Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UNION CARBIDE TRITON SURFACTANT GR-5M

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used as a detergent component and wetting agent.

SYNONYMS

"surfactant Triton GR-5M", "anionic surfactant", "Triton GR 5M surfactant", "GR 5M
surfactant Rohm", "wetting agent", "dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate", Tryton, (misspelling),
"detergent component"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Irritating to eyes and skin.
Highly flammable.
Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation.
Harmful to aquatic organisms.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Ingestion may result in nausea, pain, vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  Ingestion of anionic surfactants may produce diarrhea, bloated stomach,and occasional vomiting.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  Direct eye contact with some anionic surfactants in high concentration can cause severe damage to the cornea. Low concentrations can cause discomfort, excess blood flow, and corneal clouding and swelling. Recovery may take several days.  The material may produce severe irritation to the eye causing pronounced inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Anionic surfactants can cause skin redness and pain, as well as a rash. Cracking, scaling and blistering can occur.  Repeated skin contact with some sulfonated surfactants has produced sensitization dermatitis in predisposed individuals.  The material may cause skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  Acute effects from inhalation of high vapor concentrations may be chest and nasal irritation with coughing, sneezing, headache and even nausea.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact and by inhalation of vapors especially at higher temperatures.  Prolonged or continuous skin contact with the liquid may cause defatting with drying, cracking, irritation and dermatitis following.  Repeated inhalation exposure may produce narcosis, incoordination and liver  degeneration.  As with any chemical product, contact with unprotected bare skin; inhalation of vapor, mist or dust in work place atmosphere; or ingestion in any form, should be avoided by observing good occupational work practice.