Iron oxide (Fe2O3)

Synonyms

11554 Red; Anchred standard; Anhydrous iron oxide; Anhydrous oxide of iron; Armenian bole; Bauxite residue; Black oxide of iron; Blended red oxides of iron; Burnt sienna; Burnt umber; Burntisland Red; C.I. 77491; C.I. Pigment Red 101; C.I. Pigment Red 101 and 102; C.I. Pigment Red 102; CI 77491; Calcotone Red; Caput mortuum; Colcothar; Colloidal ferric oxide; Crocus martis adstringens; Deanox; Deanox DNX Pigments; Eisenoxyd; English Red; Ferric oxide; Ferric oxide (colloidal); Ferric sesquioxide; Ferrugo; Hematite mineral; Indian red; Iron Oxide Red; Iron Red; Iron oxide; Iron oxide (Fe2O3); Iron oxide pigments; Iron sesquioxide; Iron trioxide; Iron(III) oxide; Jeweler's rouge; Jewelers rouge; Levanox Red 130A; Light Red; Manufactured iron oxides; Mars Brown; Mars Red; Natural Red Oxide; Natural hematite; Natural iron oxides; Ochre; Pigment Red 101; Prussian Brown; Quick rouge; Raddle; Red Iron Oxide; Red ochre; Red oxide; Red oxide D3452; Red oxide D6984; Red oxide of iron; Rouge; Rubigo; Sienna; Sienna brown; Specular iron; Stone Red; Supra; Synthetic iron oxide; Venetian Red; Vitriol Red; Vogel's Iron Red; Yellow ferric oxide; Yellow oxide of iron; [ChemIDplus] UN1376

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Reddish-brown solid; Note: Exposure to fume may occur during the arc-welding of iron; [NIOSH] Insoluble in water; [CHEMINFO]

Sources/Uses

Iron oxide is used in pigments, abrasives (jeweler's rouge), and magnetic tapes. Exposure can occur in mining, smelting, grinding steel, polishing, and welding; [ACGIH]

Comments

Iron dust or fume can cause a benign pneumoconiosis called siderosis after exposure to high levels (e.g., 10-700 mg/m3) over a prolonged period of time. "Little or no clinical changes have been reported in workers diagnosed with pulmonary siderosis. There is no evidence that iron oxide alone can cause fibrotic changes." Recent animal studies have shown iron oxide in the lung can cause a mild inflammatory response. [ACGIH] See "Iron salts, soluble." See "Iron oxide (FeO)."

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

Yes

5 mg/m3, respirable fraction

10 mg/m3, fume

2500 mg/m3, as Fe

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

The available toxicological data contain no evidence that an acute exposure to a high concentration of iron oxide dust and fume would impede escape or cause any irreversible health effects within 30 minutes. However, the revised IDLH for iron oxide dust and fume is 2,500 mg Fe/m3 based on being 500 times the NIOSH REL of 5 mg Fe/m3 (500 is an assigned protection factor for respirators and was used arbitrarily during the Standards Completion Program for deciding when the "most protective" respirators should be used for particulates).

Explanatory Notes

Iron Melting Point = 2664 degrees F; "Iron oxide, spent" is spontaneously combustible. [CAMEO] The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "iron oxide, spent."

Not classifiable

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Pneumoconioses, benign

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Abrasive Blasting
• Cement Producing
• Metal Extraction and Refining
• Metal Preparation and Pouring
• Mining
• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides)
• Steel Producing
• Welding