 91355-1847

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:24 Hr. Medical Info. Service:(661) 284-5200Chemtrec (Spills):(800) 424-9300

2 Compositionlinformation on ingredients

Substance: Zinc borate% Content: > 98.8%

Formula: 2ZnO.38:!03.3.5H20~S#: 1382~EINECS: 235-804-2

(Refer to Section 15forTSCNDSL Chemical inventory listing)

water< 1.2%

This product contains greater than 99 percent (%)zinc borate,

2ZnO.3B203.3.5H20, which is hazardous under the OSHA HazardCommunication Standard and under the Canadian ControlledProducts Regulations of the Hazardous Products Act (WHMIS) ,based on animal chronic toxicity studies. Zinc borate, Firebrake ZB,is classified in Europe under EC Directive 67/548/EC and itssubsequent amendments as Dangerous for the Environment N: R50/53.Refer to Sections 3 and 11 for details on hazards.

3 Hazard identification

OverviewFirebrakeZB is a white, odorless, powder substance that is notflammable, combustible, or explosive and has low acute oraland dermal toxicity.Potential ecological effectsLarge amounts of FirebrakeZB can be harmful to plants andother species. Therefore, releases to the environment shouldbe minimized. Zinc borate, FirebrakeZB, is classified inEurope Dangerous for the Environment N: R50/R53 (seeSection 12and 16 for risk phrases) because its dissolutionproduces soluble zinc ions.Potential health effectsRoutes of exposure: Inhalation is the most significant route ofexposure in occupational and other settings. Dermal exposureis not usually a concern because FirebrakeZB is poorlyabsorbed through intact skin.Inhalation: Occasional mild irritation effects to the nose andthroat may occur from inhalation ofFirebrakeZB dust at levelsgreater than 10 mg/m3.Eye contact: FirebrakeZB is non-irritating to the eyes innormal industrial use.

Skin contact FirebrakeZB does not cause irritation to intact skin.Ingestion: Products containing FirebrakeZB are not intendedfor ingestion. FirebrakeZB has a lowacute toxicity. Smallamounts (e.g., a teaspoon) swallowed accidentally are not likelyto cause effects; swallowingamounts larger than that may causegastrointestinal symptoms.Cancer: FirebrakeZB is not a known carcinogen.Reproductive/developmental: Animal ingestion studies inseveral species, at high doses, indicate that borates causereproductive and developmental effects. A human study ofoccupational exposure to borate dust showed no adverse effecton reproduction.Target organs: No target organ has been identifiedin humans.Signs and symptoms of exposure: Symptoms of accidentalover-exposure to FirebrakeZB might include nausea, vomitingand diarrhea, with delayed effects of skin redness and peeling.These symptoms have been associated with the accidental over-exposure to the chemically related substance boric acid.

Refer to Section 11for details on toxicological data.

4 First aid measures

Inhalation: If symptoms such as nose or throat irritation areobserved, remove person to fresh air.Eye contact: Use eye wash fountain or fresh water to cleansethe eye. If irritation persists for more than 30 minutes, seekmedical attention.Skin contact: No treatment necessary because non-irritating.Ingestion: Swallowingsmall quantities (one teaspoon) willcauseno harm to healthy adults. IfIarger amounts are swallowed,givetwoglasses of water to drink and seek medicalattention.--BORAXfC=~."' ......

Note to physidans: Observation only is required for adultingestion ofless than a few grams of FirebrakeZB. Foringestion oflarger amounts, maintain adequate kidney functionand force fluids. Gastric lavage is recommended forsymptomatic patients only.Hemodialysis should be reserved formassive acute ingestion or patients with renal failure. Boronanalyses of urine or blood are only useful for documentingexposure and should not be used to evaluate severity ofpoisoning or to guide treatment!. Refer to Section 11for details.

MARKETED BY

HARWICK STANDARDDISTRIBUTION CORPORATION

60 S. Seiberling Street. Akron, Ohio 44305

U5-U5-FZBlof4

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Ire Ig mg measures

General hazard: None,becauseFirebrakeZBis not flammable,combustible or explosive. The product is itself a flameretardant

Extinguishing media: Any fire extinguishing media may beused on nearby fires.Flammability classification (29 eFR 1910.1200): Non-flammable solid.

6 Accidental release measures

General: Firebrake ZB is a sparingly soluble white powder thatmay cause damage to trees or vegetation by root absorption.(Refer to Ecological information, Section 12, for specificinformation.)

