Common Name: ALKANE SULFONIC ACID HAZARD

Common Name: ALKANE SULFONIC ACID

CAS Number: 75-75-2 DOT Number: UN 2584 (liquid) UN 2585 (solid) RTK Substance number: 0034 UN 2586 (liquid) Date: September 2002 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Alkane Sulfonic Acid can affect you when breathed in. No occupational exposure limits have been established for * Alkane Sulfonic Acid is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL Alkane Sulfonic Acid. This does not mean that this and contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. substance is not harmful. Safe work practices should always * Breathing Alkane Sulfonic Acid can irritate the nose, be followed. throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust IDENTIFICATION ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust Alkane Sulfonic Acid is a colorless, thick liquid or a solid. It ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be is used as a catalyst and a solvent. worn. * Wear protective work clothing. REASON FOR CITATION * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Alkane * Alkane Sulfonic Acid is on the Hazardous Substance List Sulfonic Acid. because it is cited by DOT. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance addition, as part of an ongoing education and training List because it is CORROSIVE. effort, communicate all information on the health and * Definitions are provided on page 5. safety hazards of Alkane Sulfonic Acid to potentially exposed 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.

* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. ALKANE SULFONIC ACID page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most potential effects described below. effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to ------enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Acute Health Effects sometimes necessary. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Alkane Sulfonic In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Acid: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes. harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls * Breathing Alkane Sulfonic Acid can irritate the nose, should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. shortness of breath. In addition, the following control is recommended:

Chronic Health Effects * Where possible, automatically transfer Alkane Sulfonic The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at Acid or pump liquid Alkane Sulfonic Acid from drums or some time after exposure to Alkane Sulfonic Acid and can last for months or years: other storage containers to process containers.

Cancer Hazard Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * According to the information presently available to the New exposures. The following work practices are recommended:

Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Alkane * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Alkane Sulfonic Acid has not been tested for its ability to cause Sulfonic Acid should change into clean clothing promptly. cancer in animals. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family

Reproductive Hazard members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * According to the information presently available to the New individuals who have been informed of the hazards of Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Alkane exposure to Alkane Sulfonic Acid. Sulfonic Acid 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. * Alkane Sulfonic Acid has not been tested for other chronic * On skin contact with Alkane Sulfonic Acid, immediately (long-term) health effects. wash or shower to remove the chemical.

* Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Alkane Sulfonic Acid is MEDICAL handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, Medical Testing smoking, or using the toilet. There is no special test for this chemical. However, if illness * For solid Alkane Sulfonic Acid use a vacuum to reduce occurs or overexposure is suspected, medical attention is dust during clean-up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. recommended. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN damage already done are not a substitute for controlling PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for exposure. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right controls are being installed), personal protective equipment to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. may be appropriate.

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OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece to train employees on how and when to use protective operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure equipment. mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a The following recommendations are only guidelines and may pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. not apply to every situation. HANDLING AND STORAGE Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Alkane Sulfonic Acid. Wear acid- * Prior to working with Alkane Sulfonic Acid you should be resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment trained on its proper handling and storage. suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on * Alkane Sulfonic Acid must be stored to avoid contact with the most protective glove/clothing material for your ETHYL VINYL ETHER since violent reactions occur. operation. * Alkane Sulfonic Acid is not compatible with STRONG * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and should be clean, available each day, and put on before POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); AMINES; and REDUCING work. AGENTS. * DO NOT allow WATER to enter containers of Alkane Eye Protection Sulfonic Acid as a violent reaction may occur. * For solid Alkane Sulfonic Acid wear impact resistant eye * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated protection with side shields or goggles. area. * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are when working with liquids. prohibited where Alkane Sulfonic Acid is used, handled, or * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. explosion hazard.

Respiratory Protection QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic written program that takes into account workplace conditions, health effects? requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. repeated exposures to a chemical.

* NIOSH has established new testing and certification Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- requirements for negative pressure, air purifying, particulate term effects? filter and filtering facepiece respirators. The filter A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated classifications of dust/mist/fume, paint spray or pesticide exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make prefilters, and filters for radon daughters, have been you immediately sick. replaced with the N, R, and P series. Each series has three

levels of filtering efficiency: 95%, 99%, and 99.9%. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been Check with your safety equipment supplier or your exposed to chemicals? respirator manufacturer to determine which respirator is A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is appropriate for your facility. increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can determined by the length of time and the amount of smell, taste, or otherwise detect Alkane Sulfonic Acid, or if material to which someone is exposed. while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to

breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while Q: When are higher exposures more likely? wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping, is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the etc.), other physical and mechanical processes (heating, seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your surface areas such as open containers), and "confined workplace. You may need a combination of filters, space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a small rooms, etc.). chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. ALKANE SULFONIC ACID page 4 of 6

Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for ------community residents? The following information is available from: A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services found in the workplace. However, people in the Occupational Health Service community may be exposed to contaminated water as PO Box 360 well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 may be a problem for children or people who are already (609) 984-1863 ill. (609) 984-7407 (fax)

Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/

Industrial Hygiene Information Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of industrial hygiene survey data.

Medical Evaluation If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational Health Service, who can help you find the information you need.

Public Presentations Presentations and educational programs on occupational health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, trade associations and other groups.

Right to Know Information Resources The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer questions about the identity and potential health effects of chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the Right to Know Survey, education and training programs, labeling requirements, and general information regarding the Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-2202. ------

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DEFINITIONS

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.

A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards that regulates the transportation of chemicals. to OSHA.

EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.

A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison Inhalation Hazards. HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a measure of concentration by volume in air. IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases cancer-causing potential. energy under certain conditions.

A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by in another. damaging the fetus.

mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). limit recommended by ACGIH.

A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.

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Common Name: ALKANE SULFONIC ACID ======DOT Number: UN 2584 (liquid) FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire UN 2585 (solid) department. You can request emergency information from the UN 2586 (liquid) following: NAERG Code: 153 CAS Number: 75-75-2 CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP ======Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA FLAMMABILITY Not Found Not Rated HANDLING AND STORAGE (see page 3) Not Found Not Rated REACTIVITY FIRST AID CORROSIVE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE For POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-222-1222 CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Eye Contact Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 3=serious; 4=severe 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. FIRE HAZARDS Skin Contact * Alkane Sulfonic Acid is a COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID or * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash SOLID. area with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention * Use dry chemical, CO2, alcohol or polymer foam immediately. extinguishers. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, Breathing including Sulfur Oxide. * Remove the person from exposure. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if * Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE CONTAINERS. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. PHYSICAL DATA

SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES Vapor Pressure: 1 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC) o o If liquid Alkane Sulfonic Acid is spilled or leaked or solid Flash Point: 230 F (110 C) Alkane Sulfonic Acid is spilled, take the following steps: Water Solubility: Reactive

* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. * Remove all ignition sources. Chemical Name: * Cover with dry lime, sand or soda ash, and place in covered Methanesulfonic Acid containers for disposal. * DO NOT USE WATER OR WET METHOD. ------* Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Alkane purposes. Sulfonic Acid as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your ------state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND your regional office of the federal Environmental SENIOR SERVICES Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. Right to Know Program * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be (609) 984-2202 applicable. ------