Lead azide (Pb(N3)2)

H200: (Deleted) Unstable Explosive [Danger Explosives]

H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

H332: Harmful if inhaled [Warning Acute toxicity, inhalation]

H360Df: May damage the unborn child; Suspected of damaging fertility [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H373 **: May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

H400: Very toxic to aquatic life [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]

H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]

P201, P202, P203, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P281, P301+P317, P304+P340, P317, P318, P319, P330, P372, P373, P380, P391, P401, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H201: (Deleted) Explosive; mass explosion hazard [Danger Explosives]

P203, P210, P230, P240, P250, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P317, P304+P340, P317, P318, P319, P330, P370+P380, P372, P373, P391, P401, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H200 (85.1%): (Deleted) Unstable Explosive [Danger Explosives]

H201 (14.9%): (Deleted) Explosive; mass explosion hazard [Danger Explosives]

H302 (100%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

H332 (100%): Harmful if inhaled [Warning Acute toxicity, inhalation]

H360 (89.4%): May damage fertility or the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H360Df (10.6%): May damage the unborn child; Suspected of damaging fertility [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H373 (100%): May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

H400 (100%): Very toxic to aquatic life [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]

H410 (100%): Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]

P201, P202, P203, P210, P230, P240, P250, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P281, P301+P317, P304+P340, P317, P318, P319, P330, P370+P380, P372, P373, P380, P391, P401, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 47 reports by companies from 12 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

H350: May cause cancer [Danger Carcinogenicity]

H360: May damage fertility or the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H370: Causes damage to organs [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure]

H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

P201, P202, P203, P260, P264, P270, P280, P281, P308+P316, P318, P319, P321, P372, P373, P380, P401, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H341: Suspected of causing genetic defects [Warning Germ cell mutagenicity]

H351: Suspected of causing cancer [Warning Carcinogenicity]

H373: May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]

P201, P202, P203, P260, P264, P270, P273, P280, P281, P301+P317, P318, P319, P330, P372, P373, P380, P391, P401, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 112 [Explosives - Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.5]:

Refer to the "General First Aid" section. (ERG, 2024)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 112 [Explosives - Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.5]:

CARGO FIRE: DO NOT fight fire when fire reaches cargo! Cargo may EXPLODE! Stop all traffic and clear the area for at least 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions and let burn. Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat.

TIRE OR VEHICLE FIRE: Use plenty of water - FLOOD it! If water is not available, use CO2, dry chemical or dirt. If possible, and WITHOUT RISK, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles from maximum distance to prevent fire from spreading to cargo area. Pay special attention to tire fires as re-ignition may occur. Stand by, at a safe distance, with extinguisher ready for possible re-ignition. (ERG, 2024)

If material on fire or involved in fire: Dangerously explosive. Do not fight fires in a cargo of explosives. Evacuate area and let burn. /Lead azide, wetted/

Evacuation: If the material is on fire or involved in fire consider evacuation of one (1) mile radius. /Lead azide, wetted/

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material. /Lead azide, wetted/

The primary hazard is blast where the entire load can explode instantaneously and not from flying projectiles and fragments. /Lead azide, wetted/

Excerpt from ERG Guide 112 [Explosives - Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.5]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 500 meters (1/3 mile) in all directions.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.

FIRE: If rail car or trailer is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, initiate evacuation including emergency responders for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

If material not on fire and not involved in fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep spilled material wet. Wet spilled material before picking it up. Do not attempt to sweep up dry material. /Lead azide, wetted/

Personnel protection: Avoid breathing dusts, and fumes from burning material ... Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water. /Lead azide, wetted/

Future accumulations of lead-azide and copper-azide can be retarded by thoroughly flushing the drains /where sodium azide is discharged/ with copious amounts of water several times a day. Use of plumbing free of lead or copper or of reagents that do not contain azides are recommended. Procedures for decontaminating plumbing that currently contain explosive azides are given.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 112 [Explosives - Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.5]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. DO NOT OPERATE RADIO TRANSMITTERS WITHIN 100 METERS (330 FEET) OF ELECTRIC DETONATORS. DO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST. (ERG, 2024)

Biological Exposure Indices (BEI) [ACGIH] - Lead in blood = 200 ug/L (20 ug/100 ml); sampling time not critical; [ACGIH]

0.05 [mg/m3], as Pb

8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 0.05 mg/cu m. /Lead and inorganic compounds, as Pb/

Excursion Limit Recommendation: Excursions in worker exposure levels may exceed 3 times the TLV-TWA for no more than a total of 30 minutes during a work day, and under no circumstances should they exceed 5 times the TLV-TWA, provided that the TLV-TWA is not exceeded. /Lead and inorganic compounds, as Pb/

A3; Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans. /Lead and inorganic compounds, as Pb/

Biological Exposure Index (BEI): Determinant: lead in blood; Sampling Time: not critical; BEI: 30 ug/100 mL. [Note: Women of child bearing potential, whose blood Pb exceeds 10 ug/dL, are at risk of delivering a child with a blood Pb over the current Centers for Disease Control guideline of 10 ug/dL. If the blood Pb of such children remains elevated, they may be at increased risk of cognitive deficits. The blood Pb of these children should be closely monitored and appropriate steps should be taken to minimize the child's exposure to environmental lead.] /Lead/

Chronic Inhalation: 0.05 mg/m3 (L134)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 112 [Explosives - Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 or 1.5]:

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection. (ERG, 2024)

Wear appropriate chemical protective gloves and goggles. /Lead azide, wetted/

Lead azide appears as needles or white powder. Explodes at 350 °C. Insoluble in water. May explode from shock, heat, flame or friction when dry. The primary hazard is the blast effect of an instantaneous explosion and not flying projectiles and fragments.

