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Chemical Identification/RIDS <br />Chemical Name: SULFUR DIOXIDE <br />Regulatory Name: SULFUR DIOXIDE (ANHYDROUS) <br />SULFUR DIOXIDE <br />NFPA Codes F: <br />0 NFPA Codes H: 3 NFPA Codes R: 0 NFPA Codes S: <br />Formula: <br />SO2 <br />DOT: <br />POISON GAS, CORROSIVE <br />UN Num: <br />1079 <br />Sec 112R: <br />❑i CAATQ: 5000 <br />313: ❑ <br />EHS: <br />❑ EHSTPQ:500 <br />RCRA: <br />CERCLA: <br />❑ RQ: 500 <br />CHRIS: SFD <br />CAS: 7446-09-5 STCC: 4920508 <br />General Description <br />A colorless gas with a choking or suffocating odor. Boiling point -10°C. Heavier. than air. Very toxic by inhalation and may irritate the eyes <br />and mucous membranes. Under prolonged exposure to fire or heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. Used to manufacture <br />chemicals, in paper pulping, in metal and food processing. <br />Rate of onset: Immediate & Delayed <br />Persistence: Minutes to hours <br />Odor threshold: 1 ppm <br />Source/use/other hazard: Disinfectant and preserving in breweries and food/canning; textile industry; batteries <br />CRIMINAL/TERRORIST USE OF CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL AGENTS <br />The following is intended to supply information to first responders for use in making a preliminary assessment of a situation that they <br />suspect involves criminal/terrorist use of chemical and/or biological (CB) agents. To aid in the assessment, a list of observable indicators <br />of the use and/or presence of a CB agent is provided in the following paragraphs. <br />This preamble about differences goes into indicators section of bio and chem. databases <br />DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A CHEMICAL AND A BIOLOGICAL AGENT <br />Chemical and biological agents can be dispersed in the air we breathe, the water we drink, or on surfaces we physically contact. <br />Dispersion methods may be as simple as opening a container, using conventional (garden) spray devices, or as elaborate as detonating an <br />improvised explosive device. <br />Chemical Incidents are characterized by the rapid onset of medical symptoms (minutes to hours) and easily observed signatures (colored <br />residue, dead foliage, pungent odor, dead insects and animals). <br />Biological Incidents are characterized by the onset of symptoms in hours to days. Typically, there will be no characteristic signatures <br />because biological agents are usually odorless and colorless. Because of the delayed onset of symptoms in a biological incident, the area <br />affected may be greater due to the movement of infected individuals. <br />INDICATORS OF A POSSIBLE CHEMICAL INCIDENT <br />Dead animals/birds/fish <br />Not just an occasional road kill, but numerous animals (wild and domestic, small and large), birds, and fish in the same area. <br />Lack of insect life <br />If normal insect activity (ground, air, and/or water) is missing, check the ground/water surface/shore line for dead insects. If near water, <br />check for dead fish/aquatic birds. <br />Unexplained odors <br />Smells may range from fruity to flowery to sharp/pungent to garlic/ horseradish -like to bitter almonds/peach kernels to new mown hay. It is <br />important to note that the particular odor is completely out of character with its surroundings. <br />Unusual numbers of dying or sick people (mass casualties) <br />6/12/2007 Printed from CAMEO Page 1 <br />