Land spill: Vacuum, shovel or sweep up FirebrakeZB and placein containers for disposal in accordance with applicable localregulations. Avoidcontamination of water bodies duringcleanup and disposal. Personal protective equipment is n2!needed to cleanup land spills.

Spillage Into water: Where possible, remove any intactcontainers from the water. Advise local water authority thatnone of the affected water should be used for irrigation or forthe abstraction of potable water until natural dilution returns theboron and zinc values to their normal environmentalbackground levels. (Refer to Sections 12, 13 and 15 for additionalinformation.) Firebrake ZB is a non-hazardous waste whenspilled or disposed of, as defined in the Resource Conservationand Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations (40 CFR 261). (Refer toRegulatory information, Section 15, for additional references.)(Refer to section 8 for personal protective equipment)

7 Handling and storage

Handling: No special handling precautions are required, butdry, indoor storage is recommended. To maintain packageintegrity and to minimize caking of the product, bags should behandled on a first-in, first-out basis. Good housekeepingprocedures should be followedto minimizedust generation and

accumulation.

Storage temperature:

Storage pressure:

Special sensitivity:

Ambient

Atmospheric

Moisture (caking)

8 Exposure controls/personal protection

Occupational exposure limits: Zinc borate (FirebrakeZB) istreated by OSHAand CALOSHAas "Particulate Not OtherwiseClassified" or "Nuisance Dust" RioTinto Borax recommendsand applies internally an Occupational Exposure limit (OEL)of1 mg B/m3.Engineering controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to keepairborne concentrations of FirebrakeZB dust below permissibleexposure levels.

Personal protection: Where airborne concentrations areexpected to exceed exposure limits, respirators for dust should beused. Eye goggles and gloves are not required for normalindustrial exposure, but rubber, nitrile, or butyl gloves may bewarranted if environment is excessively dusty.

Cal OSHA/PEL: 10 mg/m3OSHA/PEL(total dust): 15mg/m3OSHA/PEL(respirable dust): 5mg/m3

9 Physical and chemical properties

Appearance:

Specific gravity:

Vapor pressure:

Solubility in water:

White, odorless, powder2.7

Negligible @ 20°C<0.28% @ 25°C

Melting point:pH @200e:

Molecular weight:

Phase change at 650°C (1202°F)6.8-7.5(aqueous solution)434.66

10 Stability and reactivity

General: FirebrakeZB is a stable product.

Incompatible materials and conditions to avoid: Reactionwith strong reducing agents, such as metal hydrides or alkali

@1996 u.s. Borax Inc.

metals, willgenerate hydrogen gas, which could create anexplosive hazard.

Hazardous decomposition: None.

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Firebrake ZB

11 Toxicological information

Acute toxicityIngestion: Low acute oral toxicity; LD50in rats is greater than10,000mg/kg of body weightSkin/dermal: Lowacute dermal toxicity; LDsoin rabbits isgreater than 10,000mg/kg of body weight FirebrakeZB ispoorly absorbed through intact skin.Inhalation: Low acute inhalation toxicity; LCsoin rats> 5mg/L,based on zinc (4:1) borate monohydrate.Skin irritation: Non-irritantEye irritation: Draize test in rabbits produced mild eyeirritation effects. Many years of occupational exposure toFirebrakeZB indicates no adverse effects on human eyes.Therefore, FirebrakeZB is not considered to be a human eyeirritant in normal industrial use.Sensitization: Firebrake ZB is not a skin sensitizer.

Note: FirebrakeZB (zinc borate) can decompose, underbiological conditions, to form zinc hydroxide and boric acid.

12

OtherReproductive/developmental toxicity: No experimental testdata. However, animal feeding studies with boric acid and sodiumtetraborate in rat, mouse and dog, at high doses, havedemonstrated effects on fertility and testes2. Studies with boricacid in the rat, mouse and rabbit, at high doses, demonstratesdevelopmental effects on the fetus, including fetal weight loss andminor skeletal variations3,4. The doses administered were manytimes in excess of those to which humans would normally beexposeds. Animal studies have also demonstrated developmentaltoxicity due to excess zinc levels, including increased fetalresorption and reduced fetal weights. However, zinc is essentialfor normal fetal developmentCarcinogenicity/mutagenicity: No experimental test data.Carcinogenicityand mutagenicitytests were negative for boric acid.Limitedepidemiologystudies have shown no relationship betweencancer in humans and occupationalexposure to zinc compounds.Human data: A recent epidemiology study under the conditionsof normal occupational exposure to borate dusts indicated noeffect on fertility7.

