Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: PARAQUAT Synonyms: Dimethyl Viologen; Pathclear; Sweep CAS Number: 4685-14-7 Chemical Name: 4,4'-Bipyridinium, 1,1’-Dimethyl- RTK Substance Number: 1458 Date: September 1999 Revision: August 2008 DOT Number: UN 2781 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE Paraquat is a colorless to yellow, odorless solid. It is used as Hazard Summary a quick-acting herbicide and a plant dessicant. Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA HEALTH 3 - FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY 0 - CARCINOGEN POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Reasons for Citation DOES NOT BURN f Paraquat is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, DEP, 4=severe IRIS and EPA. f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance f Paraquat can affect you when inhaled. List. f Paraquat should be handled as a CARCINOGEN--WITH EXTREME CAUTION. f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. f Inhaling Paraquat can irritate the nose and throat. f Paraquat can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. abdominal pain. f Inhaling Paraquat can irritate the lungs. Higher exposures FIRST AID may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency. Eye Contact f Repeated exposure to Paraquat may cause scarring of the f Immediately flush with large amounts of cool water for at lungs (fibrosis) and reduce lung function with symptoms of least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove coughing and shortness of breath. contact lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention immediately. f Paraquat may damage the liver and kidneys and affect the heart. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Workplace Exposure Limits OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is Inhalation 3 f Remove the person from exposure. 0.5 mg/m (as respirable dust) averaged over an 8- f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if hour workshift. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. f Transfer promptly to a medical facility. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is f Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after 3 0.1 mg/m (as Paraquat Dichloride) averaged over a overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. 10-hour workshift. EMERGENCY NUMBERS ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.5 mg/m3 (as total Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 particulate) and 0.1 mg/m3 (as the respirable CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 fraction), averaged over an 8-hour workshift. NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 f Paraquat may be a CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. PARAQUAT Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f There is limited evidence that Paraquat may damage the f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data developing fetus and the male reproductive system Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product (including decreasing the sperm count) in animals. ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Other Effects f Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause drying and f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New cracking of the skin with redness and blisters and can Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact damage the fingernails. Sheet, available on the RTK website f Paraquat can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. wheezing and difficulty in breathing. f Repeated exposure to Paraquat may cause scarring of the f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey lungs (fibrosis) and reduce lung function with symptoms of Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public coughing and shortness of breath. Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act f Paraquat may damage the liver and kidneys and affect the if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the heart. federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker. f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most Medical employers to label chemicals in the workplace and Medical Testing requires public employers to provide their employees with For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the TLV or information concerning chemical hazards and controls. greater), the following are recommended before beginning The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 work and at regular times after that: CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication f Lung function tests Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide similar information and training to their employees. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following are recommended: This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. f Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other f Liver and kidney function tests factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential f EKG effects described below. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for Health Hazard Information damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right immediately or shortly after exposure to Paraquat: to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage. Mixed Exposures f Inhaling Paraquat can irritate the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing, and can cause nosebleeds. f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, f Paraquat can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen abdominal pain. respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if f Inhaling Paraquat can irritate the lungs causing coughing you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may cause a your risk of developing health problems. build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical f More than light alcohol consumption can cause liver emergency, with severe shortness of breath. damage. Drinking alcohol may increase the liver damage caused by Paraquat. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Paraquat and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f Paraquat may be a CARCINOGEN in humans since it has been shown to cause skin cancer in animals. f Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen. PARAQUAT Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or f Wear eye protection with side shields or goggles. sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less f Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely f Do not wear contact lenses when working with this irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust substance. ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Respiratory Protection exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control should only be used if the employer has implemented a written Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and The following work practices are also recommended: medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Label process containers. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Provide employees with hazard information and training. f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. f For field applications check with your supervisor and your f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed safety equipment supplier regarding the appropriate recommended exposure levels. respiratory equipment. 3 f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.1 mg/m , use f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous a NIOSH approved respirator with an organic vapor cartridge material. and particulate prefilters. Increased protection is obtained f Always wash at the end of the workshift. from full facepiece powered-air purifying respirators. f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or contaminated. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Do not take contaminated clothing home. Paraquat, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to being handled, processed or stored. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, applying cosmetics or using the toilet.