EXTERIOR PRIMER

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

DANGER Highly flammable liquid and vapours. May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. Harmful if swallowed. May cause respiratory irritation or drowsiness or dizziness. Causes skin irritation. Causes eye irritation. Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. May cause damage to the central nervous system through prolonged or repeated exposure if inhaled. 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. 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 Toluene 108-88-3 60-100 20 ppm Not established Effects of Short-Term (Acute) Exposure Effects of Long-Term (Chronic) Exposure INHALATION NERVOUS SYSTEM Toluene: Inhalation of toluene vapour can affect the CNS. At Toluene: Numerous studies of rotogravure printers, painters and approximately 50 ppm, slight drowsiness and headache have been rubberized-matting workers with long-term exposure to toluene are reported. Irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory tract has occurred inconclusive about the potential of toluene to cause CNS damage. Most between 50 and 100 ppm. About 100 ppm has caused fatigue and studies do not have good exposure data, several indicate alcohol dizziness; over 200 ppm has caused symptoms similar to drunkenness, consumption as a confounder and few have used the neurobehavioral numbness, and mild nausea; and over 500 ppm has caused mental tests recommended by the World Health Organization. Some studies confusion and incoordination. Higher concentrations (estimated at report changes such as memory loss, sleep disturbances, incoordination higher than 10 000 ppm) can result in unconsciousness and death. Most or loss of ability to concentrate, while others report no effects. (1) serious incidences of exposure have occurred when the vapour has RESPIRATORY SENSITIZATION accumulated in confined spaces. (1) Toluene: Toluene is not a respiratory sensitizer. Despite widespread SKIN CONTACT use, no reports of respiratory sensitization were located. (1) Toluene: Toluene is a moderate skin irritant, based on animal SKIN information. Prolonged contact can cause dermatitis (dry, red skin). Toluene: Prolonged contact to toluene is expected to cause dermatitis Absorption of toluene through the skin may contribute significantly to (dry, red skin) because of its defatting action. (1) the overall exposure. Although no reports of harmful effects following skin absorption were located. Application of undiluted toluene in a SKIN SENSITIZATION chamber for 3 minutes to 6 volunteers resulted in irritation and rapid Toluene: Toluene is not a skin sensitizer. Despite widespread use, no skin absorption. (1) reports of skin sensitization in humans were located. A negative result was obtained in a well-conducted but unconfirmed animal test. (1) EYE CONTACT Toluene: Toluene is a very mild eye irritant, based on animal KIDNEYS/URINARY SYSTEM evidence. (1) Toluene: Kidney effects are not expected to occur unless exposures are very high. In population studies of workers exposed long-term to levels INGESTION up to 200 ppm, there was no clear evidence of kidney damage. There Toluene: There are case reports of accidental ingestion of toluene are reports of kidney damage in people exposed long-term to high causing severe CNS depression and death. Toluene is readily absorbed concentrations of toluene as a result of solvent abuse (glue-sniffing). following ingestion producing symptoms similar to those described for These extreme exposures are not relevant to occupational situations. (1) inhalation. Toluene may be aspirated, which is the inhalation of a chemical into the lungs, during ingestion or vomiting. Severe lung irritation, damage to the lung tissues and death may result. (1) LIVER exposed to toluene. In some studies, the workers were exposed to many Toluene: Liver effects are not expected to occur unless exposures are organic solvents. However, most of the studies were conducted with very high. (1) rotogravure printing plant workers who were exposed primarily to toluene, but also have concurrent exposure to printing ink. (1) EYES/VISION Toluene: A review of several studies on toluene and its effects on TOXICOLOGICALLY SYNERGISTIC MATERIALS colour vision concluded that the evidence is inconclusive as to whether Toluene: Combined exposure to toluene and noise, toluene and n- long-term exposure to toluene results in a persistent impairment of hexane, toluene and aspirin or toluene, ethylbenzene and noise has colour vision. (1) caused a synergistic loss of hearing in animal studies. Increased hearing loss has also been observed in workers in some studies following long- HEARING term exposure to toluene and noise. (1) Toluene: Firm conclusions cannot be drawn based on the limited information available. Hearing loss has been observed in workers in POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATION some studies following long-term exposure to toluene and noise and in Toluene: Toluene is readily absorbed by inhalation, ingestion and animals exposed to very high concentrations of toluene. (1) through the skin. Inhaled toluene appears quickly in the brain fat (lipid) where it is rapidly eliminated. Toluene is removed rapidly from the BLOOD/BLOOD FORMING SYSTEM blood. It is metabolized in the liver where it is converted via several Toluene: Recent studies do not show consistent effects on the blood steps primarily to hippuric acid, which is excreted in the urine. A small from long-term toluene exposure. (1) amount of toluene is also exhaled unchanged. Toluene has been IMMUNE SYSTEM identified in human milk. (1) Toluene: There is some information indicating that workers exposed to toluene may have slight effects on the immune system, but these