Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Pesticide with limited applications. Primarily encountered as a by- product of certain
processes associated with chlorination of hydrocarbons. Solvent for elastomers, heat-
transfer fluid, transformer and hydraulic fluid, wash liquor for the removal of C4 and
higher hydrocarbons. Drier

SYNONYMS

C4-Cl6, "1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4-hexachloro-1, 3-butadiene", "1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4-hexachloro-1, 3-
butadiene", "hexachloro-1, 3-butadiene", "hexachloro-1, 3-butadiene", perchlorobutadiene,
"perchloro-1, 3-butadiene", "perchloro-1, 3-butadiene", HCBD, "RCRA Waste No. U128",
Dolen-Pur

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May form explosive peroxides.
Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  At sufficiently high doses the material may be nephrotoxic(i.e. poisonous to the kidney).  At sufficiently high doses the material may be hepatotoxic(i.e. poisonous to the liver).  

EYE

  Although the liquid 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).  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may be harmful; systemic effects may resultfollowing absorption.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material may cause moderate inflammation of the skin either following direct contact or after a delay of some time. Repeated exposure can cause contact dermatitis which is characterized by redness, swelling and blistering.  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 respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of vapors, fumes or aerosols, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by narcosis, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of coordination and vertigo.  Inhalation of aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  Depression of the central nervous system is the most outstanding effect of most halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Inebriation and excitation, passing into narcosis, is a typical reaction. In severe acute exposures there is always a danger of death from respiratory failure or cardiac arrest due to a tendency to make the heart more susceptible to catecholamines (adrenalin).  Acute intoxication by halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons appears to take place over two stages. Signs of a reversible narcosis are evident in the first stage and in the second stage signs of injury to organs may become evident, a single organ alone is (almost) never involved.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Workers repeatedly exposed to a combination of hexachlorobutadiene and polychlorobutane reported hypotensions, heart disorders, epigastric and chest pain, chronic bronchitis, olfactory disorders, chronic liver disease and nervous function disorders including sleep disorders, nausea and hand trembling.  Repeated exposure of rats to 10-250 ppm produced weight loss, nose and respiratory irritation and injury, slight anaemia, degeneration of or enlarged adrenals, kidney damage and death. Severe injury to lungs, liver and kidney have been reported in other studies.  Lifetime by rats at 20 mg/kg/day produced caused multiple toxicological effects including increased male mortality, decreased body weight gain, increased urinary excretion of coproporphyrin and increased terminal weights of kidneys. Kidney hyperplasia and neoplasia of the renal tubular epithelium was also noted. Some of these neoplasms were noted as nodules in the kidneys and were diagnosed as renal tubular adenomas or adenocarcinomas. Intermediate dose levels of 2.0 mg/kg/day produced urinary excretion of coproporphyrin (females only) and increased hyperplasia of renal tubular epithelium but did not appear to produce treatment related neoplasms.