Hydroquinone

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview Appearance: Colorless to light tan crystals. Caution! Eye contact may result in permanent eye damage. Possible risks of irreversible effects. Harmful if swallowed. May cause allergic skin reaction. Causes eye and skin irritation. May cause respiratory tract irritation. May cause methemoglobinemia. Light sensitive. Air sensitive. May cause dermatitis. May cause reproductive and fetal effects. Target Organs: Central nervous system, eyes, skin.

Potential health effects

Eye: May result in corneal injury. May cause conjunctivitis and keratitis. Causes eye irritation and possible burns. May cause redness, pain, blurred vision and possible eye damage. Skin: May cause skin sensitization. May cause dermatitis. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. Repeated exposure may cause hyperpigmentation of fair skin and depigmentation of dark skin. Causes skin irritation and possible burns. Substance is readily absorbed through the skin. - 1 - Ingestion: Harmful if swallowed. May cause severe irritation of the digestive tract. May cause dizziness, nausea, sense of suffocation, increased respiratory rate, vomiting, pallor, muscle twitching, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), delirium, collapse. May cause green or brownish green urine which continues to darken upon standing. May cause liver damage leading to jaundice. May cause harmful nervous system effects, including tremors and convulsions. Inhalation: Causes cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood). May cause respiratory tract irritation. Inhalation may be fatal as a result of spasm, inflammation, edema of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema. Central nervous system effects may include confusion, ataxia (failure of muscular coordination), vertigo, tinnitus, weakness, disorientation, lethargy, drowsiness, and finally coma. May be harmful if inhaled. May cause burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Pure hydroquinone does not readily form a vapor at room temperature. The dust may cause irritation of the nose, throat and upper respiratory tract. In the presence of air and moisture, hydroquinone dust may react to form irritating quinone, which forms a vapor at room temperature. The rate of this reaction depends on the pH of the medium, with alkaline solutions reacting more readily. Therefore, exposures to hydroquinone dust may involve exposure to quinone vapor, which is a respiratory irritant. The degree of irritation depends on how much quinone is formed. Chronic: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause sensitization dermatitis and possible destruction and/or ulceration. May cause methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by chocolate-brown colored blood, headache, weakness, dizziness, breath shortness, cyanosis, rapid heart rate, unconsciousness and possible death. May cause reproductive and fetal effects. Possible risk of irreversible effects.