Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDRAZINE MONOHYDRATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used as a chemical intermediate, synthesis of maleic hydrazine. Also as a catalyst. As a
component of boiler feed water treatments, oxygen scavenger.

SYNONYMS

N2-H4.H2O, "hydrazine monohydrate aqueous", "hydrazine solution"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Heating may cause an explosion.
Toxic if swallowed.
Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
May cause CANCER.
Harmful to aquatic organisms.

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 material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Ingestion may result in nausea, pain, vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  Hydrazine (and some of its derivatives), is a strong convulsant in laboratory animals and can cause central nervous system (CNS) depression or stimulation. Symptoms of CNS depression may include nonspecific discomfort, giddiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, anaesthetic effects, slowed reaction time, slurred speech and may progress to unconsciousness. Serious poisonings may result in respiratory depression and may be fatal. CNS stimulation may produce dyspnea, coughing, bronchospasm, and laryngospasm. Muscular involvement may produce symptoms ranging from fasciculation to spasticity or seizures. Headache, dizziness and confusion may also result as can hyperpyrexia or a sensation of warmth. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and difficulty in urination. Cardiovascular involvement may produce alterations in blood pressure or arrhythmia.Pulmonary oedema and cardiovascular collapse also seem to be a feature of acute hydrazine poisonings. Animals that survive for more than a day frequently develop liver necrosis and renal failure. As judged by a few severe poisonings,  man reacts like monkey in the sense that liver injury is more severe than kidney failure. Severe hypoglycaemia may develop even earlier than liver necrosis although this is rarely mentioned in the literature.  

EYE

  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Reactions may not occur on exposure but response may be delayed with symptoms only appearing many hours later.  The vapour when concentrated has pronounced eye irritation effects and this gives some warning of high vapour concentrations. If eye irritation occurs seek to reduce exposure with available control measures, or evacuate area.  The material may produce moderate eye irritation leading to inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Bare unprotected skin should not be exposed to this material.  Toxic effects may result from skin absorption.  Exposure limits with "skin" notation indicate that vapor and liquid may be absorbed through intact skin. Absorption by skin may readily exceed vapor inhalation exposure. Symptoms for skin absorption are the same as for inhalation. Contact with eyes and mucous membranes may also contribute to overall exposure and may also invalidate the exposure standard.  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.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  If exposure to highly concentrated vapor atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and unless resuscitated - death.  Symptoms of inhalation of hydrazine (and some of its derivatives), may include nausea and headache. Central nervous system (CNS) excitability may lead to convulsions and, in severe cases, respiratory arrest and death. Several instances of systemic poisoning, by hydrazine, have been reported in humans. These mainly involve the CNS, respiratory system and stomach. CNS stimulation may produce twitching of the extremities, clonic movements, hyperreflexia, convulsions and pyrexia; these may progress to lethargy, ataxia, confusion,  coma and hypotension.Oliguria, haematuria, hyperglycaemia and/ or hypoglycaemia and elevated LFTs are common. Leucocytosis, parasthaesia and peripheral neuropathies may be delayed for several days.Respiratory (and dermal) exposure may produce deficits in concentration, comprehension, memory, task performance and mood status.Irritation of the mucous membranes may produce rhinitis, salivation, coughing, choking and dyspnoea.  The material may produce respiratory tract irritation, and result in damage to the lung including reduced lung function.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is ample evidence that this material can be regarded as being able to cause cancer in humans based on experiments and other information.  

  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by inhalation of vapor skin contact / absorption of the material.  Hydrazine derivatives tend to be local irritants and cause convulsions, liver damage, and destruction of red blood cells. They also damage the kidneys, and cause stimulation of the central nervous system with tremors and convulsions, progressing to depression, respiratory collapse and death.  When administered orally, hydrazine induced pulmonary adenomas and adenocarcinomas in mice. Inhalation induced lung carcinomas and lymphosarcomas of the spleen in female mice. A study of 423 men, involved in the manufacture of hydrazine revealed three stomach, one prostate and a neurogenic cancer.