Acetic acid, >96%

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance clear, colorless liquid. Flash Point 39 deg C Danger! Causes severe eye and skin burns. Causes severe digestive and respiratory tract burns. Flammable liquid and vapor. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. Glacial acetic acid solidifies below 62°F (17°C). Corrosive to metal. Target Organs: Teeth, eyes, skin, mucous membranes.

Potential health effects

Eye: Causes severe eye irritation. Contact with liquid or vapor causes severe burns and possible irreversible eye damage. Skin: Causes skin burns. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. Contact with the skin may cause blackening and hyperkeratosis of the skin of the hands. Ingestion: May cause severe and permanent damage to the digestive tract. Causes severe pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and shock. May cause polyuria, oliguria (excretion of a diminished amount of urine in relation to the fluid intake) and anuria (complete suppression of urination). Rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Inhalation: Effects may be delayed. Causes chemical burns to the respiratory tract. Exposure may lead to bronchitis, pharyngitis, and dental erosion. May be absorbed through the lungs. Chronic: Chronic exposure to acetic acid may cause erosion of dental enamel, bronchitis, eye irritation, darkening of the skin, and chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract. Acetic acid can cause occupational asthma. One case of a delayed asthmatic response to glacial acetic acid has been reported in a person with bronchial asthma. Skin sensitization to acetic acid is rare, but has occurred.