Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UNIVAR ORTHO PARA TOLUENE SULFONAMIDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used according to manufacturer' s directions.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material has NOT been classified as "harmful by ingestion". This is because of the lack of corroborating animal or human evidence. 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, unintentional ingestion is not thought to be cause for concern.  

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 dust may produce eye discomfort causing smarting, pain and redness.  

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.  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 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.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Prolonged oral treatment with sulfonamides has caused nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, inflammation of the mouth cavity, impaired folic acid absorption, exacerbation of porphyria, acidosis, liver damage with impaired blood clotting, jaundice and inflammation of the pancreas. Effects on the kidney include blood and crystals in the urine, painful and frequent urination or lack of urine with nitrogen retention. Nervous system symptoms include headache, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, depression, hallucinations, inco-ordination,  paralysis of muscles, numbness in the extremities, spinal cord damage and inflammation, convulsions and unconsciousness. Effects on the blood includes a change in blood cell distribution with loss of white blood cells and platelets, and anemia, which Africans seem to be more prone to developing than Europeans. Cyanosis can occur owing to complexes being formed by hemoglobin. Eye effects include inflamed cornea and conjunctiva with eyelid swelling and in severe cases, fear of the light. Allergies and cross-sensitivity is common, and can cause itches, wheals and sometimes a severe red rash with blisters that is often fatal. This class of drugs can scar the cornea and conjunctiva, swelling around the eyes, painful and inflamed joints, reduced sperm counts, pneumonia, fever, chills, hair loss, inflammation of vessels, lupus, reduced lung function, infertility, hypothyroidism and goiter, and increased urinary output. More seriously, the lungs may become permanently scarred and there may be irreversible damage to the nervous system and muscles. Inflammation of the skin has occurred after the drug is ingested and has traveled through the bloodstream. Skin effects often occur when there has been exposure in conjunction with UV light. Clothed areas are initially less likely to be affected but may be in later stages. Rarely there may be persistence of inflammation on light contact even after the drug has been removed.