Hazard Summary Identification Reason For
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Common Name: ETHYL NITRATE CAS Number: 625-58-1 RTK Substance number: 0898 DOT Number: UN 1993 Date: May 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Ethyl Nitrate can affect you when breathed in and may be * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely absorbed through the skin. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Breathing Ethyl Nitrate can irritate the nose and throat. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to information under OSHA 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. * High or repeated exposure to Ethyl Nitrate can cause WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS headaches, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal cramps, No occupational exposure limits have been established for weakness, drowsiness, convulsions, and passing out. Ethyl Nitrate. This does not mean that this substance is not * Repeated exposure may cause personality changes of harmful. Safe work practices should always be followed. depression, anxiety or irritability. * Ethyl Nitrate is a FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE * It should be recognized that Ethyl Nitrate can be chemical and a DANGEROUS FIRE and EXPLOSION absorbed through your skin, thereby increasing your HAZARD. exposure. IDENTIFICATION WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE Ethyl Nitrate is a colorless liquid with a sweet taste and * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust pleasant odor. It is used as a nitrating agent for aromatic ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust compounds and also in making drugs, perfumes and dyes. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. REASON FOR CITATION * Wear protective work clothing. * Ethyl Nitrate is on the Hazardous Substance List because * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Ethyl it is cited by DOT and NFPA. Nitrate and at the end of the workshift. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In List because it is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE. addition, as part of an ongoing education and training * Definitions are provided on page 5. effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Ethyl Nitrate to potentially exposed HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING workers. 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. ETHYL NITRATE 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 damage already done are not a substitute for controlling substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to exposure. any of the potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous immediately or shortly after exposure to Ethyl Nitrate: substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at * Breathing Ethyl Nitrate can irritate the nose and throat. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). sometimes necessary. Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: * High or repeated exposure to Ethyl Nitrate can cause (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the headaches, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal cramps, substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether weakness, drowsiness, convulsions, and passing out. harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when Chronic Health Effects significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at In addition, the following controls are recommended: some time after exposure to Ethyl Nitrate and can last for months or years: * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Ethyl Nitrate from drums or other storage containers to process Cancer Hazard containers. * According to the information presently available to the * Before entering a confined space where Ethyl Nitrate New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, may be present, check to make sure that an explosive Ethyl Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to cause concentration does not exist. cancer in animals. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Reproductive Hazard exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Ethyl Ethyl Nitrate has not been tested for its ability to affect Nitrate should change into clean clothing promptly. reproduction. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of Other Long-Term Effects exposure to Ethyl Nitrate. * Repeated exposure may cause personality changes of * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate depression, anxiety or irritability. work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency MEDICAL shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Ethyl Nitrate, immediately wash or Medical Testing shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have following is recommended: contacted Ethyl Nitrate, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Blood methemoglobin level. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Ethyl Nitrate is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet. ETHYL NITRATE page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area. WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for prohibited where Ethyl Nitrate is used, handled, or stored. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Metal containers involving the transfer of Ethyl Nitrate done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace should be grounded and bonded. controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially may be appropriate. when opening and closing containers of Ethyl Nitrate. * Wherever Ethyl Nitrate is used, handled, manufactured, OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the or stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and fittings. to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The following recommendations are only guidelines and may Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic not apply to every situation. health effects? A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result Clothing from repeated exposures to a chemical. * Avoid skin contact with Ethyl Nitrate. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most term effects? protective glove/clothing material for your operation. A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to should be clean, available each day, and put on before make you immediately sick. work. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been Eye Protection exposed to chemicals? * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is when working with liquids. increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is * Wear a face shield along with goggles