If handled improperly (in pure form), some salts of EDTA (e.g., high pH tetrasodium EDTA) may cause severe irritation of the eye which may result in permanent impairment of vision and even blindness. Prolonged skin contact may cause slight irritation which may become more severe if skin is scratched or cut. Other salts are essentially non-irritating to the skin. The difference in irritation is based on the pH and the residual salts.
Although all of the salts of EDTA have low toxicity if ingested, swallowing of some of the extremely high or low pH salts may result in gastrointestinal irritation or ulceration and burns of the mouth and throat. Do not induce vomiting. Give one cup (8 ounces or 240 ml) of water or milk and transport to a medical facility. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
EDTA chelating agents typically exist as aqueous solutions (although some are sold as dry powders or crystals), so the vapors are primarily water and not hazardous. However, mists of the solution may cause irritation of the nose and throat. Aspiration can cause damage to the lungs.
EDTA did not cause cancer in laboratory animals. Sodium salts of EDTA have been reported to cause birth defects in laboratory animals only at doses that were toxic to the mother. These effects are likely associated with zinc deficiency due to chelation. Exposures having no effect on the mother should have no effect on the fetus.
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