| Agent Name |
Calcium carbonate |
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| CAS Number |
471-34-1, 1317-65-3 |
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| Formula |
C-H2-O3.Ca |
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| Major Category |
Mineral Dusts |
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| Synonyms |
Natural calcium carbonate; Calcium salt of carbonic acid; Vaterite; [NIOSH] Agricultural limestone; Aragonite; Atomite; Calcite; Carbonic acid, calcium salt; Chalk; Dolomite; Limestone; Marble; Whiting; [CHEMINFO] |
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| Category |
Other Mineral Dusts |
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| Description |
White, odorless powder or colorless crystals; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Calcium carbonate occurs in nature as limestone, chalk, marble, dolomite, aragonite, calcite and oyster shells. [NIOSH] Natural calcium carbonate can be found in the minerals calcite and aragonite (limestone, chalk, and marble). [Harber, p. 354] Calcium carbonate is used in the manufacture of quicklime, Portland cement, and paints. Pharmaceutical grades are used in cosmetics, foods, and drugs. [ACGIH] Used in paints, rubber, plastics, ceramics, polishes, inks, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, etc. [CHEMINFO] Used for "whiting" in glassblowing; [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html] |
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| Comments |
No adverse effects associated with exposure to calcium carbonate have been identified. [Harber, p. 354] Important natural forms are calcite and aragonite, which may be contaminated with magnesium, iron, chromium, manganese, sulfur, zinc, lead, and sometimes crystalline silica. Chemically produced calcium carbonate is 98-99% pure. [CHEMINFO] |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Not evaluated |
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| TLV (ACGIH) | (for 471-34-1) |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
15 mg/m3(total dust), 5 mg/m3(respirable fraction) |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Adopted Documentation and TLVs were withdrawn in 2007 due to insufficient data. [ACGIH] |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: CALCIUM CARBONATE
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