How to Interpret a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) By: Dan Nickey Program Manager Iowa Air Emission Assistance Program (IAEAP) at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center

Information Found on a MSDS Hazardous air pollutants Physical characteristics Density Volatile organic compound (VOC) content Solid content Material classification

Hazardous Air Pollutants Should be an exact percent, if a range you must take the highest value Look up components by CAS number

Finding the Material Weight/Density May be listed on the MSDS Calculate from the material’s specific gravity and multiply by the weight of water (8.34 lb/gal) 0.99 x 8.34 lb/gal = 8.26 lb/gal

VOC Content VOC content must be by weight (lb/gal) : 4.96 lb/gal If listed as a percent multiply by the material weight 8.26 lb/gal x 60% = 4.96 lb/gal

Solid Content Listed by weight: example 3.3 lb/gal Listed as Percent by weight: Multiply solid % by weight of the material = solid content Not listed

Solid Content: Not Listed Subtract VOC content from the material weight 8.26 lb/gal – 4.96 lb VOC/gal = 3.3 lb/gal Solid

Material Classification Welding rod classification

MSDS Any calculation that uses information from an MSDS must be included in the inventory submittal All MSDS must be the most recent version All MSDS must be submitted with the MSEI