DINITROBENZENE (Mixed Isomers)
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Common Name: DINITROBENZENE (mixed isomers) CAS Number: 25154-54-5 DOT Number: UN 1597 RTK Substance number: 0777 DOT Hazard Class: 6.1 (Poison) Date: April 2002 Revision: October 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Dinitrobenzene 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 * Dinitrobenzene may cause reproductive damage. Handle air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results with extreme caution. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Breathing the dust or vapor can irritate the mouth, nose information under the OSHA Access to Employee and throat. Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to 1910.1020). carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. even death. * Repeated contact can cause the skin and eyes to turn WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS yellow and cause changes in vision. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit 3 * Dinitrobenzene may damage the liver and may cause a (PEL) is 1 mg/m averaged over an 8-hour low blood count (anemia). workshift. * Dinitrobenzene is a HIGHLY REACTIVE CHEMICAL and a DANGEROUS EXPLOSION HAZARD. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 3 1 mg/m averaged over a 10-hour workshift. IDENTIFICATION ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is Dinitrobenzene is a pale yellow or white crystalline (sand- 3 like) solid which is usually a mixture of three isomers. It is 1 mg/m averaged over an 8-hour workshift. used in making dyes, other chemicals, and explosives. * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When REASON FOR CITATION skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above. * Dinitrobenzene is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust List because it is REACTIVE. ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust * Definitions are provided on page 5. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to EXPOSED Dinitrobenzene and at the end of the workshift. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public addition, as part of an ongoing education and training employers to provide their employees with information and effort, communicate all information on the health and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The safety hazards of Dinitrobenzene to potentially exposed federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR workers. 1910.1200) requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. DINITROBENZENE (mixed isomers) page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure. potential effects described below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Acute Health Effects Mixed Exposures The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur * Because more than light alcohol consumption can cause immediately or shortly after exposure to Dinitrobenzene: liver damage, drinking alcohol can increase the liver damage caused by Dinitrobenzene. * Breathing the dust or vapor can irritate the mouth, nose and throat. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to even death. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also Chronic Health Effects reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is some time after exposure to Dinitrobenzene and can last for sometimes necessary. months or years: In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Cancer Hazard (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * According to the information presently available to the New substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Dinitrobenzene has been tested and has not been shown to should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when cause cancer in animals. significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Reproductive Hazard In addition, the following controls are recommended: * Dinitrobenzene (specifically 1,3-Dinitrobenzene) is toxic * Where possible, automatically transfer Dinitrobenzene to the testes of male rats and results in sperm loss and from drums or other storage containers to process infertility. It may cause reproductive damage. containers. Other Long-Term Effects * Before entering a confined space where Dinitrobenzene may be present, check to make sure that an explosive * Repeated contact can cause the skin and eyes to turn yellow concentration does not exist. and cause changes in vision. * Dinitrobenzene may damage the liver and may cause a low Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous blood count (anemia). exposures. The following work practices are recommended: MEDICAL * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Dinitrobenzene should change into clean clothing Medical Testing promptly. Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family the following are recommended: members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * Complete blood count individuals who have been informed of the hazards of * Liver function tests exposure to Dinitrobenzene. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the work area for emergency use. following is recommended: * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. * Blood methemoglobin level DINITROBENZENE (mixed isomers) page 3 of 6 * On skin contact with Dinitrobenzene, immediately wash or * Where the potential exists for exposure over 1 mg/m3, use shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the a NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with an organic workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have vapor cartridge and particulate prefilters. Increased contacted Dinitrobenzene, whether or not known skin protection is obtained from full facepiece powered-air contact has occurred. purifying respirators. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Dinitrobenzene is * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be smell, taste, or otherwise detect Dinitrobenzene, or if while swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to breathing applying cosmetics, smoking, or using the toilet. is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while wearing a full * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT you may need a new respirator. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN workplace. You may need a combination of filters, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace chemicals. controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * Where the potential exists for exposure over 10 mg/m3, use may be appropriate. a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a