Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDROCARBONS, C5 AND GREATER

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Solvents.

SYNONYMS

"light naphtha", "C5-C6 hydrocarbons, C5-C6 gasoline", "stable gasoline", "debutaniser/
debutanizer bottoms"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May cause CANCER.
May cause heritable genetic damage.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Highly flammable.

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

  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.  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

  Inhalation may produce health damage*.  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 sufficient evidence to suggest that this materialdirectly causes cancer in humans.  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  Chronic inhalation or skin exposure to n-hexane may cause damage to nerve ends in extremities, e.g. finger, toes with loss of sensation. Symptoms can progress for months even after removal of exposure, and recovery may take years and may not be complete.  Chronic exposure to benzene may cause headache, fatigue, loss of appetite  and lassitude with incipient blood effects including anaemia and blood  changes.  Benzene is a myelotoxicant known to suppress bone-marrow cell proliferation  and to induce haematologic disorders in humans and animals.  Signs of benzene-induced aplastic anaemia include suppression off leukocytes  (leukopenia), red cells (anaemia), platelets (thromocytopenia or all three  cell types (pancytopenia). Classic symptoms include weakness, purpura,  and haemorrhage. The most significant toxic effect is insidious and often  irreversible injury to the blood forming tissue. Leukaemia may develop.