Isopropanol

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance colorless liquid. Flash Point 11.7 deg C Warning! Flammable liquid and vapor. Causes respiratory tract irritation. Breathing vapors may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Causes eye irritation.

Aspiration hazard

if swallowed. Can enter lungs and cause damage. Prolonged or repeated contact causes defatting of the skin with irritation, dryness, and cracking. This material has been reported to be susceptible to autoxidation and therefore should be classified as peroxidizable. May cause central nervous system depression. May form explosive peroxides. Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). Target Organs: Central nervous system, respiratory system, eyes, skin.

Potential health effects

Eye: Produces irritation, characterized by a burning sensation, redness, tearing, inflammation, and possible corneal injury. May cause transient corneal injury. In the eyes of a rabbit, 0.1 ml of 70% isopropyl alcohol caused conjunctivitis, iritis, and corneal opacity. Skin: May cause irritation with pain and stinging, especially if the skin is abraded. Isopropanol has a low potential to cause allergic skin reactions; however, rare cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been reported. May be absorbed through intact skin. Dermal absorption has been considered toxicologically insignificant. The cases of deep coma associated with skin contact are thought to be a consequence of gross isopropanol vapor inhalation in rooms with inadequate ventilation, rather than being attributable to percutaneous absorption of isopropanol per se. Ingestion: Causes gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause kidney damage. May cause central nervous system depression, characterized by excitement, followed by headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea. Advanced stages may cause collapse, unconsciousness, coma and possible death due to respiratory failure. Aspiration of material into the lungs may cause chemical pneumonitis, which may be fatal. The probable oral lethal dose in humans is 240 ml (2696 mg/ kg), but ingestion of only 20 ml (224 mg/kg) has caused poisoning. Inhalation: Inhalation of high concentrations may cause central nervous system effects characterized by nausea, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and coma. May cause narcotic effects in high concentration. Causes upper respiratory tract irritation. Inhalation of vapors may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Chronic: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause defatting and dermatitis.