Iridium(IV) chloride hydrate

A skin and eye irritant; Toxic by ingestion; Oral LD50 (rat) = 1560 mg/kg; [RTECS] An irritant; [MSDSonline] See Iridium.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

/CASE REPORTS/ This paper presents the case of a non-smoking and non-atopic male, exposed to iridium chloride at work, who developed respiratory tract symptoms and contact urticaria. Application of iridium salt to normal skin caused contact urticaria. An iridium chloride prick test showed a positive reaction and a scratch test produced anaphylactoid reactions. Platinum salt allergy was excluded through prick testing with hexachloroplatinate solution. There is no previous report describing a case where an individual has a positive prick test reaction to iridium salts and simultaneously a negative one to platinum salts. The results are interpreted as immediate-type hypersensitivity (Type I allergy?) to iridium salt. The route of sensitization was probably through the airways. Further test...

LD50 Rat oral 4.67 mg/kg

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Moderately toxic by ingestion

STOT SE 3 (100%)

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poison A and B/

Iridium can form many compounds with oxidation states ranging from -1 to +6; however, the +3 and +4 are the usual states, both with octahedral coordination(1). The +3 and +4 oxidation states are likely to predominate for iridium under most normal environmental conditions(SRC). Ir(III) complexes are kinetically inert to ligand exchange, but rates can be accelerated in the presence of reducing agents that can convert Ir(III) to the less inert Ir(II) ion(1). Halide complexes of Ir(IV) such as [IrCl6]2- are readily reduced to the Ir(III) species in neutral or basic solution or in the presence of reducing agents (e.g., potassium iodide and sodium oxalate)(2). The reactions of iridium compounds in the environment are expected to be complicated and will depend on factors such as pH, redox pote...