Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

OCTYL GALLATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Antioxidant for animal fats and unsaturated oils for food use. Use in food restricted to
0.02% by weight [USFDA] Antioxidant in transformer oils, mineral oils etc. Drier

SYNONYMS

C15-H22-O5, "gallic acid, octyl ester", "n-octyl ester of 3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoic
acid", "n-octyl ester of 3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoic acid"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.
Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness and cracking.

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.  

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

  Skin contact is not thought to produce harmful health effects (as classified using animal models). Systemic harm, however, has been identified following exposure of animals by at least one other route and the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Repeated exposure may cause skin cracking, flaking or drying following normal handling and use.  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.  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  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.  Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause drying with cracking,irritation and possible dermatitis following.  After either injection, skin contact swallowing, p-hydroxybenzoates can cause allergic reactions. Cross-sensitivity occurs between different species. Symptoms include narrowing of the airways, skin rashes with blistering, severe wheals, runny nose and blurred vision. There may be an anaphylactic reaction. Prolonged exposure to salicylates (o-  hydroxybenzenes) can damage the kidney and pancreas. Asthmatics are very prone to developing hypersensitivity to salicylates, with signs such as itchy rashes, other skin eruptions, blocked nose, narrowed airways and shortness of breath. This may cause death.