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Calcium hydroxide dust

Airborne calcium hydroxide powder or dust generated during handling, conveying, or processing of hydrated lime.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

caustic irritationeye irritationskin irritationupper respiratory tract irritationmucous-membrane irritationdermatitismutagenicity concern

Evidence

The current NIOSH Pocket Guide identifies calcium hydroxide as white, odorless powder and reports eye, skin, and upper-respiratory irritation, burns, skin vesiculation, cough, bronchitis, and pneumonitis.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Exposure Limits; Physical Description; Exposure Routes; Symptoms · 1
Physical Description White, odorless powder. Exposure Routes inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact. Symptoms irritation eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; eye, skin burns; skin vesiculation; cough, bronchitis, pneumonitis.

NIOSH’s archived occupational-exposure page describes calcium hydroxide as a crystalline powder and reports moderate-to-severe caustic irritation on the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory mucosa, dermatitis, and concern for skin, eye, and mucous-membrane irritation at exposures above the discussed limit.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Health effects and final rule · 2
Calcium hydroxide is a moderate to severe caustic irritant when it comes in contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract ... it is a well-known eye, skin, and upper respiratory tract irritant.

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