Common Name: TETRAHYDROTHIOPHENE CAS Number: 110-01-0 RTK Substance number: 1827 DOT Number: UN 2412 Date: October 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Tetrahydrothiophene can affect you when breathed in No occupational exposure limits have been established for and may be absorbed through the skin. Tetrahydrothiophene. This does not mean that this * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Repeated exposure substance is not harmful. Safe work practices should always can cause drying and redness of the skin. be followed. * High exposure to Tetrahydrothiophene can cause headache, giddiness, dizziness, weakness, loss of * It should be recognized that Tetrahydrothiophene may coordination and convulsions. be absorbed through your skin, thereby increasing your * Tetrahydrothiophene can cause nausea, diarrhea and exposure. abdominal pain. * Tetrahydrothiophene is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE FIRE HAZARD. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust IDENTIFICATION ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be Tetrahydrothiophene is a colorless liquid with an unpleasant worn. odor. It is used as a solvent, chemical intermediate, fuel gas * Wear protective work clothing. odorant, insecticide, and bird and moth repellent. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Tetrahydrothiophene and at the end of the workshift. REASON FOR CITATION * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In * Tetrahydrothiophene is on the Hazardous Substance List addition, as part of an ongoing education and training because it is cited by DOT. effort, communicate all information on the health and * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance safety hazards of Tetrahydrothiophene to potentially List because it is FLAMMABLE. exposed workers. * Definitions are provided on page 5. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED 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. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. TETRAHYDROTHIOPHENE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most any of the potential effects described below. effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to --------------------------------------------------------------------------- enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Acute Health Effects sometimes necessary. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Tetrahydrothiophene: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Repeated exposure harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls can cause drying and redness of the skin. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * High exposure to Tetrahydrothiophene can cause significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. headache, giddiness, dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination and convulsions. In addition, the following controls are recommended: * Tetrahydrothiophene can cause nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Tetrahydrothiophene from drums or other storage Chronic Health Effects containers to process containers. The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at * Before entering a confined space where some time after exposure to Tetrahydrothiophene and can Tetrahydrothiophene may be present, check to make sure last for months or years: that an explosive concentration does not exist. Cancer Hazard Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous * According to the information presently available to the exposures. The following work practices are recommended: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Tetrahydrothiophene has not been tested for its ability to * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by cause cancer in animals. Tetrahydrothiophene should change into clean clothing promptly. Reproductive Hazard * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * According to the information presently available to the individuals who have been informed of the hazards of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, exposure to Tetrahydrothiophene. Tetrahydrothiophene has not been tested for its ability to * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate affect reproduction. work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency Other Long-Term Effects shower facilities should be provided. * On skin contact with Tetrahydrothiophene, immediately * No chronic (long-term) health effects are known at this wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the time. workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have MEDICAL contacted Tetrahydrothiophene, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Tetrahydrothiophene Medical Testing is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be There is no special test for this chemical. However, if illness swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, occurs or overexposure is suspected, medical attention is smoking, or using the toilet. recommended. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. TETRAHYDROTHIOPHENE page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT HANDLING AND STORAGE WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Prior to working with Tetrahydrothiophene you should PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for be trained on its proper handling and storage. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Tetrahydrothiophene is not compatible with done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, controls are being installed), personal protective equipment PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, may be appropriate. NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE). * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the area. appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are to train employees on how and when to use protective prohibited where Tetrahydrothiophene is used, handled, equipment. or stored. * Metal containers involving the transfer of The following recommendations are only guidelines and may Tetrahydrothiophene should be grounded and bonded. not apply to every situation. * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closing containers of Clothing Tetrahydrothiophene. * Avoid skin contact with Tetrahydrothiophene. Wear solvent-resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic operation. health effects? * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result should be clean, available each day, and put on before from repeated exposures to a chemical. work. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- Eye Protection term effects? * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated when working with liquids. exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with make you immediately sick. corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been Respiratory Protection exposed to chemicals? A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a determined by the length of