Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HCA EXALATE BRILLIANT BLUE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Non- toxic colourant. Acceptable for use in edible meat marking inks for product destined
to the European Union (EU) and USA. Wide variety of colouring applications.

SYNONYMS

"food colouring", "food coloring"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre-  existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  The material may be irritating to the eye, with prolonged contact causing inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

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.  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.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing skin condition.  

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.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact/absorption and  inhalation of generated dust.  No radioactivity was taken up by foetuses of pregnant rats given carbon-14  labelled material. Carcinogenicity studies in rats showed dose-related  increases in sarcomas at the injection site. In addition kidney tumours  were reported in rats orally dosed with the dye, although the increase was  not statistically significant. The authors of this study conclude that the  dye poses a potentially serious risk to human health, considering its  ability both to induce tumours in animals and its widespread use,  especially as a colouring agent in food and drugs.  Chemical Hazard Information Profile: Draft Report. Brilliant Blue FCF  [CAS No.: 2650-18-2]; Duggan M., and H. Appleton, Office of Toxic  Substances, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC 31/12/81