Calcium hydroxide

Synonyms

Bell mine; Biocalc; Calbit; Calcium dihydroxide; Calcium hydrate; Caldic 1000; Calvit; Carboxide; Hydralime; Hydrated lime; Kalkhydrate; Kemikal; Kentoku K 100; Limbux; Lime hydrate; Lime milk; Lime water; Milk of lime; NICC 3000; Rhenofit CF; Sa 074; Slaked lime; Super Microstar; Yukijirushisakanyo; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Bases

Description

White, odorless powder; Note: Readily absorbs CO2 from the air to form calcium carbonate; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in mortar, plaster, cement, lubricants, drilling fluids, paper pulp, and water treatment; also used to dehair hides; [ACGIH] Used in pesticides, fireproofing coatings, water-based paints, SBR rubber vulcanization, binding and paving materials, soil treatments, brewing manufacture, dental cements, petrochemicals, as chemical intermediate, buffering agent for metals, pearls, and celluloid, disinfectant, food additive, for ammonia recovery in gas manufacture, purification of sugar juices, to preserve eggs and apples during storage, in cattle feeds, and veterinary medicine; [HSDB] Used as both an inert and active ingredient (microbiocide/microbiostat) in pesticide products; [EPA REDs] Used as a nutritional supplement, pH control agent, firming agent, and processing aid for foods; [FDA]

Comments

A moderately caustic irritant; [ACGIH] Can cause skin burns and blisters; [ICSC] Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Causes burns; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

5 mg/m3

15 mg/m3(total dust), 5 mg/m3(respirable fraction)

1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Cement Producing
• Farming (Feed Additives)
• Farming (Pesticides)
• Leather Tanning and Processing
• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides)
• Petroleum Production and Refining
• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Sewer and Wastewater Treatment
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides