Congo Red

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview Appearance: Dark red-brown solid. Warning! Causes eye irritation. May cause skin and respiratory tract irritation. Possible risk of harm to the unborn child. May cause cancer in humans. May cause central nervous system effects. May be combustible at high temperatures or in the presence of open flames or sparks. Target Organs: Central nervous system, bladder.

Potential health effects

Eye: Causes eye irritation. May cause lacrimation (tearing), blurred vision, and photophobia. May cause chemical conjunctivitis and corneal damage. Skin: May cause skin irritation. May cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction, which becomes evident upon re-exposure to this material. May cause skin irritation and possible burns. Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause changes in blood clotting, alterations of platelets and leukocytes, transient leukopenia, leukocytosis, somnolence, dyspnea, and chronic pulmonary edema. - 1 - Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation. Olfactory fatigue may occur. Can produce delayed pulmonary edema. Chronic: This product is a chemical derivative of benzidine, a known human carcinogen. This substance has caused adverse reproductive and fetal effects in laboratory animals. The primary target organs for carcinogenicity induced by benzidine vary with species. Rats, mice, and hamsters develop liver and mammary tumors. Dogs and humans develop increased incidences of urinary bladder cancer.