Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE Synonyms: 1,2-Benzendicarboxylic Anhydride; 1,3-Dioxophthalon CAS Number: 85-44-9 Chemical Name: 1,3-Isobenzofurandione RTK Substance Number: 1535 Date: August 2001 Revision: April 2010 DOT Number: UN 2214 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Phthallic Anhydride is a colorless to white, crystalline (sand- Hazard Summary like) or needle-shaped solid, or a pale yellow liquid when in Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA molten form, with a strong, choking odor. It is used to make HEALTH - 3 plastics, resins, dyes, pharmaceuticals and fungicides. FLAMMABILITY - 1 REACTIVITY - 0 f ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.053 ppm CORROSIVE f Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone to POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE determine potentially hazardous exposures. Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; Reasons for Citation 4=severe f Phthallic Anhydride is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, f Phthallic Anhydride can affect you when inhaled. NIOSH, DEP, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. f This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance f Inhaling Phthallic Anhydride can irritate the nose, throat List. and lungs. f Phthallic Anhydride may cause a skin allergy and an asthma-like allergy. f Phthallic Anhydride may damage the liver and kidneys. f Phthallic Anhydride is a DOT CORROSIVE. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. Workplace Exposure Limits OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is FIRST AID 3 12 mg/m averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Eye Contact f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 30 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. 6 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift. Skin Contact f Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 6 mg/m3 averaged contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. over an 8-hour workshift. 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 PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Other Effects f Phthallic Anhydride may cause a skin allergy. If allergy f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product skin rash. ingredients and important safety and health information f Phthallic Anhydride may cause an asthma-like allergy. about the product mixture. Future exposure can cause asthma attacks with shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and/or chest tightness. f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New f Phthallic Anhydride can irritate the lungs. Repeated Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, Sheet, available on the RTK website phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK f Phthallic Anhydride may damage the liver and kidneys. Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public Medical Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Medical Testing if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you greater), the following are recommended before beginning are a private worker. work and at regular times after that: f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most f Lung function tests employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the information concerning chemical hazards and controls. following are recommended: The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 f Evaluation by a qualified allergist can help diagnose skin CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication allergy. Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide f Liver and kidney function tests similar information and training to their employees. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other exposure. factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). Health Hazard Information Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen immediately or shortly after exposure to Phthallic Anhydride: respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce f Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. your risk of developing health problems. f Inhaling Phthallic Anhydride can irritate the nose, throat f More than light alcohol consumption can cause liver and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of damage. Drinking alcohol may increase the liver damage breath. caused by Phthallic Anhydride. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Phthallic Anhydride and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f While Phthallic Anhydride has been tested, it is not classifiable as to its potential to cause cancer. Reproductive Hazard f At doses that are severely toxic to the mother, Phthallic Anhydride produces teratogenic effects in animals. PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE 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). 3 f Label process containers. f Where the potential exists for exposure over 6 mg/m , use a f Provide employees with hazard information and training. NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with an organic f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. vapor cartridge and particulate prefilters. Increased f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed protection is obtained from full facepiece powered-air recommended exposure levels. purifying respirators. f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. f Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect material. Phthallic Anhydride, (2) while wearing particulate filters f Always wash at the end of the workshift. abnormal resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes irritation occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. contaminated. Check to make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. f Do not take contaminated clothing home. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. good, you may need a new respirator. f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are f Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. being handled, processed or stored. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as applying cosmetics or using the toilet. vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. 3 f Where the potential exists for exposure over 12 mg/m , use In addition, the following may be useful or required: a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- f For solid Phthallic Anhydride use a vacuum or slightly pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination moisten to reduce dust during clean-up. DO NOT DRY with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an SWEEP. emergency escape air cylinder. f Exposure to 60 mg/m3 is immediately dangerous to life and 3 health. If the possibility of exposure above 60 mg/m exists, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus Personal Protective Equipment with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR air cylinder.