Hazard Summary Identification Reason For
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Common Name: AMYL NITRITE CAS Number: 110-46-3 RTK Substance number: 0132 DOT Number: UN 1113 Date: March 1987 Revised: September 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Amyl Nitrite can affect you when breathed in and by * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely passing through your skin. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes and may cause air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results blurred vision. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Breathing Amyl Nitrite can irritate the nose and throat information under OSHA 1910.1020. causing coughing and wheezing. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Exposure to Amyl Nitrite can cause nausea, vomiting, problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational weakness, confusion, restlessness and convulsions. diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). No occupational exposure limits have been established for Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and Amyl Nitrite. This does not mean that this substance is not even death. harmful. Safe work practices should always be followed. * Repeated exposure may damage the blood cells causing a low blood count (anemia). * It should be recognized that Amyl Nitrite can be absorbed * Amyl Nitrite is a HIGHLY FLAMMABLE and through your skin, thereby increasing your exposure. REACTIVE chemical and a DANGEROUS FIRE and EXPLOSION HAZARD. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust IDENTIFICATION ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust Amyl Nitrite is a yellowish liquid with a strong, fruity odor. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be It is used to make pharmaceuticals, perfumes and other worn. chemicals. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Amyl REASON FOR CITATION Nitrite and at the end of the workshift. * Amyl Nitrite is on the Hazardous Substance List because * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In it is cited by DOT and NFPA. addition, as part of an ongoing education and training * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance effort, communicate all information on the health and List because it is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE. safety hazards of Amyl Nitrite to potentially exposed * Definitions are provided on page 5. workers. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. AMYL NITRITE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal potential and most severe health hazards that may result from right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES any of the potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at Acute Health Effects the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is immediately or shortly after exposure to Amyl Nitrite: less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes and may cause blurred vision. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: * Breathing Amyl Nitrite can irritate the nose and throat (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the causing coughing and wheezing. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * Exposure to Amyl Nitrite can cause nausea, vomiting, harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls weakness, confusion, restlessness and convulsions. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). In addition, the following controls are recommended: Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Amyl Nitrite from drums or other storage containers to process Chronic Health Effects containers. The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at * Before entering a confined space where Amyl Nitrite may some time after exposure to Amyl Nitrite and can last for be present, check to make sure that an explosive months or years: concentration does not exist. Cancer Hazard Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * Amyl Nitrite may cause mutations (genetic changes). exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Whether or not it poses a cancer or reproductive hazard needs further study. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Amyl Nitrite should change into clean clothing promptly. Reproductive Hazard * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * According to the information presently available to the individuals who have been informed of the hazards of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, exposure to Amyl Nitrite. Amyl Nitrite has not been tested for its ability to affect * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate reproduction. work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency Other Long-Term Effects shower facilities should be provided. * Repeated exposure may damage the blood cells causing a * On skin contact with Amyl Nitrite, immediately wash or low blood count (anemia). shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have MEDICAL contacted Amyl Nitrite, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. Medical Testing * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Amyl Nitrite is If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be following is recommended: swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet. * Blood methemoglobin level. * Complete blood count. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs exposure. done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be appropriate. AMYL NITRITE page 3 of 6 OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the * Metal containers involving the transfer of Amyl Nitrite appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and should be grounded and bonded. to train employees on how and when to use protective * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially equipment. when opening and closing containers of Amyl Nitrite. * Wherever Amyl Nitrite is used, handled, manufactured, or The following recommendations are only guidelines and may stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and not apply to every situation. fittings. Clothing QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS * Avoid skin contact with Amyl Nitrite. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most health effects? protective glove/clothing material for your operation. A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) from repeated exposures to a chemical. should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- * Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Polyvinyl term effects? Alcohol as a protective material. A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to Eye Protection make you immediately sick. * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles when working with liquids. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with exposed to chemicals? corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is Respiratory Protection determined by the length of time and the amount of IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS