Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

USNIC ACID

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Antibacterial substance found in lichens. Occurs as both the d- and l- form as well as in
racemic mixtures. Medicine

SYNONYMS

C18-H16-O7, "1, 3(2H, 9bH)-dibenzofurandione, 2, 6-diacetyl-7, 9-dihydroxy-8, 9b-
dimethyl-", "1, 3(2H, 9bH)-dibenzofurandione, 2, 6-diacetyl-7, 9-dihydroxy-8, 9b-
dimethyl-", "3(9bH)-dibenzofuranone, 2, 6-diacetyl-8, 9b-dimethyl-1, 7, 9-trihydroxy-",
"3(9bH)-dibenzofuranone, 2, 6-diacetyl-8, 9b-dimethyl-1, 7, 9-trihydroxy-", "d-usnic
acid", "d-usnic acid", "l-usnic acid", "l-usnic acid", "usninic acid", usnein, usniacin,
antibiotic

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Limited evidence exists that the substance may cause irreversible but non-lethal mutagenic effects following a single exposure.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce either adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  Limited evidence exists that the substance may cause irreversible but non-lethal mutagenic effects following a single exposure.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  

  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Exposure to the material may result in a possible risk of irreversible effects. The material may produce mutagenic effects in man. This concern is raised, generally, on the basis ofappropriate studies with similar materials using mammalian somatic cells in vivo. Such findings are often supported by positive results from in vitro mutagenicity studies.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.