0374 DOT Number: UN 1695 (PIH) Date: January 2001
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Common Name: CHLOROACETONE
CAS Number: 78-95-5 RTK Substance number: 0374 DOT Number: UN 1695 (PIH) Date: January 2001 ------
HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Chloroacetone can affect you when breathed in and by ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is passing through your skin. 1 ppm, which should not be exceeded at any * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes time. with possible eye damage. * Breathing Chloroacetone can irritate the nose, throat and * The above exposure limit is for air levels only. When skin lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though breath. air levels are less than the limit listed above. * Chloroacetone is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Chloroacetone is a DOT Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH). * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust IDENTIFICATION ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be Chloroacetone is an amber to black liquid with a pungent worn. odor. It is used in making couplers for color photography, * Wear protective work clothing. perfumes, drugs, insecticides, and as a medication. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Chloroacetone and at the end of the workshift. REASON FOR CITATION * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In * Chloroacetone is on the Hazardous Substance List addition, as part of an ongoing education and training because it is cited by ACGIH and DOT. effort, communicate all information on the health and * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance safety hazards of Chloroacetone to potentially exposed List because it is FLAMMABLE . workers. * Definitions are provided on page 5.
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.
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This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Mixed Exposures potential and most severe health hazards that may result from * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical any of the potential effects described below. exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, ------stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. 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 Chloroacetone: substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at with possible eye damage. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * Breathing Chloroacetone can irritate the nose, throat and reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is breath. sometimes necessary.
Chronic Health Effects In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the some time after exposure to Chloroacetone and can last for substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether months or years: harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when Cancer Hazard significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, In addition, the following controls are recommended: Chloroacetone has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Chloroacetone from drums or other storage containers to Reproductive Hazard process containers. * According to the information presently available to the * Before entering a confined space where Chloroacetone New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, may be present, check to make sure that an explosive Chloroacetone has not been tested for its ability to affect concentration does not exist. reproduction. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Other Long-Term Effects exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Chloroacetone can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by and/or shortness of breath. Chloroacetone should change into clean clothing promptly. MEDICAL * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of Medical Testing exposure to Chloroacetone. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate following are recommended: work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency * Lung function tests shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Chloroacetone, immediately wash or Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have damage already done are not a substitute for controlling contacted Chloroacetone, whether or not known skin exposure. contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Chloroacetone is Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet.
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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from LIGHT and AIR. WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Old material can explode. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs prohibited where Chloroacetone is used, handled, or done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace stored. controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * Metal containers involving the transfer of Chloroacetone may be appropriate. should be grounded and bonded. * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the when opening and closing containers of Chloroacetone. appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS equipment. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic The following recommendations are only guidelines and may health effects? not apply to every situation. A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from repeated exposures to a chemical. Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Chloroacetone. Wear protective Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ term effects? manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated protective glove/clothing material for your operation. exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) make you immediately sick. should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been exposed to chemicals? Eye Protection A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is when working with liquids. determined by the length of time and the amount of * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with material to which someone is exposed. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this Q: When are higher exposures more likely? substance. A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring, Respiratory Protection spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. such as open containers), and "confined space" Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small written program that takes into account workplace conditions, rooms, etc.). requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for community residents? * Where the potential exists for exposure over 1 ppm, use a A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- found in the workplace. However, people in the pressure mode. For increased protection use in community may be exposed to contaminated water as combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- may be a problem for children or people who are already pressure mode. ill.
HANDLING AND STORAGE
* Prior to working with Chloroacetone you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Chloroacetone is not compatible with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE). CHLOROACETONE page 4 of 6
------The following information is available from:
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Occupational Health Service PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 (609) 984-1863 (609) 292-5677 (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, TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. the United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. It is a 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 NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that burn. determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. 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 that regulates the transportation of chemicals. standards 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. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid employees. gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Inhalation Hazards. EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a measure of concentration by volume in air. scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy under certain conditions. A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus. mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure limit recommended by ACGIH. MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a approves respirators. solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in. is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.
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Common Name: CHLOROACETONE HANDLING AND STORAGE (See page 3) DOT Number: UN 1695 (PIH) NAERG Code: 131 FIRST AID CAS Number: 78-95-5 In NJ, for POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-764-7661 Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA Eye Contact 3 - FLAMMABILITY * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue REACTIVITY 0 - without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting FLAMMABLE upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Skin Contact POISON INHALATION HAZARD * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; attention immediately. 3=serious; 4=severe Breathing FIRE HAZARDS * Remove the person from exposure. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if * Chloroacetone is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. * Use dry chemical, CO2, alcohol or polymer foam * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. extinguishers, as water may not be effective in fighting fires. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, PHYSICAL DATA including Hydrogen Chloride and Phosgene. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Vapor Pressure: 20 mm Hg at 86oF (30oC) * Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. o o * Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance to cause Flash Point: 82 F (27 C) a fire or explosion far from the source. Water Solubility: Soluble * Vapors may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. Chemical Name: SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES 2-Propanone, 1-Chloro- Other Names: If Chloroacetone is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: Monochloroacetone; Chloro-2-Propanone; Chloropropanone
* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from ------area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial * Remove all ignition sources. purposes. * Cover with dry lime, sand or soda ash, and place in covered ------containers for disposal. NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND * Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. SENIOR SERVICES * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Right to Know Program Chloroacetone as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your (609) 984-2202 regional office of the federal Environmental Protection ------Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations.
* If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be applicable.
======FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department. You can request emergency information from the following:
CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP ======