Material Safety Data Sheet
Urea
Terra Industries Inc.
Terra Centre 鈥? 600 Fourth Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51101
MSDS Number 2043 (Reissued September 14, 2006) 5 Pages
1. CHEMICAL PRODUCT and EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CONTACT
Product Name:............................................ Urea
Chemical Family: ....................................... Amide
Synonyms:.................................................. Carbamide, Carbamide Resin, Carbamimidic
Acid, Carbonyl Diamide, Carbonyldiamine,
Isourea, Ureaphil, Ureophil, Urevert
Formula: ..................................................... CH4N2O or NH2CONH2
Product Use: ............................................... Fertilizer; SCR NOx Control
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER
CHEMTREC (U.S.): .................................. 800-424-9300
CANUTEC (Canada): ................................ 613-996-6666
2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
Component Name Percentage by Weight CAS Number
Urea 97.8 鈥? 98.6% 57-13-6
Biuret 1.0 鈥? 1.5% 108-19-0
Methylenediurea 0.3 鈥? 0.4% 13547-17-6
Water 0.1 - 0.3% 7732-18-5
Exposure Limits
Component TWA STEL PEL IDLH
Urea, No limits established
Biuret, No limits established
Methylenediurea, No limits established
3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW
White solid, granular form. Urea is odorless. Reacts with sodium hypochlorite or calcium
hypochlorite to form the explosive nitrogen trichloride. When heated, urea releases
ammonia and when heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides
(NOX), ammonia, and cyanuric acid. Use water to control fires involving urea if water is
compatible with burning material. Urea itself is non-flammable.
Page 1 of 5
POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
Primary Routes of Entry: Skin contact/absorption, eye contact, and dust inhalation.
General Acute Exposure: At high dust concentrations, irritation of eyes, skin, and
mucous membranes by chemical or mechanical action may occur.
General Chronic Exposure: No test data available.
Carcinogenicity:
NTP: ........................................................... Not Listed
IARC: ......................................................... Not Listed
OSHA:........................................................ Not Regulated
Medical Conditions Aggravated by Exposure: No test data available.
4. FIRST AID MEASURES
First Aid for Eyes: Flush eyes with copious amounts of tepid water for at least 15
minutes. If irritation, pain, swelling, excessive tearing, or light sensitivity persists, the
patient should be seen in a health care facility.
First Aid for Skin: If irritation occurs, flush exposed area with copious amounts of tepid
water for at least 15 minutes followed by washing area thoroughly with soap and water.
The patient should be seen in a health care facility if irritation or pain persists.
First Aid for Inhalation: If irritation develops move patient to fresh air and monitor. If
cough or difficulty in breathing develops, evaluate for respiratory tract irritation. If trained
to do so, administer supplemental oxygen if needed. If irritation, coughing, or difficulty in
breathing persists the patient should be seen in a health care facility.
First Aid for Ingestion: If conscious, give the patient large quantities of water to drink
and induce vomiting. Seek medical attention.
5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES
Extinguishing Media: Urea is not flammable. Use water to extinguish a fire involving
urea if water is compatible with the burning material.
Special Fire Fighting Procedures:
a. Positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) should be used when
there is a potential for inhalation of vapors and/or fumes.
b. Wear full fire fighting protective equipment that is appropriate for conditions.
Caution:
a. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
b. At elevated temperature, urea may decompose to form cyanuric acid, ammonia,
and/or nitrogen oxides.
Page 2 of 5
6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Spill or Leak Measures: Keep unnecessary people away and isolate spill area. Urea may
be toxic to cattle (ruminants) when ingested.
Determining Spill Size: Generally, a small spill is one that involves a single, small
package or container (i.e. up to a 55 gallon drum), or a small (non-continuing) leak from a
large container.
Small or Large Spill:
a. Spilled urea, wet or dry, may cause slippery conditions.
b. Recover and use as fertilizer.
c. If disposal of product or contaminated by-products is necessary, follow guidelines
set forth by local, state, and federal environmental agencies.
d. Runoff may cause pollution.
7. HANDLING AND STORAGE
No unusual storage precautions are necessary.
Handling Precautions: Use proper personal protective equipment when working with or
around urea (See section 8).
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS, PERSONAL PROTECTION
Respiratory Protection Requirements: A NIOSH approved dust respirator (either single
use or multiple use) should be worn when applicable dust* standards are exceeded.
*Nuisance Dust: PEL: Total 15 mg/m3, respirable 5 mg/m3
Engineering Controls: Adequate ventilation should be available to maintain dust levels
below applicable dust standards.
Skin Protection Requirements: Normally, skin protection should not be required. If
irritation occurs, long sleeves and impervious gloves should be worn.
Eye Protection Requirements: Normally, eye protection should not be required. It is
recommended that if there is a potential for urea to contact eyes that safety glasses or
goggles be used.
Other Protective Equipment: Safety shower and eyewash fountain or at least 5 gallons
of accessible clean water should be provided in a urea handling area.
Page 3 of 5
9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Physical Form: ........................................... Solid granules
Color: ......................................................... White
Odor: .......................................................... Odorless
Boiling Point: ............................................. Does not boil, decomposes at 2750 F (132.70 C)
Melting point:............................................. 275o F (1330 C)
pH:.............................................................. 7.2 鈥? 9.0 (10% solution)
Solubility:................................................... 1,193 g/L @ 250 C
Specific Gravity: ........................................ 1.33
Vapor Density: ........................................... Not applicable
Vapor Pressure: .......................................... Not applicable
% Volatile by Volume: .............................. No test results
Molecular Weight: ..................................... 60.06
Bulk Density: ............................................. 47 lb/ft3 (750 kg/m3)
Critical Temperature: ................................. No test results
Critical Pressure: ........................................ No test results
10. REACTIVITY
Stability: ..................................................... This is a stable material.
Hazardous Polymerization: ........................ Will not occur.
Decomposition: Urea forms ammonia, cyanuric acid, and/or nitrogen oxides (NOx) upon
decomposition.
Incompatibilities: Reacts with sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite to form
nitrogen trichloride, which may explode spontaneously in air. Incompatible with sodium
nitrite, phosphorus pentachloride, and nitrosyl or gallium perchlorate.
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Toxicity
Acute Oral Toxicity
LD50, Rat: ...................................................... 14,300 鈥? 15,000 mg/kg
LD50, Mouse:................................................. 11,500 鈥? 13,000 mg/kg
LD50, Cattle: .................................................. 510 mg/kg
Repeated Dose Toxicity
Rat: ........................................................ NOAEL = 40% in ointment (24 wks; dermal)
Ecotoxicity
Acute Toxicity to Fish
LC50 Barillius barna ............................... 9,100 mg/L (96 hr)
Acute Toxicity to Aquatic Invertebrates
EC50 Daphnia magna.............................. >10,000 mg/L (DIN 38412 Part II; 24 hr)
Toxicity to Aquatic Plants
TT Scenedesmus quadracauda ............ >10,000 mg/L (192 hr cell multiplication
inhibition test)
Source: TFI Product Testing Program April 2003
Page 4 of 5
12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Notify local health and wildlife officials and operators of any nearby water intakes of
contamination or discharge into or leading to waterways.
Note: See Ecotoxicity information in section 11.
13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
Urea is not listed by the Federal EPA as a hazardous waste. Consult state/provincial and
local environmental agencies for acceptable disposal methods. Recover product for use as
a fertilizer if possible.
14. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Urea is not listed by any U.S. or Canadian transportation authority as a hazardous material
and as such, no specific information is available.
15. REGULATORY INFORMATION
SARA TITLE III: Not Listed
CERCLA Hazardous Substances List: Not Listed
TSCA Inventory: Listed
16. OTHER INFORMATION
Nov. 5, 1996: The MSDS was rewritten to comply with ANSI Standard Z400.1-1993.
July 1, 2003: Added toxicity information from the TFI Product Testing Program April 2003.
Sept. 14, 2006: Reviewed and reissued without revisions.
The information and recommendations herein are taken from data contained in independent,
industry-recognized references including but not limited to NIOSH, OSHA, CHRIS, the TFI
Product Testing Program, and SAX鈥檚 Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials - ninth edition.
Terra Industries Inc. makes no guarantee, warranty or other representation concerning this
substance, since conditions of its use are beyond the control of the company. Terra Industries Inc.
disclaims any liability for loss or damage incurred in connection with the use of this substance.
Page 5 of 5
|