Common Name: DICHLOROACETIC ACID CAS Number: 79-43-6 RTK Substance number: 0638 DOT Number: UN 1764 Date: February 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Dichloroacetic Acid can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Dichloroacetic Acid may cause reproductive damage. evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area Handle with extreme caution. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Dichloroacetic Acid is a HIGHLY CORROSIVE from your employer. You have a legal right to this CHEMICAL and contact can cause severe skin and eye information under OSHA 1910.1020. irritation and burns with possible permanent eye damage. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Breathing Dichloroacetic Acid can irritate the nose and problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational throat. diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * Breathing Dichloroacetic Acid can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs No occupational exposure limits have been established for (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe Dichloroacetic Acid. This does not mean that this substance shortness of breath. is not harmful. Safe work practices should always be * Exposure to Dichloroacetic Acid may affect the liver and followed. kidneys. * Dichloroacetic Acid may damage the nervous system WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE causing numbness, "pins and needles," and/or weakness in * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust the hands and feet. ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be IDENTIFICATION worn. Dichloroacetic Acid is a highly corrosive, colorless liquid * Wear protective work clothing. with a pungent odor. It is used as a fungicide, as a chemical * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to intermediate in pharmaceuticals, and as a medication. Dichloroacetic Acid and at the end of the workshift. * The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has set REASON FOR CITATION standards for Good Manufacturing Practices for Drugs and * Dichloroacetic Acid is on the Hazardous Substance List Pharmaceuticals. These should be followed for your because it is cited by DOT. protection as well as product quality. See the FDA * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance regulation 21 CFR 210. List because it is CORROSIVE. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In * Definitions are provided on page 5. addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING safety hazards of Dichloroacetic Acid to potentially EXPOSED exposed workers. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. DICHLOROACETIC ACID 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 damage already done are not a substitute for controlling substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to exposure. any of the 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 Dichloroacetic Acid: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, * Contact can cause severe skin and eye irritation and burns stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health with possible permanent eye damage. problems. * Breathing Dichloroacetic Acid can irritate the nose and throat. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * Breathing Dichloroacetic Acid can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to 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 Dichloroacetic Acid 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 * There is limited evidence that Dichloroacetic Acid causes substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether cancer in animals. It may cause cancer of the liver. harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls * Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when to a carcinogen. significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Reproductive Hazard In addition, the following control is recommended: * Dichloroacetic Acid may damage the developing fetus. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Dichloroacetic Other Long-Term Effects Acid from drums or other storage containers to process containers. * Exposure to Dichloroacetic Acid may affect the liver and kidneys. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * Dichloroacetic Acid can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposures. The following work practices are recommended: exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by * Dichloroacetic Acid may damage the nervous system Dichloroacetic Acid should change into clean clothing causing numbness, "pins and needles," and/or weakness in promptly. the hands and feet. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by MEDICAL individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Dichloroacetic Acid. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate Medical Testing 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. * On skin contact with Dichloroacetic Acid, immediately * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the * Liver and kidney function tests. workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have * Exam of the nervous system. contacted Dichloroacetic Acid, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. DICHLOROACETIC ACID page 3 of 6 * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Dichloroacetic Acid is HANDLING AND STORAGE handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, * Prior to working with Dichloroacetic Acid you should be smoking, or using the toilet. trained on its proper handling and storage. * Dichloroacetic Acid is not compatible with OXIDIZING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); and REDUCING done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace AGENTS. controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated may be appropriate. area away from WATER or STEAM. * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the prohibited where Dichloroacetic Acid is used, handled, or appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or to train employees on how and when to use protective explosion hazard. equipment. * If you are required to work in a "sterile" environment you require special training. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Clothing Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic * Avoid skin contact with Dichloroacetic Acid. Wear acid- health effects? resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most from repeated exposures to