White needles or powder; [CAMEO]

Needles or white powder

Colorless orthorhombic needles

Decomposes at 190 °C

Freely sol in acetic acid; insol in ammonium hydroxide

In water, 0.023% at 18 °C, 0.09% at 70 °C

4.7 g/cu cm

Explodes on percussion.

Develops a brown film when exposed to sunlight.

Lead azide has a good shelf life in dry conditions, but is unstable in the presence of moisture, oxidizing agents, and ammonia.

Lead azide decomposes at 250 °C.

Explodes at around 350 °C

Heat of formation: +110.5 kcal/mol at 25 °C

Other Uses -> Explosives

Insoluble in water.

Azo, Diazo, Azido, Hydrazine, and Azide Compounds

Explosive

LEAD AZIDE is unstable. May, when dry, decompose explosively if shocked, heated or subjected to friction. Forms violently explosive products with carbon disulfide. Can be sensitized to explosive decomposition by metal salts (copper or zinc) or by traces of strong acids [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 298]. An explosion occurred by mixing lead azide with 0.5% of calcium stearate, [MCA Case History No. 949].

Mixtures with calcium stearate may explode spontaneously. May explode spontaneously after prolonged contact with copper, zinc, or their alloys (e.g., brass). Incompatible with /carbon disulfide/.

Lead mimics other biologically important metals, such as zinc, calcium, and iron, competing as cofactors for many of their respective enzymatic reactions. For example, lead has been shown to competitively inhibit calcium's binding of calmodulin, interferring with neurotransmitter release. It exhibits similar competitive inhibition at the NMDA receptor and protein kinase C, which impairs brain microvascular formation and function, as well as alters the blood-brain barrier. Lead also affects the nervous system by impairing regulation of dopamine synthesis and blocking evoked release of acetylcholine. However, it's main mechanism of action occurs by inhibiting delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, an enzyme vital in the biosynthesis of heme, which is a necesssary cofactor of hemoglobin. (T4, A20, A22, L136)

2A, probably carcinogenic to humans. (L135)

Lead is a neurotoxin and has been known to cause brain damage and reduced cognitive capacity, especially in children. Lead exposure can result in nephropathy, as well as blood disorders such as high blood pressure and anemia. Lead also exhibits reproductive toxicity and can results in miscarriages and reduced sperm production. (L21)

Oral (L136) ; inhalation (L136); dermal (L136)

Symptions of chronic lead poisoning include reduced cognitive abilities, nausea, abdominal pain, irritability, insomnia, metal taste in the mouth, excess lethargy or hyperactivity, chest pain, headache and, in extreme cases, seizures, comas, and death. There are also associated gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, which are common in acute poisoning. (A2, L21)

Neurotoxin - Predominantly motor

Occupational hepatotoxin - Secondary hepatotoxins: the potential for toxic effect in the occupational setting is based on cases of poisoning by human ingestion or animal experimentation.

Nephrotoxin - The chemical is potentially toxic to the kidneys in the occupational setting.

Other Poison - Chemical Asphyxiant

Reproductive Toxin - A chemical that is toxic to the reproductive system, including defects in the progeny and injury to male or female reproductive function. Reproductive toxicity includes developmental effects. See Guidelines for Reproductive Toxicity Risk Assessment.

IARC Carcinogen - Class 2: International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies chemicals as probable (2a), or possible (2b) human carcinogens.

Lead poisoning is usually treated with chelation therapy using DMSA, EDTA, or dimercaprol. (L21)

/SRP:/ Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. /Lead and related compounds/

/SRP:/ Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway, if needed). Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with 0.9% saline (NS) during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Administer activated charcoal ... . /Lead and related compounds/

/SRP:/ Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious or is in severe respiratory distress. Moderate hyperventilation (20 respiration per minute) may be beneficial for increased intracranial pressure. Start IV administration of 0.9% saline (NS) or lactated Ringer's (LR) /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. For hypotension ... . Treat seizures with diazepam or lorazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Lead and related compounds/

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ ... Long-term use of lead azide and lead styphnate as primary explosives has resulted in lead contamination at artillery and firing ranges and become a major health hazard and environmental problem for both military and civilian personnel...

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Sodium-azide, a common preservative used in automatic blood counters ... was associated with a number of violent explosions at hospitals in the United States and Canada. These were due primarily to azides accumulating in the drains and plumbing. After completing the blood count procedure, the waste (containing azide) was usually flushed into a drain, bathing the drain with solutions of sodium-azide. Over a period of time, the azide reacted with copper, lead, brass, or solder in the plumbing system to form an accumulation of lead-azide or copper-azide.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Lead azide (dry); FORBIDDEN[49 CFR 172.101 (USDOT); U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of June 7, 2010: http://www.ecfr.gov]

UN 0129; Lead azide, wetted with not less than 20 percent water or mixture of alcohol and water, by mass.[49 CFR 172.101 (USDOT); U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Available from, as of June 7, 2010: http://www.ecfr.gov]

Explosive 1.1A