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SECTION 2: Hazards identification

DANGER Highly flammable liquid and vapour. May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. Harmful if swallowed. Harmful if inhaled. May cause respiratory irritation or drowsiness or dizziness. Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause damage to the central nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled. May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled. May cause an allergic skin reaction. Obtain special instructions before use. Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces. No smoking. Use explosion proof electrical equipment. Use only non-sparking tools. Take precautionary measures against static discharge. Do not eat or drink when using this product. Avoid breathing vapours. Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Wear protective gloves, eye protection and an organic vapour respirator. Contaminated work clothing must not be allowed out of the workplace. Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed. Keep cool. Store locked up. Dispose of container in accordance with local, regional and national regulations. SECTION III: COMPOSITION AND INFORMATION ON HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS NAME CAS # % WEIGHT EXPOSURE LIMIT (ACGIH) TLV-TWA TLV-STEL Asphalt 8052-42-4 15-40 0.5 mg/m³ Not established Toluene 108-88-3 7-13 20 ppm Not established Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) 78-93-3 5-10 200 ppm 300 ppm Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMMEA) 108-65-6 0.5-1.5 50 ppm Not established 4,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate 2,2'- 101-68-8 0.1-1 0.005 ppm Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) Not established p-Toluenesulfonyl Isocyanate (PTSI) 4083-64-1 0.1-1 Not established Effects of Short-Term (Acute) Exposure PTSI: PTSI is irritating to skin. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. (2) SKIN CONTACT Asphalt: Contact may cause reddening, itching and inflammation. Skin EYE CONTACT contact may cause harmful effects in other parts of the body. (2) Asphalt: Vapors may cause eye irritation and sensitivity to light. Effects may become more serious with repeated or prolonged Toluene: Toluene is a moderate skin irritant, based on animal contact. (2) information. Prolonged contact can cause dermatitis (dry, red skin). Absorption of toluene through the skin may contribute significantly to Toluene: Toluene is a very mild eye irritant, based on animal the overall exposure. Although no reports of harmful effects following evidence. (1) skin absorption were located. (1) MEK: MEK is a moderate to severe irritant based on animal and MEK: MEK is expected to cause no or very mild irritation based on limited human information. (1) animal and limited human information. (1) PGMMEA: PGMMEA may be a slight to moderate eye irritant, based PGMMEA: PGMMEA is not a skin irritant, based on animal on animal information. No human information was located. (1) information. No human information was located. PGMMEA can be MDI: MDI may cause no irritation or slight eye irritation based on absorbed through the skin, but harmful effects are not expected by this animal information. (1) route of exposure. (1) PTSI: PTSI is irritating to eyes. (2) MDI: MDI is a severe skin irritant based on animal information. In general, isocyanates can cause skin discolouration (staining) and INHALATION hardening of the skin after repeated exposures. Skin contact is not Asphalt: Effects of overexposure include irritation of the nose and expected to result in the absorption of harmful amounts. (1) throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and signs of nervous system depression (e.g. headache, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of PTSI: PTSI may cause irritation of the digestive tract. May be harmful coordination and fatigue), irregular heartbeats, pulmonary edema, if swallowed. (2) weakness and convulsions. (2) Effects of Long-Term (Chronic) Exposure Toluene: Inhalation of toluene vapour can affect the CNS. At approximately 50 ppm, slight drowsiness and headache have been RESPIRATORY EFFECTS reported. Irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory tract has occurred Asphalt: Some studies indicate that asphalt paving workers may experience lower respiratory tract symptoms (e.g., coughing, wheezing, between 50 and 100 ppm. About 100 ppm has caused fatigue and dizziness; over 200 ppm has caused symptoms similar to drunkenness, and shortness of breath) and pulmonary function changes. Other studies numbness, and mild nausea; and over 500 ppm has caused mental of asphalt workers found no consistent relationship between exposure confusion and incoordination. Higher concentrations (estimated at to asphalt fumes and pulmonary function. (2) higher than 10 000 ppm) can result in unconsciousness and death. Most Toluene: Toluene is not a respiratory sensitizer. Despite widespread serious incidences of exposure have occurred when the vapour has use, no reports of respiratory sensitization were located. (1) accumulated in confined spaces. (1) MDI: Respiratory sensitization has developed in people working with MEK: Brief (3-5 minutes) exposures to MEK vapours produced slight MDI. The sensitization is usually caused by a very large exposure or by nose and throat irritation at 100 ppm and definite nose and throat multiple exposures. Although varying periods of exposure (1 day to irritation at 350 ppm in approximately 10 people. 