SDS for Sodium Thiosulfate: Comprehensive Safety Data Sheet
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Sodium thiosulfate is an FDA-approved material for specific medical scenarios but also sees use in photography, dyeing, and water purification. Companies using this material must provide access to safety data sheets (SDS) for sodium thiosulfate to ensure they comply with federal and OSHA standards. However, if you need a summary of the safety data sheet info, we can provide it.

Below, you will find accessible information to help you understand what chemical safety guidelines are needed for such a material. So, read on to learn more about the handling, storage, and safety rules for interacting with sodium thiosulfate. Discover many of the chemical properties you need to be aware of and how you should ensure people work with it moving forward.

Summary of the SDS for Sodium Thiosulfate

Under the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), this material has no specific hazards that an SDS needs to list. Despite this, there are sodium thiosulfate properties you should include in an SDS, including:

Chemical name: sodium thiosulfate

CAS number: 7772-98-7

Chemical formula: Na2O3S2

Synonyms: 

  • Sodium thiosulphate
  • Sodium thiosulfate anhydrous
  • Sodium hyposulfite
  • “Hypo”
  • Sodium thiosulfate crystal
  • Prismatic rice

Physical state: Powder

Color: White

Health Hazards and Safety Precautions

A well-managed SDS system will ensure that people handling the material learn the nuances of sodium thiosulfate’s dangers. While the SDS for sodium thiosulfate does not list specific hazards, hazardous reactions with several other chemicals exist. Such chemicals include:

  • Nitrates
  • Nitrites
  • Peroxi compounds
  • Strong oxidizing agents

The above chemicals may lead to a risk of explosion when exposed to sodium thiosulfate.

The following materials may also react violently with sodium thiosulfate:

  • Fluorine
  • Acids

As such, ensure you use and store the chemical separately from these materials.

Sodium Thiosulfate Handling and Storage

The SDS for sodium thiosulfate specifies that you must keep the material in a tightly closed, dry container in a dry location. You then need to place this container away from acids, as these may react with the chemical.

When not using the sodium thiosulfate, keep the container closed and avoid contamination with oxidizing agents. These can cause a reaction when combined.

Sodium thiosulfate is a “combustible solid,” so always keep it away from flames or other heat sources. You should also prevent the container from receiving damage to avoid spills.

Exposure Procedures for Sodium Thiosulfate

Sodium thiosulfate may irritate the:

  • Skin
  • Eyes
  • Respiratory tract

As such, advice on what to do after exposure to this material includes:

If someone inhales sodium thiosulfate, move the person immediately to a location with fresh air. 

Should a person start to choke or suffocate, or if any other symptoms persist, seek medical attention straight away.

If someone gets the material on their skin, wash the area with copious amounts of soap and water. Remove any exposed clothes, too, and wash them before continued use. 

If discomfort persists at all, seek medical attention.

If the chemical contacts someone’s eyes, flush them immediately with water. Ensure the person continues to flush their eyes for at least 15 minutes, remove their contact lenses after five minutes, and then continue to flush their eyes. 

If irritation persists, seek medical attention, as it may suggest long-term harm.

If someone swallows sodium thiosulfate, rinse their mouth with water if they are conscious. Then, they should drink at least one glass of water. 

Do not induce vomiting. Instead, seek medical attention and follow the advice of the person you find.

If the individual seems to have other long-term effects, treat them on a case-by-case basis, depending on their symptoms.

Sodium Thiosulfate Precautions

Do not breathe in any dust or mist created by sodium thiosulfate. To aid with this, use adequate ventilation in any location where you are handling the material. Also, ensure you wash yourself and the area after handling it to prevent contamination.

If you plan to dissolve or mix the chemical with other materials, be aware of the following:

Anhydrous materials: The reaction is exothermic. You can expect the resulting solution to heat up.

Hydrate materials: The reaction is endothermic. You can expect the resulting solution to cool down.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Make sure that you use the following equipment to ensure your safety:

Eye/face: Use safety goggles or a face mask with side protection. 

Skin: Wear gloves that offer protection from sodium thiosulfate and are not made from an incompatible material. Examples include nitrile rubber of at least 0.1mm.

Be aware that the breakthrough time for these gloves is approximately 480 minutes. As such, ensure that you change them after this time.

When you have finished handling the material, especially if your skin becomes exposed, take recovery periods to allow your skin to regenerate.

Respiratory tract: Sodium thiosulfate is prone to forming dust particles. As such, ensure you use appropriate respiratory protection to prevent this from entering the lungs.

Spill, Leak, and Disposal Procedures

In general, you should keep sodium thiosulfate away from:

When disposing of empty containers, do so only after ensuring that you have absorbed excess materials first. In general, handle contaminated materials like you would handle the chemical itself.

Contact your local waste disposal services to inquire about what you should do with any material you have.

Firefighting Measures

If the material becomes involved in a fire, you may use any of the following extinguishing media to help manage the situation:

When a fire occurs, the combustion process may create sulfur oxides. Be aware of this when considering the full effects of the fire.

When firefighters appear, make sure to give them access to the SDS. This way, you can ensure they have all the available information to help with their process. 

Keeping Safety at the Forefront With KHA

The safe handling of sodium thiosulfate is critical to ensure safety in the workplace. As such, having an up-to-date SDS for sodium thiosulfate can help you comply with regulations and prevent harm to yourself and others in the workplace.

KHA offers a comprehensive SDS management service to ensure that you can maintain safety when handling sodium thiosulfate and many other materials. Prioritize your workplace safety. Contact KHA today to learn more about what we can offer you and offer your team the best tools to manage risks when handling chemicals.