TOLUENE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA Emergency Overview Appearance: liquid, colourless WARNING! FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. MAY AFFECT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CAUSING DIZZINESS, HEADACHE OR NAUSEA. MAY CAUSE EYE IRRITATION. MAY CAUSE SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT IRRITATION. PROLONGED OR REPEATED CONTACT MAY DRY SKIN AND CAUSE DERMATITIS AND BURNS.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation, Skin absorption, Skin contact, Eye Contact, Ingestion Eye contact Can cause eye irritation. Symptoms include stinging, tearing, redness, and swelling of eyes. Skin contact Can cause skin irritation. Symptoms may include redness and burning of skin, and other skin damage. Prolonged or repeated contact may dry the skin. Symptoms may include redness, burning, and drying and cracking of skin, skin burns, and other skin damage. Ingestion 20052 Swallowing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects. Swallowing large amounts may be harmful. This material can get into the lungs during swallowing or vomiting. This results in lung inflammation and other lung injury. Inhalation Breathing of vapor or mist is possible. Breathing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects. Breathing large amounts 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, Upper respiratory tract, lung (for example, asthma-like conditions), Kidney, Central nervous system, auditory system, Individuals with preexisting heart disorders maybe more susceptible to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) if exposed to high concentrations of this material. 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 excitation (giddiness, liveliness, light-headed feeling) followed by central nervous system depression (dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, nausea, headache, unconsciousness) and other central nervous system effects, temporary changes in mood and behavior, Lack of coordination, confusion, irregular heartbeat, coma Target Organs Prolonged intentional toluene abuse may lead to damage to many organ systems having effects on: central and peripheral nervous systems, vision, hearing, liver, kidneys, heart and blood. Such abuse has been associated with brain damage characterized by disturbances in gait, personality changes and loss of memory. Comparable central nervous system effects have not been shown to result from occupational exposure to toluene., Prolonged intentional toluene abuse may lead to hearing loss progressing to deafness. In addition, while noise is known to cause hearing loss in humans, it has been suggested that workers exposed to organic solvents, including toluene, along with noise may suffer greater hearing loss than would be expected from exposure to noise alone., Overexposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in laboratory animals:, mild, reversible liver effects, mild, reversible kidney effects, respiratory tract damage (nose, throat, and airways), effects on hearing, central nervous system damage, Overexposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in humans:, kidney damage Carcinogenicity 20052 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