Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDROCARBONS, C5-RICH

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Solvents.

SYNONYMS

"light naphtha", "C5 hydrocarbons", "crude isoprene/piperylene concentrate"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Very toxic by inhalation.
May cause CANCER.
May cause heritable genetic damage.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Highly flammable.
Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness and cracking.
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

  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. The liquid may produce gastrointestinal discomfort and may be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion may result in nausea, pain and vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  

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

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Temporary discomfort, however, may result from prolonged dermal exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  The liquid may produce skin discomfort following prolonged contact. Defatting and/or drying of the skin may lead to dermatitis.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Material on the skin evaporates rapidly and may cause tingling, chillingand even temporary numbness.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of the material, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  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.  Material is highly volatile and may quickly form a concentrated atmosphere in confined or unventilated areas. Vapor is heavier than air and may displace and replace air in breathing zone, acting as a simple asphyxiant. This may happen with little warning of overexposure.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  

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.  Based on experiments and other information, there is ample evidence to presume that exposure to this material can cause genetic defects that can be inherited.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact and by inhalation of vapors especially at higher temperatures.  Prolonged or repeated inhalation may cause dizziness, weakness, weight  loss, anaemia, nervousness, pain in the limbs and peripheral numbness  Diepoxide metabolites of isoprene tested positive in a mutagenicity assay  using strains of Salmonella.  An investigation (1) to establish th effects of inhaled isoprene on rats  was conducted for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks and 26 weeks.  Results showed that there were no treatment related gross or microscopic  changes in the 13-week treated rats exposed at up to 7000 ppm whilst mice  showed mid anaemia and microscopic changes in the forestomach, nasal  cavity, liver and testis. Rats exposed for 26 weeks showed severe  interstitial tissue hyperplasia at 7000 ppm. After a 26 week recovery  period, interstitial cell adenomas were slightly higher in male rats  exposed to 700 ppm or higher. Male mice exposed for 26 weeks showed more  extensive abnormalities. Survival was reduced with early deaths being due  to various neoplastic lesions. Towards the end of the exposure period,  abnormal posture and hind-limb impairment were observed but these  gradually normalised during a recovery period. Incidence of neoplasms of  the liver, lung, forestomach and Harderian gland, together with liver  adenomas were significantly higher in mice exposed at levels exceeding  700 ppm. Alveolar epithelial hyperplasia was significantly increased at  the end of a 26 week recovery period and probably represented a  pre-neoplastic change. Testicular atrophy was highest in a group of mice  exposed to 7000 ppm for 26 weeks. Spinal cord degeneration was observed  during the recovery period and probably accounted for hindlimb  dysfunction.  (1) Melick, R.L., et al: Cancer Research, 54, 20, pp 5333-5339, 1994  Amongst humans occupationally exposed to 1,3-butadiene several cancer  sites with high statistically significant mortality ratios were identified.  These included cancer of the testes, cancers of the digestive system  (oesophagus, stomach, large intestine), larynx and Hodgkin's disease.  Exposure by rats to butadiene gas at 1000 ppm/6hrs/day, 5 days /week  (105 weeks for females and 111 weeks for males) caused significant  increases in the incidence of tumours at various sites; mammary gland  adenomas and sarcomas; uterine sarcomas; Zymbal gland carcinomas; thyroid  adenomas and pancreatic adenomas. A high incidence of malignant lymphoma  was found amongst a group of exposed rats in a second study.