"MATADOR" HERBICIDE

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview DANGER! Causes severe eye irritation. May irritate skin, nose, and throat. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin, swallowed, or inhaled. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or clothing. Avoid breathing vapors or spray mist.

Potential health effects

ANIMAL DATA Acute Oral LD50: 5,900 mg/kg (rats, male) 4,100 mg/kg (rats, female) Low level of toxicity by ingestion. Acute Dermal LD50: >2,000 mg/kg (rabbit) Slightly to moderately toxic by contact. SKIN IRRITATION AND SENSITIZATION Product is a moderate skin irritant; but not considered a skin sensitizer. INHALATION 4 hour LC50: 2.6 mg/L (rats, male); 4.4 mg/L (rats, female); 3.5 mg/L (rats combined) EYE CONTACT Severe irritant. Corneal opacity remained in one of 6 animals after day 21. All other animals were normal by this day. CHRONIC STUDIES - ACTIVE INGREDIENT (Conducted with the racemic mixture of isomers) 2-Year Feeding Study (Rats): Dietary concentrations were 0, 25, 100 or 400 ppm. The no-observable-effect-level (NOEL) was considered to be 25 ppm (approximately 1.25 mg/kg/day) based on liver effects observed at 100 and 400 ppm. There was a slight but non-significant increase in female liver tumors at 400 ppm. The product was considered to be nononcogenic in this species. 18-Month Feeding Study (Mice): Dietary concentrations were 0, 2, 10, 80 and 320 ppm. The NOEL was considered to be 10 ppm (approximately 1.5 mg/kg/day) based on effects in liver and testes present at 80 and 320 ppm. An increased incidence of liver carcinomas was observed in male mice and an increased incidence of ovarian tumors (leuteomas and granulosa cell tumors) was observed in female mice. These effects were only observed at the highest dose tested 320 ppm (approximately 48 mg/kg/day) and were not statistically significant when compared to tumor incidences in the untreated mice. 1-Year Feeding Study (Dog): Dietary concentrations were 0, 25, 100 and 400 ppm. The NOEL was considered to be 400 ppm (approximately 30 mg/kg/day). There were no compound-related effects. REPRODUCTION (Rats) Tests ran at levels of 0, 25, 100 and 400 ppm. Decreased body weights were observed for parents and offspring in the 400 ppm group. Histologic liver changes and increased liver weights occurred at 100 and 400 ppm. NOEL was 25 ppm (approximately 1.25 mg/kg/day). OF OVEREXPOSURE - NAPHTHALENE Symptoms from excessive prolonged inhalation exposure to naphthalene may include headache, dizziness and confusion. Ingestion of naphthalene may initially include abnormal liver function with jaundice; abnormal kidney function with bloody urine or flank pain; abnormal blood forming system function with anemia; or red blood cell destruction. Hemolysis may occur in G6PD (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficient individuals, possibly followed by acute renal failure. Higher exposures may lead to these effects: lens opacity; temporary nervous system depression with anaesthetic effects such as dizziness, headache, confusion, incoordination, and loss of consciousness; coma; and fatality from gross overexposure (children up to age six are more susceptible because of rapid absorption). Significant skin permeation, and systemic toxicity, after contact appears unlikely. There are inconclusive or unverified reports of human sensitization. Individuals with G6PD deficiency or preexisting diseases of the liver and kidneys may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive exposures. TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS - N-METHYL-2-PYRROLIDONE In animal testing this material has not caused carcinogenicity. Animal data show developmental effects only at or near levels producing other toxic effects in the adult animal. This material is not considered a unique developmental hazard to the conceptus. Reproductive data on adult animals show interference with reproduction only at levels which produce other toxic effects in the adult animal. This material is not considered a unique reproductive hazard. Tests have shown that this material does not cause genetic damage in bacterial or mammalian cell cultures. Human experience or case reports have identified the following potential effects from overexposure to n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: prolonged contact may cause severe skin irritation with burning, redness, swelling, pain, blisters, cracking, or rash. There are inconclusive or unverified reports of human sensitization to this solvent. Carcinogenicity Information None of the components present in this material at concentrations

Teratogenic Effects

(Rabbit and Rat) Dose levels were 0, 7, 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day. Not teratogenic or embryotoxic at any level. Body weight gain and other toxic effects were observed in pregnant rabbits at 60 mg/kg/day. Overall NOEL was 30 mg/kg/day. Rat dose levels were 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg/day. This product was not teratogenic at any level. Reduced body weight gains were observed for dams at 300 mg/kg. Offspring of this treatment group exhibited reduced survival and a transient increase in skeletal variations. The overall NOEL was 30 mg/kg/day. MUTAGENICITY Negative results in the following tests: Ames and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) test for gene mutations; CHO and mouse micronucleus tests for chromosomal aberrations; DNA repair assays in B. subtilis and rat liver cells; Sister Chromatid Exchange Assay in Chinese hamster cells. SUBCHRONIC TOXICITY - NAPHTHALENE Ingestion: Toxicity described in animals from exposure by ingestion include biochemical alterations and increased weight of the liver, kidney changes, anemia, retinal atrophy and lens opacity. MUTAGENIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL HAZARDS - NAPHTHALENE Animal testing indicates that this compound does not have developmental toxicity when administered by ip route. Tests in bacterial cell cultures demonstrate no mutagenic activity.