Common Name: ACRYLONITRILE CAS Number: 107-13-1 DOT Number: UN 1093 (Inhibited) RTK Substance number: 0024 DOT Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable Liquid) Date: May 1998 Revisions: December 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Acrylonitrile can affect you when breathed in and by training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal passing through your skin. OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200, * Acrylonitrile is a CARCINOGEN--HANDLE WITH requires private employers to provide similar training and EXTREME CAUTION. information to their employees. * Acrylonitrile should be handled as a TERATOGEN-- WITH EXTREME CAUTION. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Skin contact can cause severe irritation and blistering. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air * Exposure to Acrylonitrile can irritate the eyes, nose, and samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from throat. your employer. You have a legal right to this information * Breathing Acrylonitrile can irritate the lungs causing under the OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1020. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * Exposure to Acrylonitrile can cause weakness, headache, * ODOR THRESHOLD = 1.6 ppm. dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and can lead to * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite broad. death. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as a * Repeated exposure can irritate the nose causing discharge, warning of potentially hazardous exposures. nosebleeds, and sores inside the nose. * Acrylonitrile may affect the liver. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Acrylonitrile is a FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit chemical and a FIRE and EXPLOSION HAZARD. (PEL) is 2 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 10 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15 IDENTIFICATION minute work period. Acrylonitrile is a clear, colorless or slightly yellowish liquid with a faint odor. It is used to make synthetic fibers and NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is polymers. 1 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 10 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15 minute REASON FOR CITATION work period. * Acrylonitrile is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is NTP, DEP, IARC, IRIS, NFPA, and EPA. 2 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is a CARCINOGEN and TERATOGEN, * Acrylonitrile is a PROBABLE CARCINOGEN in humans. and is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so * Definitions are provided on page 5. all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. * Acrylonitrile may be a teratogen in humans. All contact with this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING level. EXPOSED * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers though air levels are less than the limits listed above. to provide their employees with information and ACRYLONITRILE page 2 of 6 WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE Other Long-Term Effects * Enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the * Repeated exposure can irritate the nose causing discharge, site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or nosebleeds, and sores inside the nose. enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. * Acrylonitrile may affect the liver. * A regulated, marked area should be established where Acrylonitrile is handled, used or stored as required by the MEDICAL OSHA Standard: 29 CFR 1910. 1045 Acrylonitrile. * Wear protective work clothing. Medical Testing * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the Acrylonitrile and at the end of the workshift. TLV or greater), the following are recommended before * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In beginning work and at regular times after that: addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety * Urine thiocyanate levels. hazards of Acrylonitrile to potentially exposed workers. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the ------------------------------------------------------------------------- following are recommended: This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential and most severe health hazards that may result from * Blood cyanide level. exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the * Liver function tests potential 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 Acrylonitrile: to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Skin contact can cause severe irritation and blistering. Mixed Exposures * Exposure to Acrylonitrile can irritate the eyes, nose, and * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung throat. cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may * Breathing Acrylonitrile can irritate the lungs causing worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a reduce your risk of developing health problems. medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. * Because more than light alcohol consumption can cause * Exposure to Acrylonitrile can cause weakness, headache, liver damage, drinking alcohol may increase the liver dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and can lead to damage caused by Acrylonitrile. death. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous some time after exposure to Acrylonitrile and can last for substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most months or years: effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at Cancer Hazard the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also * Acrylonitrile is a PROBABLE CARCINOGEN in humans. reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is There is some evidence that it causes lung cancer in humans less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is and it has been shown to cause brain, mammary, and sometimes necessary. stomach cancer in animals. * Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: a carcinogen. (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether Reproductive Hazard harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls * Acrylonitrile may be a TERATOGEN in humans since it should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when has been shown to be a teratogen in animals. significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. ACRYLONITRILE page 3 of 6 In addition, the following controls are recommended: * Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Butyl Rubber, Viton®/Butyl, Silver Shield/4H®, Responder and Tychem * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Acrylonitrile BR/LV and TK® as protective materials. from drums or other storage containers to process * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) containers. should be clean, available each day, and put on before * Before entering a confined space where Acrylonitrile may work. be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Eye Protection * Specific engineering controls are required for this chemical * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles by OSHA. Refer to the OSHA Standard: 29 CFR 1910. when working with liquids. 1045 Acrylonitrile. * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this exposures. The following work practices are recommended: substance. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Respiratory Protection Acrylonitrile should change into clean clothing promptly. IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a members could