Ecological information

Ecotoxicity dataGeneral: Both boron (B) and zinc (Zn) occur naturally inseawater at average concentrations of 5 mg/L Band 8 jtg/L Zn,respectively, and at lower concentrations, generally, infreshwater. FirebrakeZB (zinc borate) can decompose, undercertain environmental conditions, to form sparingly watersoluble zinc hydroxide and water soluble boric acid.Phytotoxicity: Boron is an essential micronutrient for healthygrowth of plants; however, it can be harmful to boron sensitiveplants in high quantities. Care should be taken to minimize theamount of FirebrakeZB released to the environmentInvertebrate toxicity:

Daphnids, Daphnia magna straus48-hr LCso= 76 mg FirebrakeZB/I

Fish toxicity:Freshwater:

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss96-hr LCso = 2.4 mg Firebrake ZB/l

Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus96-hr LCso > 335 mg Firebrake ZB/l

Environmental fate dataBioaccumulation/Degradation:Lowbioaccumulation potential; log Pow<0.2, based on zinc (4:1)borate monohydrate. Additionally,FirebrakeZB will undergohydrolysis in water to form boric acid and zinc hydroxide.Neither of these substances willbiomagnifythrough the foodchain.Soil mobility: The product is sparingly soluble in water andmay be leachable through normal soil.

13 Disposal considerations

Disposal guidance: Small quantities of FirebrakeZB canusually be disposed of at landfill sites. No special disposaltreatment is required, but local authorities should be consultedabout any specific local requirements. Tonnage quantities ofproduct should, ifpossible,be used foran appropriateapplication.RCRA(40 CFR261): Zincborate is not listed under any sectionsofthe Federal Resource Conservationand RecoveryActCalifornia hazardous waste designation: Zinc borate wastematerial is considered a "hazardous waste" in Californiabecause

it is a zinc compound with a zinc concentration in excess of thetotal threshold limit concentration (ITLC).NPRI(Canada): Zinc borate is not listed on the CanadianNational Pollutant Release Inventory.European Directive: Zinc borate is classified as Dangerous forthe Environment N: RSO/RS3because its dissolution producessoluble zinc ions. This material and its container must bedisposed of as hazardous waste.

Refer to Section 15 for additional regulatory information.

14 Transport information

DOT hazardous classification: Zinc borate is classified by theU.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as a Hazardous Substancewith a reportable quantity (RQ) of 1,000 lbs. (454kg), 49 eFR172.101,Appendix A, and 49 eFR 171.8. DOT rules apply whentransported in quantities equal to or exceeding the RQ (1000lbs.) in asingle package. DOT assigns the number UN 3077 to HazardousSubstances in the category to which zinc borate belongs. Whentransported in packages less than the RQ, zinc borate is nill a DOTHazardous Material. Bill of lading for DOT shipments shouldinclude the description - "Environmentally Hazardous Substance,Solid, N.O.S., g, UN 3077, PG III, RQ 1000 (Zinc Borate)"

@1996 u.s. Borax Inc.

TOG Canadian transportation: Zinc borate is regulatedunder Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) , and it islisted as "Zinc borate 9.2 NA9155 Packing Group III". Zincborate has a regulated limit (RL) of 50 kg.International transportation: Zinc borate, Firebrake ZB, has nospecific UN number. However, it is regulated by hazard categoryunder UN Transport of Dangerous Goods, UN No. 3077(Environmentally Hazardous Substance. Solid, N.O.S), ADR Class9, 12c) Packing Group III. The reportable quantity (RQ) of 454kg(1000 Ibs.) should always be included in the bill of lading.

