Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: PROPIONIC ACID Synonyms: Ethylformic Acid; Methylacetic Acid CAS Number: 79-09-4 Chemical Name: Propanoic Acid RTK Substance Number: 1599 Date: April 2001 Revision: April 2010 DOT Number: UN 1848 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Propionic Acid is a colorless, oily liquid with a strong, Hazard Summary unpleasant odor. It is used as a preservative, fungicide, and Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA antimicrobial agent. HEALTH - 3 FLAMMABILITY - 2 f ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.026 to 0.17 ppm REACTIVITY - 0 f Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone to determine potentially hazardous exposures. CORROSIVE COMBUSTIBLE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; Reasons for Citation 4=severe f Propionic Acid is on the Right to Know Hazardous f Propionic Acid can affect you when inhaled and by passing Substance List because it is cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, through the skin. NFPA and EPA. f Propionic Acid is a CORROSIVE CHEMICAL and contact f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible List. eye damage. f Inhaling Propionic Acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. f Propionic Acid can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. FIRST AID Workplace Exposure Limits Eye Contact f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30 NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact 10 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. 15 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute work period. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Seek ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 10 ppm averaged medical attention. over an 8-hour workshift. Inhalation f The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin f Remove the person from exposure. contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if air levels are less than the limits listed above. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. 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 PROPIONIC ACID Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f There is no evidence that Propionic Acid affects f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data reproduction. This is based on test results presently Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product available to the NJDOH from published studies. ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Other Effects f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New f Propionic Acid can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact and/or shortness of breath. Sheet, available on the RTK website (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. Medical f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public Medical Testing If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act following are recommended: if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you f Lung function tests are a private worker. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for employers to label chemicals in the workplace and damage already done are not a substitute for controlling requires public employers to provide their employees with exposure. information concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). similar information and training to their employees. Mixed Exposures This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce effects described below. your risk of developing health problems. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Propionic Acid: f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. f Inhaling Propionic Acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. f Propionic Acid can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Propionic Acid and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f While Propionic Acid has been tested, further testing is required to assess its potential to cause cancer. PROPIONIC ACID Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or f 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 f Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely with fumes, gases, or vapors. irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust f Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. 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 f Label process containers. f Provide employees with hazard information and training. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed f Where the potential exists for exposure over 10 ppm, use a recommended exposure levels. NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with an organic f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. vapor cartridge. Increased protection is obtained from full f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous facepiece powered-air purifying respirators. material. f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or f Always wash at the end of the workshift. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes Propionic Acid, (2) while wearing particulate filters contaminated. abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye f Do not take contaminated clothing home. irritation occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer being handled, processed or stored. good, you may need a new respirator. f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. applying cosmetics or using the toilet. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as In addition, the following may be useful or required: vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 100 ppm, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece f Where possible, transfer Propionic Acid from drums or operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure other containers to process containers in an enclosed mode. For increased protection use in combination with an system. auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an f Before entering a confined space where Propionic Acid emergency escape air cylinder. may be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Fire Hazards If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained Personal Protective Equipment and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR (29 CFR 1910.156). 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train f Propionic Acid is a COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID. employees on how and when to use protective equipment. f Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam as extinguishing agents. f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.