Calcium cyanamide

Synonyms

Abstem; Aero cyanamid granular; Aero cyanamid special grade; Aero-cyanamid; Alzodef; CCC; CY-L 500; Calcii carbimidum [INN-Latin]; Calcium carbimide; Calcium cyanamide; Calciumcarbimidum; Carbimida calcica [INN-Spanish]; Carbimide calcique [INN-French]; Carbodimid calcium; Cyanamide calcique [French]; Cyanamide, calcium salt (1:1); Dipsan; Dormex; Lime nitrogen; Lime-nitrogen; Nitrogen lime; Nitrolime; Perlka; USAF CY-2; [ChemIDplus] UN1403

Category

Cyanamides

Description

Colorless, gray, or black crystals or powder (fertilizer); Note: Commercial grades may contain calcium carbide; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used to manufacture calcium cyanide and dicyandiamide; used to desulfurize specialty steels; [ACGIH]

Comments

Commercial grade calcium cyanamide decomposes in water to release ammonia and acetylene. Calcium cyanamide is a skin irritant and potential sensitizer. An antabuse-like reaction may occur in exposed workers who drink alcohol. [ACGIH] On contact with water, may produce corrosive solutions; [CAMEO] Solutions may be corrosive to eyes; In animal experiments, the dry form is not irritating, but solutions may cause severe irritation after 24 hours of contact; [CHEMINFO] An irritant; Harmful if swallowed; [MSDSonline]

"The product is no longer used as a defoliant, fertilizer, or herbicide." [ACGIH]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

0.5 mg/m3

1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction

LC50 (rat) > 150 mg/m3/4h

Explanatory Notes

The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Calcium cyanamide, with more than 0.1% Calcium carbide."

may ignite at ambient temp

Yes

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Steel Producing