METHYLENE CHLORIDE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Principle Routes of Exposure

SKIN CONTACT...............PROLONGED OR REPEATED EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION, EVEN BURN. REPEATED CONTACT MAY CAUSE DRYING OR FLAKING OF SKIN. MAY CAUSE MORE SEVERE RESPONSE IF CONFINED TO SKIN. EXTENSIVE SKIN CONTACT WITH METHYLENE CHLORIDE, SUCH AS IMMERSION, MAY CAUSE AN INTENSE BURNING SENSATION FOLLOWED BY A COLD, NUMB FEELING WHICH WILL SUBSIDE AFTER CONTACT. SKIN ABSORPTION............A SINGLE PROLONGED SKIN EXPOSURE IS NOT LIKELY TO RESULT IN ABSORPTION OF HARMFUL AMOUNTS. EYE CONTACT................MAY CAUSE PAIN. MAY CAUSE MODERATE EYE IRRITATION WHICH MAY BE SLOW TO HEAL. MAY CAUSE SLIGHT CORNEAL INJURY. VAPOURS MAY IRRITATE EYES. INHALATION.................IN CONFINED OR POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, VAPOURS WHICH READILY ACCUMULATE CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND DEATH. EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. (NOSE AND THROAT). EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE CARBOXYHEMOGLOBINEMIA, THEREBY IMPAIRING THE BLOOD'S ABILITY TO TRANSPORT OXYGEN. MINIMAL ANESTHETIC OR NARCOTIC EFFECTS MAY BE SEEN IN THE RANGE OF 500 - 1000 PPM METHYLENE CHLORIDE. PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER LEVELS OVER 1000 PPM CAN CAUSE DIZZINESS, DRUNKENNESS, AND AS LOW AS 10,000 INHALATION.................PPM, UNCONSCIOUSNE SS AND DEATH. THESE HIGH LEVELS MAY ALSO CAUSE CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS (IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS). INGESTION..................SINGLE DOSE ORAL TOXICITY IS LOW. SMALL AMOUNTS SWALLOWED INCIDENTAL TO NORMAL HANDLING OPERATIONS ARE NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY; SWALLOWING AMOUNTS LARGER THAN THAT MAY CAUSE INJURY. IF ASPIRATED (LIQUID ENTERS THE LUNG), MAY BE RAPIDLY ABSORBED THROUGH THE LUNGS AND RESULT IN INJURY TO OTHER BODY SYSTEMS. SYSTEMIC (OTHER TARGET ORGAN)....IN ANIMALS, EFFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE FOLLOWING EFFECTS ORGANS: CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, KIDNEY AND LIVER. EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE CARBOXYHEMOGLOBINEMIA. THEREBY IMPAIRING THE BLOOD'S ABILITY TO TRANSPORT OXYGEN. EFFECTS OF ACUTE EXPOSURE........REFER TO ROUTE OF ENTRY