Acephate Technical

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OF PREPARATION EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: CAUTION: ACEPHATE is a Cholinesterase Inhibitor. Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Avoid inhaling dust. Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing. Do not contaminate feed or foodstuffs. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Ingestion, inhalation, eye contact, and skin contact SIGNS OF ACUTE OVEREXPOSURE: This product contains a cholinesterase inhibitor. Acute cholinesterase depression may be evidenced by headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, excessive sweating, salivation and tearing, constricted pupils, blurred vision, tightness in chest, weakness, muscle twitching and confusion; in extreme cases, unconsciousness, convulsions, severe respiratory depression and death may occur. In addition, acute eye and skin contact symptoms may include redness and possibly some minor swelling. SIGNS OF CHRONIC OVEREXPOSURE: Repeated exposures to small doses of Acephate and other organophosphates may lower the cholinesterase to levels where the above symptoms of acute overexposure are observed. CARCINOGENICITY: High doses of Acephate Technical have produced cancer in mice but there is no evidence that Acephate Technical causes cancer in humans. EPA has classified acephate as a Group C (possible) human carcinogen, but the National Toxicology Program (NTP), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) do not give Acephate a cancer listing.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Preexisting conditions which lower cholinesterase levels increase vulnerability to cholinesterase depression. These include: (for plasma) genetic cholinesterase deficiency; advanced liver disease; chronic alcoholism; malnutrition; dermatomyositis; existing toxicity from exposure to carbon disulfide; benzalkonium salts, organic mercury compounds, ciguatoxins or solanines; and (for RBC) hemolytic anemias. .