143 volunteers years) may elapse before sensitization occurs, it develops more often exposed to 200 ppm for 4 hours reported throat irritation, unpleasant during the first few months of exposure. Sensitized individuals react to odour, nausea, and headache (in order of frequency reported). Higher very low levels of isocyanates (for MDI, as low as 0.0014 ppm) that exposures are expected to cause CNS depression with symptoms such have no effect on unsensitized people. At first, the symptoms may as headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion. Extremely appear to be a cold or mild hay fever. However, severe asthmatic high concentrations may cause loss of consciousness and possibly symptoms can develop and include wheezing, chest tightness, shortness death. (1) of breath, difficult breathing and/or coughing. Fever, chills, general PGMMEA: PGMMEA does form a vapour at normal temperatures. feelings of discomfort, headache and fatigue can also occur. Symptoms High vapour or mist concentrations may irritate the eyes and nose, may occur immediately upon exposure, within an hour or several hours based on animal information and comparison to propylene glycol after exposure or both and/or at night. Typically the asthma improves monomethyl ether. Very high concentrations may cause CNS with removal from exposure (e.g. weekends and vacations) and returns, depression, with symptoms such as headache, nausea and dizziness. (1) in some cases, in the form of an "acute attack", on renewed exposure. Sensitized people who continue to work with isocyanates may develop MDI: MDI has a very low vapour pressure. Therefore, airborne symptoms sooner after each exposure. The number and severity of exposures are unlikely to occur unless MDI is heated or forms an symptoms may increase. Following removal from exposure, some aerosol or mist during pouring, frothing or spraying operations. Short- workers may continue to have persistent respiratory problems such as term inhalation exposure to isocyanates can cause respiratory and asthmatic symptoms, bronchial problems and hypersensitivity to mucous membrane irritation. Symptoms include eye and nose irritation, isocyanates. Others may recover fully and may gradually lose their dry or sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, wheezing and sensitivity within several years. Isocyanates may also cause laryngitis. Coughing with chest pain or tightness may also occur, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, another allergic lung disease, which is frequently at night. These symptoms may occur during exposure or characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, tiredness, may be delayed several hours. (1) non-productive cough, and chills. Several studies have shown that PTSI: PTSI is irritating to respiratory system. May be harmful if continued exposure to low levels of MDI and other isocyanates may inhaled. (2) cause impaired lung function, such as diminished respiratory capacity. Other studies have shown that extremely low levels of MDI (e.g. less INGESTION than 0.003 ppm) do not decrease lung function. Cross-sensitization Asphalt: May cause irritation of the mouth, throat and gastrointestinal between different isocyanates may occur. People sensitized to toluene tract. Ingestion of large amounts may cause gastrointestinal diisocyanate (TDI) or hezamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) may show blockage. (2) sensitization to MDI, without having previous exposure to this chemical. Exposure to isocyanates is likely to cause aggravation to Toluene: There are case reports of accidental ingestion of toluene causing severe CNS depression and death. Toluene is readily absorbed individuals with existing respiratory disease, such as chronic bronchitis following ingestion producing symptoms similar to those described for and emphysema. (1) inhalation above. Toluene may be aspirated, which is the inhalation of a PTSI: PTSI may cause sensitization by inhalation. Repeated exposures chemical into the lungs, during ingestion or vomiting. Severe lung may cause asthma and allergic reactions to isocyanates. (2) irritation, damage