Common Name: TETRAHYDROFURAN CAS Number: 109-99-9 RTK Substance number: 1823 DOT Number: UN 2056 Date: May 1997 Revision: May 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Tetrahydrofuran can affect you when breathed in and by * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely passing through your skin. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area * Tetrahydrofuran should be handled as a air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results CARCINOGEN--WITH EXTREME CAUTION. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes information under OSHA 1910.1020. with possible eye damage. Repeated skin contact can * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health cause dryness, cracking and a rash. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Breathing Tetrahydrofuran can irritate the nose, throat diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of * ODOR THRESHOLD = 31 ppm. breath. * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite * Tetrahydrofuran can cause headache, nausea and broad. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as dizziness. Very high exposure can cause unconsciousness a warning of potentially hazardous exposures. and death. * Tetrahydrofuran may damage the liver and kidneys. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Tetrahydrofuran is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. (PEL) is 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. IDENTIFICATION NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 200 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and Tetrahydrofuran is a colorless liquid with an Ether-like odor. It is used as a monomer, a solvent for natural and 250 ppm as a STEL, not to be exceeded during synthetic resins, and a chemical intermediate. any 15 minute work period. ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 50 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and REASON FOR CITATION 100 ppm as a STEL (short term exposure limit). * Tetrahydrofuran is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, * Tetrahydrofuran may be a CARCINOGEN in humans. DOT, NIOSH, NFPA and EPA. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. List because it is a CARCINOGEN and is * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When FLAMMABLE. skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even * Definitions are provided on page 5. though air levels are less than the limits listed above. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE EXPOSED * Enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. employers to provide their employees with information and * Wear protective work clothing. training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, Tetrahydrofuran and at the end of the workshift. requires private employers to provide similar training and * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In information to their employees. addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Tetrahydrofuran to potentially exposed workers. TETRAHYDROFURAN page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure. potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may immediately or shortly after exposure to Tetrahydrofuran: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes reduce your risk of developing health problems. with possible eye damage. * Because more than light alcohol consumption can cause * Breathing Tetrahydrofuran can irritate the nose and throat liver damage, drinking alcohol can increase the liver causing coughing and wheezing. damage caused by Tetrahydrofuran. * Tetrahydrofuran can cause headache, nausea and dizziness. Very high exposure can cause unconsciousness WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES and death. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous Chronic Health Effects substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to some time after exposure to Tetrahydrofuran and can last for enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at months or years: the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is Cancer Hazard less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * There is limited evidence that Tetrahydrofuran causes sometimes necessary. cancer in animals. It may cause cancer of the liver and kidney. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: * Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the a carcinogen. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Reproductive Hazard should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * There is limited evidence that Tetrahydrofuran is a significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. teratogen in animals. Until further testing has been done, it should be treated as a possible teratogen in humans. In addition, the following controls are recommended: Other Long-Term Effects * Where possible, automatically pump liquid * Repeated skin contact can cause dryness, cracking and a Tetrahydrofuran from drums or other storage containers rash. to process containers. * Tetrahydrofuran can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure * Before entering a confined space where Tetrahydrofuran may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, may be present, check to make sure that an explosive and/or shortness of breath. concentration does not exist. * Tetrahydrofuran may damage the liver and kidneys. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous MEDICAL exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Medical Testing Tetrahydrofuran should change into clean clothing Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, promptly. for those with frequent or potentially high exposures, the * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by following are recommended: individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Tetrahydrofuran. * Liver and kidney function tests. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency following are recommended: shower facilities should be provided. * Lung function tests. TETRAHYDROFURAN page 3 of 6 * On skin contact with Tetrahydrofuran, immediately wash * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the smell, taste, or otherwise detect Tetrahydrofuran, or if workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have while wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to contacted Tetrahydrofuran, whether or not known skin breathing is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while contact has occurred. wearing a full facepiece respirator, leave the area * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Tetrahydrofuran is immediately. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. smoking, or using the toilet. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace. You may need a combination of filters, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN chemicals. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator