SDS

Safety Data Sheet
Portland Cement
© TCC Materials
Version 1.1
Page 10 of 11
Section 16: Other Information
Additional information on the products is available at. www.tccmaterials.com
Date of Preparation: September 5, 2017
Version: 1.0
Additional information regarding Portland cement:
Wet Portland cement can cause burned to unprotected skin, sometimes referred to as
cement burns. Cement burns may result in blisters, dead or hardened skin, or black or
green skin. In severe cases, these burns may extend to the bone and cause disfiguring
scars or disability.
Employees cannot rely on pain or discomfort to alert them to cement burns because
cement burns may not cause immediate pain or discomfort. By time an employee
becomes aware of a cement burn, much damage has already been done. Accordingly,
the safest method to use Portland cement is to avoid contact with exposed skin
completely. Cement burns can get worse even after skin contact with cement has ended.
Any employee experiencing a cement burn is advised to see a health professional
immediately.
Skin contact with wet Portland cement can also cause inflammation of the skin, referred
to as dermatitis. Signs and symptoms of dermatitis can include itching, redness, swelling,
blisters, scaling, and other changes in the normal condition of the skin. Contact with wet
Portland cement can cause a non-allergic form of dermatitis (called irritant contact
dermatitis) which is related to the caustic, abrasive, and drying properties of Portland
cement.
In addition, hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] which may be found in Portland cement in trace
amounts, can cause an allergic form of dermatitis (allergic contact dermatitis, or ACD) in
sensitized employees who work with wet Portland cement. When an employee is
sensitized, that person’s immune system overreacts to small amounts of Cr(VI), which
can lead to severe inflammatory reactions upon subsequent exposures. Sensitization
may result from a single Cr(VI) exposure, from repeated exposure over the course of
months or years, or it may trigger ACD. ACD is long-lasting and employees can remain
sensitized to Cr(VI) years after their exposure to Portland cement has ended. Medical
tests (e.g. skin patch tests) are available that can confirm whether an employee has
become dermally sensitized to Cr(VI)
Employees who work with wet Portland cement and experience skin problems, including
seemingly minor ones, are advised to see a health care professional for evaluation and
treatment. In cement-related dermatitis, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent
chronic skin problems.