to the lung tissues and death may result. (1) MEK, PGMMEA: No human or animal information is available. MEK: MEK is not considered toxic if ingested based on animal toxicity information. Ingestion of large doses is expected to cause CNS SKIN SENSITIZATION depression with symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, Toluene: Toluene is not a skin sensitizer. Despite widespread use, no drowsiness, and confusion. Extremely high concentrations may cause reports of skin sensitization in humans were located. (1) loss of consciousness and possibly death. Animal evidence suggests MEK: MEK is not an occupational skin sensitizer. Despite extensive that MEK can be aspirated (inhaled) into the lungs during ingestion or industrial use, there is only one case report of sensitization in a painter, vomiting. Aspiration of even a small amount of liquid could result in a which was confirmed by positive response to standard patch testing life threatening accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Severe lung damage with MEK. (1) (edema), respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and death may result. (1) PGMMEA: PGMMEA is not a skin sensitizer, based on unconfirmed PGMMEA: PGMMEA has a very low oral toxicity based on animal animal information. No human information was located. (1) information. No human information was located. Ingestion is not a typical route of exposure. (1) MDI: Allergic contact dermatitis has developed from occupational contact with MDI. (1) MDI: There have been no reports of human ingestion of MDI. Animal studies indicate that the toxic effects of the ingestion of MDI are slight. Asphalt, PTSI: No human or animal information is available. Ingestion could result in irritation and corrosion of the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Ingestion is not a typical route of occupational exposure. (1) NERVOUS SYSTEM PGMMEA: Commercial PGMMEA is largely the alpha isomer, with Toluene: Numerous studies of rotogravure printers, painters and small amounts of the beta isomer. The commercial product has not rubberized-matting workers with chronic exposure to toluene are caused developmental toxicity in animal studies, even in the presence inconclusive about chronic CNS damage. Some studies report changes of maternal toxicity, and, therefore, is not considered a developmental such as memory loss, sleep disturbances, loss of ability to concentrate, toxin. (1) or incoordination, while others report no effects. (1) Asphalt, MDI, PTSI: No human or animal information is available. MEK: Limited evidence suggests that MEK may cause harmful effects REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY on the nervous system. Nervous system effects have been seen in some Toluene: Toluene is not considered a reproductive hazard. No human population (epidemiological) studies and case reports where the conclusions can be drawn based on the available human information. exposure is primarily to MEK. However, these studies have limitations Reproductive effects have not been observed in animal studies. (1) such as lack of information on exposure levels, small numbers, and lack MEK: The information located is not sufficient to conclude that MEK of information on alcohol consumption. (1) causes reproductive toxicity. Little human and no animal information Asphalt, PGMMEA, MDI, PTSI: No human or animal information is was located. (1) available. PGMMEA: The available information does not suggest that PGMMEA TARGET ORGANS causes reproductive toxicity. No human or animal information was Toluene: Kidney and liver effects are not expected to occur unless located for PGMMEA. (1) exposures are very high. A review of several studies on toluene and its Asphalt, MDI, PTSI: No human or animal information is available. effects on colour vision concluded that the evidence is inconclusive as to whether long-term exposure to toluene results in a persistent MUTAGENICITY impairment of colour vision. Firm conclusions of hearing effects cannot Toluene: There is insufficient information available to conclude that be drawn based on the limited information available. Hearing loss has toluene is mutagenic. Results from the available human studies are been observed in workers in some studies following long-term inconclusive. Both positive and negative results have been obtained in exposure to toluene and noise and in animals exposed to very high human studies, but no studies were carried out with toluene exposure concentrations of toluene. (1) only, or with adequate control of other factors. (1) Asphalt, MEK, PGMMEA, MDI, PTSI: No human or animal MEK: MEK is not known to be a mutagen. No human information was information is available. located. (1) CARCINOGENICITY MDI: In one case report, MDI caused DNA damage in human white Toluene: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has blood cells after inhalation exposure to 5 to 20 ppb. This report concluded that this chemical is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity provides insufficient information for determining the mutagenicity of to humans (Group 3). The American Conference of Governmental MDI. No other human or animal in vivo studies have been reported. (1) Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has designated this chemical as not Asphalt, PGMMEA, PTSI: No human or animal information is classifiable as a human carcinogen (A4). The US National Toxicology available. Program (NTP) has not listed this chemical in its report on carcinogens. (1) TOXICOLOGICALLY SYNERGISTIC MATERIALS Toluene: Combined exposure to toluene and noise, toluene and n- MEK: IARC has not evaluated the carcinogenicity of this chemical. hexane, toluene and aspirin or toluene, ethylbenzene and noise has ACGIH has not assigned a carcinogenicity designation to this chemical. caused a synergistic loss of hearing in animal studies. Increased hearing NTP has not listed this chemical in its report on carcinogens. (1) loss has also been observed in workers in some studies following long- MDI: IARC has concluded that this chemical is not classifiable as to its term exposure to toluene and noise. (1) carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3). ACGIH has not assigned a MEK: There are several human case reports of neurological effects carcinogenicity designation to this chemical. NTP has not listed this resulting from high exposure to MEK in combination with other chemical in its report on carcinogens. (1) solvents. (1) Asphalt, PGMMEA: No human or animal information is available. Asphalt, PGMMEA, MDI, PTSI: No human or animal information is IARC has not evaluated the carcinogenicity of these chemicals. ACGIH available. has not listed any of these chemicals. NTP has not listed any of these chemicals in its report on carcinogens. (1) POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATION Toluene: Toluene is readily absorbed by inhalation, ingestion and PTSI: No human or animal information is available. through the skin. Inhaled toluene appears quickly in the brain fat (lipid) TERATOGENICITY, EMBRYOTOXICITY, FETOTOXICITY where it is rapidly eliminated. The half-life in human adipose tissue is Toluene: Toluene is a developmental toxicity hazard, based on 0.5-2.7 days. Toluene is removed rapidly from the blood. It is information obtained from animal studies. Fetotoxicity (reduced foetal metabolized in the liver where it is converted via several steps weight), behavioural effects (effects on learning and memory) and primarily to hippuric acid, which is excreted in the urine. A small hearing loss (in males) have been observed in the offspring of rats amount of toluene is also exhaled unchanged. Toluene has been exposed by inhalation to 1 200 or 1 800 ppm toluene. These effects identified in human milk. (1) were observed in the absence of maternal toxicity. A detailed review of MEK: MEK does not accumulate in the body. It is rapidly absorbed by toluene and its potential to cause teratogenicity/embryotoxicity in inhalation, skin contact and ingestion and transferred into the blood and occupational situations has been published. This review concludes that other tissues. MEK is metabolized in the liver, mainly to 3-hydroxy-2- although many occupational studies have evaluated general solvent butanone and 2,3-butanediol, which are eliminated in urine. Most MEK exposure and pregnancy outcomes, few studies have specifically probably enters the general metabolism in the body and is converted to investigated toluene exposure. (1) acetate, which is eventually broken down to carbon dioxide and water, MEK: The information located is not sufficient to conclude that MEK which are then eliminated in exhaled air and urine. Small amounts of causes developmental toxicity. Little human information was located. MEK itself are also eliminated in exhaled air and urine. MEK and its In general, animal studies have shown slight fetotoxicity (e.g. skeletal metabolites are mostly cleared from the body within 24 hours. (1) anomalies, reduced fetal weight) at concentrations that produced mild PGMMEA: Does not accumulate. (1) maternal toxicity. (1) MDI: MDI can enter the body by inhalation or ingestion. It is probably to containers. Sweep or shovel into containers with lids, use clean non- metabolized to 4,4’-methylene dianiline, which is metabolized further sparking tools to collect absorbed material. Cover and remove to and excreted. (1) appropriate well ventilated area until disposal. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Wash spill area with soap and water. Prevent Asphalt, PTSI: No human or animal information is available. entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.