Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HEROIN

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Narcotic analgesic. Also a powerful cough suppressant. Normally given by injection.
Regeant

SYNONYMS

C21-H23-N-O5, C21-H23-N-O5, "morphinan-3, 6-diol, 7, 8-didehydro-4, 5-epoxy-17-methyl-
(5alpha, 6alpha)-, ", "morphinan-3, 6-diol, 7, 8-didehydro-4, 5-epoxy-17-methyl-(5alpha,
6alpha)-, ", diacetate(ester), "7, 8-didehydro-4, 5-epoxy-17-methyl-(5alpha, 6alpha)-
morphinan-3, 6-diol", "7, 8-didehydro-4, 5-epoxy-17-methyl-(5alpha, 6alpha)-morphinan-3,
6-diol", "morphinan-3, 6alpha-diol, 7, 8-didehydro-4, 5alpha-epoxy-17-methyl-, ",
"morphinan-3, 6alpha-diol, 7, 8-didehydro-4, 5alpha-epoxy-17-methyl-, ", acetomorphine,
diacetylmorphine, diamorphine, "3, 6-diacetyl morphine", "3, 6-diacetyl morphine", "O, O-
diacetylmorphine", "O, O-diacetylmorphine", """H""", Horse, Smack

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Danger of cumulative effects.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be seriously damaging to the health of the individual; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal.  Limited evidence exists that the substance may cause irreversible but non-lethal mutagenic effects following a single exposure.  Morphine and other analgesics cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness and confusion. Urination can be difficult, and the bowel and bile ducts can spasm. They also cause dry mouth, pin point pupils, sweating, flushing, vertigo, slow and shallow breathing, weak pulse, blue-gray skin (cyanosis), palpitations, low blood pressure, low temperature, restlessness, and mood changes. Acute toxic effects include lung swelling, spasticity, muscle twitching and unconsciousness. Increased pressure in the head may occur. Larger doses can cause depression of breathing and low blood pressure, with failure of circulation and deepening coma. Failure of breathing can cause death. As the analgesia (loss of sensation) wears off, sensitivity to pain is increased. Higher doses produce stiffening of the muscles and depression of the central nervous system; this can progress to stupor, sedation, unconsciousness and coma. The blood vessels may dilate, causing flushing of the face, neck and upper chest, and lowering of the blood pressure, resulting in fainting. Serious effects due to toxicity to the heart include high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, shock, acute heart failure and stoppage. Hypersensitive reactions can occur, producing rashes, itch, bleeding, and blistering. Digestive effects include constipation, impaction of the bowel with feces and cramps. Urine movements may become less frequent. There may be liver abnormalities, and the liver may be enlarged and tender to touch.  

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 damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can cause inflammation of the skin on contact in some persons.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  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.  Contact dermatitis has been reported with morphine and other narcoticanalgesics.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce serious health damage*.  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 of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  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.  Exposure to the material may result in a possible risk of irreversible effects. The material may produce mutagenic effects in man. This concern is raised, generally, on the basis ofappropriate studies with similar materials using mammalian somatic cells in vivo. Such findings are often supported by positive results from in vitro mutagenicity studies.  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.  Chronic morphine poisoning or addiction causes pin-point pupils, rapid mood changes and poor social adaptation. As dependence and tolerance occurs, there is an overwhelming need to continue taking the drug or similar drugs and to increase the dose. Prolonged therapy or abuse may cause abnormal lung function, increased body temperature, and kidney failure. Withdrawal symptoms can last for months. Abrupt withdrawal of the opiates may produce yawning, dilated pupils, tears, runny nose, sneezing, muscle tremor, headache, weakness, sweating, anxiety, irritability, disturbed sleep or insomnia, restlessness, orgasm, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, loss of weight, diarrhea, dehydration, increase in the number of white blood cells, bone pain, abdominal and muscle cramps, increase in heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure, rise in temperature and gooseflesh and blood vessel dilation or constriction.  Repeated use is associated with various pulmonary pathologies, abnormal pulmonary function, myoglobinuria, renal failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Males may show gynaecomastia (enlarged breasts) and sexual dysfunction; females may show amenorrhoea (loss of menstruation) and sexual dysfunction. Direct neurological effects may also occur. Tolerance and physical and psychological dependence are common. Reproductive effects have been reported in animals.