Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE Synonyms: Difluoromonochloromethane; Freon 22®; Genetron-22® CAS Number: 75-45-6 Chemical Name: Methane, Chlorodifluoro- RTK Substance Number: 0386 Date: January 1999 Revision: October 2008 DOT Number: UN 1018 Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE BACK PAGE Chlorodifluoromethane is a colorless gas with a slight Ether- Hazard Summary like odor. It is used as a refrigerant and a solvent. It is Hazard Rating NJDOH NFPA shipped as a liquified gas. HEALTH 1 - FLAMMABILITY 0 - REACTIVITY 0 - POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; Reasons for Citation 4=severe f Chlorodifluoromethane is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, f Chlorodifluoromethane can affect you when inhaled. DEP, IARC, IRIS and EPA. f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. f Contact with liquid Chlorodifluoromethane can cause frostbite. f Inhaling Chlorodifluoromethane can irritate the nose, throat and lungs. f Very high exposure can decrease the amount of Oxygen in the air. This can cause headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, passing out and even death. f Higher exposure may affect the heartbeat causing irregular SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. rhythms and skipped beats. FIRST AID Eye Contact Workplace Exposure Limits f Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. 1,000 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 1,250 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute Skin Contact work period. f Immerse affected part in warm water. Seek medical attention. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 1,000 ppm Inhalation averaged over an 8-hour workshift. 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 CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard f There is limited evidence that Chlorodifluoromethane may f Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data damage the developing fetus in animals. Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product ingredients and important safety and health information Other Effects about the product mixture. f Higher exposure may affect the heartbeat causing irregular f For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New rhythms and skipped beats. Jersey Department of Health Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK website (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility’s RTK Medical Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file. Medical Testing f You have a right to this information under the New Jersey If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the Worker and Community Right to Know Act, the Public following are recommended: Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the f Lung function tests if respiratory symptoms are present federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you f Special 24-48 hours EKG (Holter monitor) to observe and are a private worker. record abnormal heart rhythms f The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and employers to label chemicals in the workplace and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for requires public employers to provide their employees with damage already done are not a substitute for controlling information concerning chemical hazards and controls. exposure. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). similar information and training to their employees. Mixed Exposures This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information f Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce effects described below. your risk of developing health problems. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Chlorodifluoromethane: f Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. f Contact with liquid Chlorodifluoromethane can cause frostbite. f Inhaling Chlorodifluoromethane can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing tightness in the chest and/or difficulty in breathing. f Very high exposure can decrease the amount of Oxygen in the air. This can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, sleepiness, tremors, loss of coordination, lightheadedness, passing out and even death. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Chlorodifluoromethane and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard f While Chlorodifluoromethane has been tested, it is not classifiable as to its potential to cause cancer. CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices f Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may occur, employees should be provided with insulated gloves Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or and special clothing designed to prevent the freezing of body sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less tissues. toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Eye Protection ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single f Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control with fumes, gases, or vapors. exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on f If additional protection is needed for the entire face, use in workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control combination with a face shield. A face shield should not be Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. used without another type of eye protection. f Do not wear contact lenses when working with this The following work practices are also recommended: substance. f Label process containers. Respiratory Protection f Provide employees with hazard information and training. Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators f Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. should only be used if the employer has implemented a written f Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed program that takes into account workplace conditions, recommended exposure levels. requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and f Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory f Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous material. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). f Always wash at the end of the workshift. f Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes f Where the potential exists for exposure over 1,000 ppm, use contaminated. a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full f Do not take contaminated clothing home. facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- f Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination f Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus being handled, processed or stored. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure f Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, mode. applying cosmetics or using the toilet. f Exposure to Chlorodifluoromethane is dangerous because it can replace Oxygen and lead to suffocation. Only NIOSH In addition, the following may be useful or required: approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in the positive pressure mode should be f Before entering a confined space where used in Oxygen-deficient environments. Chlorodifluoromethane is present, check to make sure f DO NOT USE CHEMICAL CARTRIDGE OR CANISTER sufficient Oxygen (19.5%) exists. RESPIRATORS. 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 Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. Chlorodifluoromethane itself does not burn. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may f Use water spray to reduce vapors. not apply to every situation.