Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

P-NITROTOLUENE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used as laboratory reagent and for manufacture of toluidine, fuchsin and various synthetic
dyes. Intermediate

SYNONYMS

C7-H7-N-O2, C7-H7-N-O2, O2NC6H4CH3, "para nitrotoluene", paranitratoluol, "p
methylnitrobenzene", "toluene, p-nitro", "toluene, p-nitro", 4-methylnitrobenzene, 4-
methylnitrobenzene, "benzene, 1-methyl-4-nitro", "benzene, 1-methyl-4-nitro", 4-
nitrotoluol, 4-nitrotoluol, PNT

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Danger of cumulative effects.
Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the aquatic
environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  The substance and/or its metabolites may bind to hemoglobin inhibiting normal uptake of oxygen. This condition, known as "methemoglobinemia", is a form of oxygen starvation (anoxia).  Symptoms include cyanosis (a bluish discoloration skin and mucous membranes) and breathing difficulties. Symptoms may not be evident until several hours after exposure.  At about 15% concentration of blood methemoglobin there is observable cyanosis of the lips, nose and earlobes. Symptoms may be absent although euphoria, flushed face and headache are commonly experienced. At 25-40%, cyanosis is marked but little disability occurs other than that produced on physical exertion. At 40-60%, symptoms include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, increasingly severe headache, ataxia, rapid shallow respiration, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and stupor. Above 60% symptoms include dyspnea, respiratory depression, tachycardia or bradycardia, and convulsions. Levels exceeding 70% may be fatal.  Case of nitrotoluene poisoning are rare especially in comparison with nitrobenzene which is thought to considerably more toxic. There is evidence that the isomers of nitrotoluene vary in toxicity.  The three isomers were fed to mice and rats for 13 weeks. o-Nitrotoluene produced the greatest effect. At 2500 ppm o-nitrotoluene and above all animals showed depressed body weight gain. At concentrations equal to 1200 ppm o-nitrotoluene, liver, spleen and kidney toxicity was evident. In female rats, o-nitrotoluene ingestion produced kidney and spleen lesions at 2500 ppm.  Ingestion of m-toluene was associated with reduced body weights in rats and mice at 10,  000 ppm; renal damage was see in male rats given 625 ppm m-nitrotoluene. At 2500 ppm m-  nitrotoluene, histopathologic damage was seen in the spleens of male and female rats.  At 10,000 ppm p-nitrotoluene weight depression was seen in both mice and rats. All dose levels of p-nitrotoluene caused significant lesions in rat kidney and spleen (but not in mice).  

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 with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay result following absorption.  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Abrasive damage however, may result from prolonged exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Reactions may not occur on exposure but response may be delayed with symptoms only appearing many hours later.  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

  Inhalation of vapors, aerosols (mists, fumes) or dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce toxic effects.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  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

  Repeated or long-term occupational exposure is likely to produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  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.  There are no reports of human sensitisation. Individuals with preexisting diseases of the cardivascular system or bone marrow may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive  exposures.