Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

LANOLIN WAX

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used in ointments, leather finishing, soaps, face creams, facial tissues, hair- set and
suntan preparations.

SYNONYMS

"wool wax"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

None

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, 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, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

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).  

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.  

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.  Not normally a risk due to low vapor pressure at ambient temperatures.  The vapor may produce discomfort of the upper respiratory tract. Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure include skin and eye contact and inhalation  of hot vapours generated at point of production eg. scouring.  Very isolated cases of skin sensitisation to lanolin have been  reported, this incidence of allergy being extremely low. (NIOSHTIC)  The active component in the heterogeneous blend has not been identified  but is thought by some to be "swint" or sheeps sweat/dandruff, inevitably  extracted with the crude lanolin during processing.  Cosmetic grades are produced by bleaching and blending the crude lanolin  extracts obtained by scouring and/or carbonising the fleece and in essence  remain chemically identical to the original extracts.  Vacuum distilled fractions may be the result of further processing and  these are converted to fatty acid and alcohol derivatives commonly  found in nonionic surfactants.