Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: BENZOIC ACID Synonyms: Benzenecarboxylic Acid; Benzoate; Carboxybenzene CAS Number: 65-85-0 Chemical Name: Benzoic Acid RTK Substance Number: 0209 Date: October 2000 Revision: May 2009 DOT Number: UN 3077 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Benzoic Acid is a white, crystalline (sand-like) powder with a Hazard Summary faint, pleasant odor. It is used to make other chemicals, in Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA perfumes and flavorings, and as a food preservative and anti- HEALTH - 1 fungal agent. FLAMMABILITY - 1 REACTIVITY - 0 POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe Reasons for Citation f Benzoic Acid can affect you when inhaled. f Benzoic Acid is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance f Contact can irritate the eyes with possible eye damage. List because it is cited by DOT, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. f Benzoic Acid can irritate the skin causing a rash, redness and burning feeling on contact. f Inhaling Benzoic Acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. f Exposure to Benzoic Acid in high concentrations, particularly in susceptible individuals, may cause a skin allergy. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. Workplace Exposure Limits FIRST AID No occupational exposure limits have been established for Eye Contact f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 Benzoic Acid. However, it may pose a health risk. Always minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact follow safe work practices. lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical attention. Inhalation f Remove the person from exposure. f Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if 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 BENZOIC ACID Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f There is no evidence that Benzoic 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 Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause drying and f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New cracking of the skin with redness and itching. Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact f Exposure to Benzoic Acid in high concentrations, Sheet, available on the RTK website particularly in susceptible individuals, may cause a skin (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK allergy. If allergy develops, very low future exposure can Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. cause itching and a skin rash. f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Medical if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the Medical Testing federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the are a private worker. following is recommended: f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most f Evaluation by a qualified allergist can help diagnose skin employers to label chemicals in the workplace and allergy. requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication exposure. Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide similar information and training to their employees. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Benzoic Acid: f Contact can irritate the eyes with possible eye damage. f Benzoic Acid can irritate the skin causing a rash, redness and burning feeling on contact. f Inhaling Benzoic Acid can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Benzoic Acid and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health, Benzoic Acid has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. BENZOIC ACID 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 irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Respiratory Protection ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control should only be used if the employer has implemented a written exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on program that takes into account workplace conditions, workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory The following work practices are also recommended: Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Label process containers. f At any detectable level, use a NIOSH approved full f Provide employees with hazard information and training. facepiece respirator with an acid gas cartridge and high f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. efficiency prefilters. Increased protection is obtained from f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed full facepiece powered-air purifying respirators. recommended exposure levels. f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous Benzoic Acid, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal material. resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation f Always wash at the end of the workshift. occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, contaminated. replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, f Do not take contaminated clothing home. you may need a new respirator. f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges being handled, processed or stored. to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. applying cosmetics or using the toilet. f Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece In addition, the following may be useful or required: operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an f Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. emergency escape air cylinder. Personal Protective Equipment Fire Hazards If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate (29 CFR 1910.156). personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. f Benzoic Acid may burn, but does not readily ignite. f Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or foam as extinguishing agents. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may f Water or foam my cause frothing. not apply to every situation. f POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Phenol and Benzene. Gloves and Clothing f Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. f Avoid skin contact with Benzoic Acid. Wear personal f Vapor from molten Benzoic Acid may form explosive protective equipment made from material which can not be mixtures. permeated or degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove and clothing material for your operation. f Safety equipment manufacturers recommend Butyl and Neoprene for gloves, and Tychem® BR, Responder® and TK; and Trellchem® HPS and VPS, or the equivalent, as protective clothing materials for Acids, Carboxylic. f All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.