Exposing yourself to health hazardous acids by using products like PH down.

[Fingerling]

Upon trying to find what are the ways people bring down PH other then using peat, KH lowering substrate, i came across a product also known as PH down to many.

Basically products like these consists of one of these 2 acids.

1) Sulphuric acid
2) Phosphoric acid

As i went to look up more about these acids, i came across a product from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

As below, this is taken from the product MSDS of API PH down.

PH DOWN
Chemwatch Material Safety Data Sheet CHEMWATCH 4650-11
Issue Date: Thu 6-Oct-2005 CD 2005/3 Page 1 of 14
Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
PRODUCT NAME
PH DOWN
STATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS NATURE
CONSIDERED A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE ACCORDING TO OSHA 29 CFR
1910.1200.
SUPPLIER
Company: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Company: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Address: Address:
50 East Hamilton Street PO Box 218
Chalfont Chalfont
PA, 18914 PA, 18914-0218
USA USA
Telephone: +1 215 822 8181 Telephone: +1 215 822 8181
Emergency Tel: +1800 222 1222 (US Only)
PRODUCT USE
pH adjust for products 29 and 30.
SYNONYMS
"Solution ID# 3183", "ph adjust"
Section 2 - COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
NAME CAS RN %
sulfuric acid 7664-93-9 <10
Section 3 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW
RISK
Harmful by inhalation.
Irritating to eyes and skin.
May produce discomfort of the respiratory system*.

Possible cancer-causing agent following repeated inhalation*.

*(limited evidence)

continued...
PH DOWN
Chemwatch Material Safety Data Sheet CHEMWATCH 4650-11
Issue Date: Thu 6-Oct-2005 CD 2005/3 Page 2 of 14
Section 3 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS
SWALLOWED
The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects following
ingestion (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse systemic
effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other
route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum.
EYE
This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.
The material may produce severe irritation to the eye causing pronounced
inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce
conjunctivitis.
SKIN
This material can cause inflammation of the skin on
contact in some persons.
Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material
may still produce health damage following entry
through wounds, lesions or abrasions.
The material may cause severe skin irritation after prolonged or repeated
exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of
vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin. Repeated exposures may produce
severe ulceration.
Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions,
may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the
use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.
INHALED
There is some evidence to suggest that this material, if inhaled, can irritate
the throat and lungs of some persons.
The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's
response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.
CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS
On the basis of limited epidemiological or animal data, it has been concluded
that prolonged inhalation of the material, in an occupational setting, may
produce cancer in humans.
Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact and eye contact.
Prolonged or continuous skin contact with the liquid may cause defatting with
drying, cracking, irritation and dermatitis following. As with any chemical
product, contact with unprotected bare skin; inhalation of vapor, mist or dust
in work place atmosphere; or ingestion in any form, should be avoided by
observing good occupational work practice.

[Fingerling]

As for Phosphorus acid,

Inhalation: Breathing of vapor or mist is possible. Breathing this material may be harmful or fatal. Symptoms may include severe irritation and burns to the nose, throat, and respiratory tract.

sourced from: http://www.hillbrothers.com/msds/pdf...horic-acid.pdf


so i was wondering, by using these products long term in our aquarium, are we actually exposing ourselves and our family to these kind of health hazards?


Would love to hear your thoughts.

[SCOPE]

Thanks for sharing! Good stuff

[Jitticus]

A note on the MSDS (material safety data sheet) of chemicals. They list the possible dangers and possible side effects.

More often than not, everything we use is dangerous. What makes it more dangerous to some compared others is the person handling it.

A safe and civic minded driver is no more dangerous than a puppy. A rekless and aggressive driver is a living weapon.

Water is dangerous if consumed in copious amounts - we know it can kill.
Alcohol is known as a possible carcinogen as well - we still use it as a handwash.

The point is this - exercise care in handling all chemicals and you will be alright. Hope this makes sense. pH down is no more toxic than the bleach and disinfectants we use everyday.

[Fingerling]

A note on the MSDS (material safety data sheet) of chemicals. They list the possible dangers and possible side effects.

More often than not, everything we use is dangerous. What makes it more dangerous to some compared others is the person handling it.

A safe and civic minded driver is no more dangerous than a puppy. A rekless and aggressive driver is a living weapon.

Water is dangerous if consumed in copious amounts - we know it can kill.
Alcohol is known as a possible carcinogen as well - we still use it as a handwash.

Couldnt agree with you more on this, but the disinfectants/ detergents we use do come with a netralising agent.

Example -

Brand ingredients
Ace Powder
Surfactant(s) (unspecified), Sodium carbonate, Cellulase, Subtilisin (proteolytic enzyme), Alkyl - benzenesulfonic acid, sodium salt

taken from : http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.co...rgentchart.htm

As stated for here, sodium salt and sodium carbonate.

Bleach would be dangerous when it comes under contact with chlorine, releasing chlorine gas that are toxic.

Actually, there are some people that deal directly with powder acids like sodium bisulphate to lower PH in their aquariums. Hopefully they would share how they handle such acid products.

[darry]

Ways to bring PH UP
1) sodium bicarbonate
2) Coral Chips
3) Regular Water change if the PH drop below 6

Ways to bring PH DOWN
1) Peat
2) Injection of CO2
3) Create higher bioload, more waste and PH will go down due to the breakdown process
4) Driftwood give out tanic acid, similar to blackwater substance
5) Regular Water change if the PH increase above 8

Most important is to ensure the consistency of the PH, if it stay at 6 and always remains at 6, plus a little fluctuation during water change, then it is fine so long as the fish accepted this conditions.

However, to increase PH by more than 2 factor each time will be shocking, if not deadly to the livestock.