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15 Regulatory information

OSHA/Cal OSHA: This MSDS document meets therequirements of both OSHA (29 CFR 1910.1200)and Cal OSHA(Title 8 CCR 5194 (g» hazard communication standards. Referto Section 8 for regulatory exposure limits.WHMIS classification: Zinc borate (FirebrakeZB) is classifiedas Class D-Division 2A under Canadian WHMIS guidelines.Chemical inventory listing: FirebrakeZB (138265-88-0)appears on several chemical inventory lists (including the EPATSCAinventory, Canadian DSL and European EINECS) underthe CASNo. representing the anhydrous form of this inorganicsalt

U.S. EPA TSCA InventoryCanadian DSLEINECSGermany WGK

1332-07-61332-07-6235-804-22

RCRA: Zinc borate is ll.Q1listed as a hazardous waste under anysections of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA) or regulations (40 CFR 261 et seq).Superfund: CERCIA/SARA. Zinc borate is listed underCERCLA as a Hazardous Substance with a reportable quantity(RQ) of 1,000 lbs. (454 kg), 42 USC 9604, 40 CFR 302. Zincborate appears on the Emergency Planning and CommunnityRight to Know Act (EPCRA) or Superfund Amendments andReauthorization Act (SARA), Section 313, Toxic ChemicalsRelease Inventory list under zinc compounds, 42 USC 11023, 40CFR 372.65. Zinc borate is IlQ1listed under Section 302 of SARA,Extremely Hazardous Substances, 42 USC 11002, 40 CFR 355,but because it is a CERCLA Hazardous Substance, emergencyrelease reporting under SARA may be required if offsitereleases exceed RQ.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA):Zinc borate is 1lQ1regulatedunder the SDWA,42 USC 300g-1,40 CFR 141et seq. Consultstate and local regulations for possible water quality advisoriesregarding boron compounds.Clean Water Act (CWA)(Federal Water PollutionControl Act): 33 USC 1251et seq.

a) Zinc borate (FirebrakeZB) is not itself a dischargecovered by any water quality criteria of Section 304 ofthe CWA,33 USC 1314. However, discharges may becovered where total zinc values are an issue.

b) Zinc borate (FirebrakeZB) is on the Section 307 List ofPriority Pollutants, 33 USC 1317,40 CFR 401.15and403,Appendix B, under "Zinc and compounds".

c) Zinc borate (FirebrakeZB) is on the Section 311 List ofHazardous Substances, 33 USC 1321,40 CFR 116.

Canadian drinking water guideline: An "Interim MaximumAcceptable Concentration" (IMAC) for boron is currently set at5 mg B/L.IARC:The International Agency for Research on Cancer (!ARC)(a unit of the World Health Organization) does 1lQ1listorcategorize zinc borate as a carcinogen.NTP Biennial Report on Carcinogens: Zinc borate is 1lQ1listed.OSHAcarcinogen: Zinc borate is ll2!:listed.California Proposition 65: Zinc borate (FirebrakeZB) is notlisted on the Proposition 65 list of carcinogens or reproductivetoxicants.Clean Air Act (Montreal Protocol): FirebrakeZB was notmanufactured with and does not contain any Class I or Class IIozone depleting substances.

16 Other information

References

1. LitovitzT L, Norman S A,VeltriJ C, Annual Report ofthe American Association of Poison Control CentersData Collection System. Am.]. Emerg. Med. 4: 427-458(1986).

2. Weir R], Fisher R S, Toxicol.Appl. Pharmacol. 23: 351-364 (1972).

3. Fail et al., Fund. Appl.Toxicol. 17: 225-239(1991).4. Price et al.,]. Am. Coli.Toxicol. 14: (2),173 (Abst P-17)

(1995).

5. Murray F], Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. (Dec. 1995).

6. National Toxicology Program (NTP)-Toxicology andcarcinogenesis studies of boric acid in B6C3F1 mice,Tech. Report Ser. No. 324, U.S. Dept of Health andHuman Services. NIH Publ. No. 88-2580(1987).

7. Whorton et al., Occup. Environ. Med. 51: 761-767(1994).

For general information on the toxicology of inorganic borates,see Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology,4th Ed. Vol.II,(1994),Chap. 42, Boron; ECETOCTech. Report No. 63 (1995).

@1996 u.s. Borax Inc.

Product label text hazard Information*:Do not ingest.Ingestion may cause reproductive harm or birth defects basedon animal data.Avoidcontamination of food or feed.Not for use in food, drug, or pesticides.Refer to MSDS.KEEP OUT OF REACHOF CHILDREN.*The WHMIS panel format is used for Canadian product.National Fire Protection Assoc. (NFPA)classification:

Health 0Flammability 0Reactivity 0

Hazardous Materials Information Systems (HMIS):Red: (Flammability) 0Yellow:(Reactivity) 0Blue: (Acute Health) 0*

'Chronic Effects

For further information contact:

U.S. Borax Inc.Occupational Health & Product SafetY(661) 287-6050

Technical & Sales SUDport(800) 847-0822

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