Common Name: METHYL ISOCYANATE CAS Number: 624-83-9 RTK Substance number: 1270 DOT Number: UN 2480 (PIH) Date: April 1996 Revision: April 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Methyl Isocyanate can affect you when breathed in and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The by passing through your skin. federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, * Methyl Isocyanate may cause mutations. Handle with requires private employers to provide similar training and extreme caution. information to their employees. * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes, and may cause permanent eye damage. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Breathing Methyl Isocyanate can irritate the nose and evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area throat. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Breathing Methyl Isocyanate can irritate the lungs from your employer. You have a legal right to this causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher information under OSHA 1910.1020. exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational shortness of breath. diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * Methyl Isocyanate may cause an asthma-like allergy. Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with shortness WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest tightness. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * Methyl Isocyanate is a FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE (PEL) is 0.02 ppm averaged over an 8-hour chemical and a FIRE and EXPLOSION HAZARD. workshift. * Methyl Isocyanate is a DOT Poison Inhalation Hazard NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is (PIH). 0.02 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift. * If Methyl Isocyanate is involved in a fire it can release ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is HYDROGEN CYANIDE. CONSULT THE NEW JERSEY 0.02 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE FACT SHEET ON * Methyl Isocyanate may cause mutations. All contact with HYDROGEN CYANIDE. this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible level. IDENTIFICATION * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When Methyl Isocyanate is a volatile, colorless liquid with a strong, skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even sharp odor that causes tears. It is used in making pesticides, though air levels are less than the limits listed above. polyurethane foams and plastics. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE REASON FOR CITATION * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Methyl Isocyanate is on the Hazardous Substance List ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be DOT, NIOSH, DEP, HHAG, NFPA and EPA. worn. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance * Wear protective work clothing. List because it is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Methyl * Definitions are provided on page 5. Isocyanate and at the end of the workshift. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING addition, as part of an ongoing education and training EXPOSED effort, communicate all information on the health and The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers safety hazards of Methyl Isocyanate to potentially to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public exposed workers. employers to provide their employees with information and METHYL ISOCYANATE 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 Methyl Isocyanate: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will * Contact can irritate and burn the skin and eyes, and may reduce your risk of developing health problems. cause permanent eye damage. * Breathing Methyl Isocyanate can irritate the nose and WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES throat. * Breathing Methyl Isocyanate can irritate the lungs causing Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also Chronic Health Effects reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is some time after exposure to Methyl Isocyanate and can last sometimes necessary. for months or years: In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Cancer Hazard (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * Methyl Isocyanate may cause mutations (genetic changes). substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether Whether or not it poses a cancer or reproductive hazard harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls needs further study. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Reproductive Hazard * There is an association between exposure to Methyl In addition, the following controls are recommended: Isocyanate and increases in miscarriages among pregnant women. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Methyl * There is limited evidence that Methyl Isocyanate may Isocyanate from drums or other storage containers to damage the developing fetus. process containers. * There is limited evidence that Methyl Isocyanate may * Before entering a confined space where Methyl Isocyanate decrease fertility in males and females. may be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Other Long-Term Effects Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * Methyl Isocyanate may cause an asthma-like allergy. exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest tightness. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Methyl * Methyl Isocyanate can irritate the lungs. Repeated Isocyanate should change into clean clothing promptly. exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Methyl Isocyanate. MEDICAL * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. Medical Testing * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the shower facilities should be provided. following are recommended: * On skin contact with Methyl Isocyanate, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the * Lung function tests. These may be normal at first if the workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have person is not having an attack at the time. contacted Methyl Isocyanate, whether or not known skin * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. contact has occurred. METHYL ISOCYANATE page 3 of 6 * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Methyl Isocyanate is * Exposure to 3 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be health. If the possibility of exposure above 3 ppm exists, swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus applying cosmetics, smoking, or using the toilet. with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT HANDLING AND STORAGE WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for * Prior to working with Methyl Isocyanate you should be some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs trained on its proper handling and storage. done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace * Methyl Isocyanate must be stored to avoid contact with controls are being installed), personal protective equipment WATER; STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, may be appropriate. SULFURIC and NITRIC); ALKALIS; AMINES; IRON; TIN; COPPER; and OXIDIZING