METHYLATED SPIRITS

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW 3.1B Highlyflammable liquid 6.3B Mildlyirritating to skin 6.4A Irritating to eyes.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal. EYE Evidence exists, or practical experience predicts, that the material may cause eye irritation in a substantial number of individuals and/or may produce significant ocular lesions which are present twenty-four hours or more after instillation into the eye(s) of experimental animals. Repeated or prolonged eye contact may cause inflammation characterised by temporary redness (similar to windburn) of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis); temporary impairment of vision and/or other transient eye damage/ulceration may occur. SKIN Limited evidence exists, or practical experience predicts, that the material either produces inflammation of the skin in a substantial number of individuals following direct contact, and/or produces significant inflammation when applied to the healthy intact skin of animals, for up to four hours, such inflammation being present twenty-four hours or more after the end of the exposure period. Skin irritation may also be present after prolonged or repeated exposure; this may result in a form of contact dermatitis (nonallergic). The dermatitis is often characterised by skin redness (erythema) and swelling (oedema) which may progress to blistering (vesiculation), scaling and thickening of the epidermis. At the microscopic level there may be intercellular oedema of the spongy layer of the skin (spongiosis) and intracellular oedema of the epidermis. Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects (as classified under EC Directives); the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. INHALED Inhalation may produce health damage*. Limited evidence exists, or practical experience predicts, that the material produces irritation of the respiratory system in a significant number of individuals following inhalation. Vapours potentially cause drowsiness and dizziness*.

Potential chronic health

Cumulative effects may result following exposure*.

Principle Routes of Exposure

are usually by skin contact with the material and inhalation of vapour Prolonged or continuous skin contact with the liquid may cause defatting with drying, cracking, irritation and dermatitis following. Ingestion may result in intoxication and drunkenness. In chronic form this may result in alcoholism and liver damage. Prolonged exposure to ethanol may cause damage to the liver and cause scarring. It may also worsen damage caused by other agents. Large amounts of ethanol taken in pregnancy may result in "foetal alcohol syndrome", characterised by delay in mental and physical development, learning difficulties, behavioural problems and small head size. A small number of people develop allergic reactions to ethanol, which include eye infections, skin swelling, shortness of breath, and itchy rashes with blisters.