Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HACH OIL & GREASE EXTRACTANT-N-HEXANE/MTBE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Oil and grease determination.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May form explosive peroxides.
Irritating to skin.
Possible risk of impaired fertility.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation.
Highly flammable.
Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation.
Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the aquatic
environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Swallowing of the liquid may cause aspiration into the lungs with the risk of chemical pneumonitis; serious consequences may result. (ICSC13733).  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Chronic inhalation or skin exposure to n-hexane may cause damage to nerve ends in extremities, e.g. finger, toes with loss of sensation. Symptoms can progress for months even after removal of exposure, and recovery may take years and may not be complete.  

EYE

  Limited evidence or practical experience suggests, that the material may cause eye irritation in a substantial number of individuals. Prolonged eye contact may cause inflammation characterized by a temporary redness of the conjunctiva (similar to windburn).  

SKIN

  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  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 may produce health damage*.  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Inhalation of high concentrations of gas/vapor causes lung irritation with coughing and nausea, central nervous depression with headache and dizziness, slowing of reflexes, fatigue and inco-ordination.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation.  This material can cause serious damage if one is exposed to it for long periods. It can be assumed that it contains a substance which can produce severe defects. This has been demonstrated via both short- and long-term experimentation.  Ample evidence from experiments exists that there is a suspicionthis material directly reduces fertility.  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Chronic inhalation or skin exposure to n-hexane may cause damage to nerve ends in extremities, e.g. finger, toes with loss of sensation. Symptoms can progress for months even after removal of exposure, and recovery may take years and may not be complete.  gamma-Diketones are generally neurotoxic. They occur either as products of commerce (e.g. 2,5-hexanedione, 2,5-heptanedione, 3,6-octanedione) or as metabolites (of, for example, n-  hexane and 2-hexanone). The neurotoxic syndrome is best described as a sensorimotor or motor polyneuropathy. The initial symptoms are symmetrical sensory numbness and paraesthesias of the distal portions of the extremities. Sensory loss usually involves all modalities of the feet or hands. Motor weakness is typically observed in the muscles of the toes and fingers but may also involve the muscles of arms, thighs and forearms. Onset of symptoms may be delayed for several months to a year after the initial exposure. Pathologically the syndrome is characterised by a swelling of the axon, demyelination and nerve fibre degradation resembling a dying-back neuropathy.  Central and autonomic nervous systems are unaffected.  The clinical course of the disease following removal from exposure is complete recovery, but severe cases may retain sensorimotor deficits.