Phthalic acid esters

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency overview CAUTION: Contains a suspect carcinogen. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes and clothing. Avoid inhalation of mists/vapours. Use with local exhaust ventilation. Wear a NIOSH-certified (or equivalent) organic vapour respirator. Wear safety glasses with side-shields. Wear chemical resistant protective gloves. Wear protective clothing. Eye wash fountains and safety showers must be easily accessible. State of matter: liquid Colour: colourless Odour: mild

Principle Routes of Exposure

Routes of entry for solids and liquids include eye and skin contact, ingestion and inhalation. Routes of entry for gases include inhalation and eye contact. Skin contact may be a route of entry for liquified gases. Acute toxicity: Virtually nontoxic after a single ingestion. Virtually nontoxic after a single skin contact. Virtually nontoxic by inhalation. Irritation / corrosion: Not irritating to the skin. Not irritating to the eyes. Sensitization: Skin sensitizing effects were not observed in animal studies. Chronic toxicity: Carcinogenicity: In long-term studies in rodents exposed to high doses, a tumorigenic effect was found; however, these results are thought to be due to a rodent-specific liver effect that is not relevant to humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified this substance as group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. NTP listed carcinogen Repeated dose toxicity: Repeated exposure to high doses of the substance causes reversible liver changes in rodents. According to present knowledge, these effects do not occur in man. Reproductive toxicity: The results of animal studies suggest a fertility impairing effect.

Teratogenic Effects

The substance caused malformations/developmental toxicity in laboratory animals. Indications of possible developmental toxicity/teratogenicity were seen in animal studies. Genotoxicity: Most of the results from the numerous studies available show no evidence of a mutagenic effect.

Environmental effects

Aquatic toxicity: No toxic effects occur within the range of solubility. There is a high probability that the product is not acutely harmful to aquatic organisms. The inhibition of the degradation activity of activated sludge is not anticipated when introduced to biological treatment plants in appropriate low concentrations.