METHANOL

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA Emergency Overview Appearance: liquid, liquid, colourless WARNING! FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. MAY AFFECT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CAUSING DIZZINESS, HEADACHE OR NAUSEA. MAY BE HARMFUL IF INHALED. MAY CAUSE BLINDNESS. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. PROLONGED OR REPEATED CONTACT MAY DRY THE SKIN AND CAUSE IRRITATION AND BURNS.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation, Skin absorption, Skin contact, Eye Contact, Ingestion Eye contact May cause mild eye irritation. Symptoms include stinging, tearing, and redness. Skin contact May cause slight skin irritation. Prolonged or repeated contact may dry the skin. Symptoms may include redness, burning, drying and cracking of skin, and skin burns. Passage of this material into the body through the skin is possible, and may add to toxic effects from breathing or swallowing. Ingestion Swallowing this material may be harmful. 20297 Inhalation Breathing of vapor or mist is possible. Breathing this material may be harmful. Symptoms are not expected at air concentrations below the recommended exposure limits, if applicable (see Section 8.).

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Preexisting disorders of the following organs (or organ systems) may be aggravated by exposure to this material:, Skin, lung (for example, asthma-like conditions), Liver, kidney, Central nervous system, pancreas, Heart, Exposure to this material may aggravate any preexisting condition sensitive to a decrease in available oxygen, such as chronic lung disease, coronary artery disease or anemias. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of exposure to this material through breathing, swallowing, and/or passage of the material through the skin may include:, stomach or intestinal upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), irritation (nose, throat, airways), central nervous system depression (dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, nausea, headache, unconsciousness), muscle cramps, pain in the abdomen and lower back, Blurred vision, Shortness of breath, cyanosis (causes blue coloring of the skin and nails from lack of oxygen), visual impairment (including blindness), coma, and death Target Organs Exposure to lethal concentrations of methanol has been shown to cause damage to organs including liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart, lungs and brain. Although this rarely occurs, survivors of severe intoxication may suffer from permanent neurological damage., Overexposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in laboratory animals:, liver abnormalities, central nervous system damage, Overexposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in humans:, visual impairment Carcinogenicity This material is not listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration