Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: ACETYL CHLORIDE Synonyms: Acetic Chloride; Ethanoyl Chloride CAS Number: 75-36-5 Chemical Name: Acetyl Chloride RTK Substance Number: 0013 Date: June 2008 Revision: October 2016 DOT Number: UN 1717 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE Acetyl Chloride is a colorless to pale yellow, fuming liquid with Hazard Summary a pungent odor. It is used to make pharmaceuticals and Hazard Rating NJDHSS NFPA pesticides. HEALTH - 3 FLAMMABILITY - 3 REACTIVITY - 2 W CORROSIVE FLAMMABLE AND REACTIVE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Reasons for Citation DO NOT USE WATER Acetyl Chloride is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by DOT, NFPA and EPA. Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List. Acetyl Chloride can affect you when inhaled and may pass through the skin. Acetyl Chloride is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. Inhaling Acetyl Chloride can irritate the nose and throat. Inhaling Acetyl Chloride can irritate the lungs. Higher FIRST AID exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs Eye Contact (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency. Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30 Acetyl Chloride is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE and a minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact DANGEROUS FIRE and EXPLOSION HAZARD. lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention immediately. Skin Contact Workplace Exposure Limits Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash No occupational exposure limits have been established for contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. Acetyl Chloride. However, it may pose a health risk. Always Seek medical attention immediately. follow safe work practices. Inhalation It should be recognized that Acetyl Chloride may be Remove the person from exposure. absorbed through your skin, thereby increasing your Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if exposure. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. EMERGENCY NUMBERS Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 ACETYL CHLORIDE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard According to the information presently available to the New Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Jersey Department of Health, Acetyl Chloride has not been Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product tested for its ability to affect reproduction. ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Other Effects Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause drying of the For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New skin with redness and blisters. Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Acetyl Chloride can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure Sheet, available on the RTK Program website may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, (http://nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to- and/or shortness of breath. know/) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Medical Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Medical Testing Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Before beginning employment and at regular times thereafter, if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the (at least annually), the following are recommended: federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker. Lung function tests The New Jersey Right to Know Act and the PEOSH If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the Hazard Communication Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) following is recommended: requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure employees with information concerning chemical hazards Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) require private employers damage already done are not a substitute for controlling to provide similar information and training to their exposure. employees. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential Mixed Exposures effects described below. Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if Health Hazard Information you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Acetyl Chloride: Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. Inhaling Acetyl Chloride can irritate the nose and throat. Inhaling Acetyl Chloride can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Acetyl Chloride and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Acetyl Chloride has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. ACETYL CHLORIDE Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less when working with liquids. toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Do not wear contact lenses when working with this ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single substance. exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on Respiratory Protection workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. should only be used if the employer has implemented a written program that takes into account workplace conditions, The following work practices are also recommended: requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory Label process containers. Provide employees with hazard information and training. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed Where the potential for overexposure exists, use a NIOSH recommended exposure levels. approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous mode. For increased protection use in combination with an material. auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a Always wash at the end of the workshift. pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes contaminated. Do not take contaminated clothing home. Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. Fire Hazards Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained being handled, processed or stored. and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, (29 CFR 1910.156). applying cosmetics or using the toilet. Acetyl Chloride is a FLAMMABLE AND REACTIVE LIQUID. Use dry chemical or CO2 as extinguishing agents. Personal Protective Equipment DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM. The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate Hydrogen Chloride and Phosgene. personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Do employees on how and when to use protective equipment. not get water inside containers. Vapors may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance to cause not apply to every situation. a fire or explosion