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osmium oxide is an inert, colorless crystalline substance with an unpleasant, acrid, chlorine-like odor. It is corrosive to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Exposure to osmium tetroxide may result in severe chemical burns and lung damage, as well as other injuries.
This compound is used in a variety of laboratory applications, including staining of lipids for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and as a fixative in conjunction with mercury chloride to quickly kill specimens such as protozoa for microscopic examination. It is also an effective oxidizing agent in aqueous solution. It reacts rapidly with a wide variety of organic molecules to form compounds such as osmium pentoxide, osmium carboxylate and osmium carbonate.
The acute toxicity of osmium tetroxide is high, and exposure to the vapor is more dangerous than contact with the solid. It is a rapid and indiscriminate oxidizer, and inhalation of osmium tetroxide vapor can cause severe chemical burns to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. It is an irritant of the eye and nose, and short-term exposure can cause lacrimation, a gritty sensation in the eyes, blurring of vision and rings around lights. Concentrations of osmium tetroxide which do not immediately cause irritation have insidious cumulative action with a latent period, and can lead to permanent blindness by destroying the cornea.
Workers who handle osmium tetroxide should be trained in the use of a fume hood and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including impermeable gloves, splash goggles and a respirator. The worker should change into decontaminated clothing after working with this material and wash any contaminated clothing before leaving the workplace. In addition, a work area should be separated from combustibles and reducing agents.
