Ethanol

Hazard statements (CLP)

H225, H319

Code

Statements

H225

Highly Flammable liquid and vapour

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

2.1 Classification of the substance or mixture

EU-GHS / CLP

Hazard categories

Flammable liquid Flam. Liq. 2 Serious eye Irritation Eye Irrit. 2 EU-DSD / DPD Indication(s) of danger and R phrase(s) Highly flammable R11 3.2

2.2 Label elements

EU-GHS / CLP

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour. H319 Causes serious eye irritation.

Precautionary statements

P210 Keep away from heat / sparks / open flames / hot surfaces ‒ No smoking. P233 Keep container tightly closed. P240 Ground/bond container and receiving equipment. P241 Use explosion-proof electrical / ventilating / lighting equipment. P242 Use only non-sparking tools. P243 Take precautionary measures against static discharge. P280 Wear protective gloves / protective clothing /eye protection. P264 Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P303+ P361+P353 If on skin or hair remove/ take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water. P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. P337+P313 If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention. P370 + P378 In case of fire: Use powder, alcohol-resistant foam, lots of water, carbon dioxide for extinction. P403 + P235 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool. P501

Disposal

Dispose of contents / container to a specialised waste disposal plant in accordance with local / regional regulations. Main Hazard : Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Possible aspiration hazard if swallowed (can enter lungs and cause damage). May be irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Over exposure may cause CNS depression. Possible reproductive hazard. Flammability : Flash Point 12⁰C. Extremely flammable liquid (R11). Ignition temperature 425⁰C. Chemical Hazard : Ethanol is a flammable liquid whose vapours can form ignitable and explosive mixtures with air at normal room temperatures. Thus, an aqueous mixture containing 30% ethanol can produce a flammable mixture of vapour and air at 29⁰C, and even one containing only 5% alcohol can produce a flammable mixture at 62⁰C.1 Ethanol reacts vigorously with a wide range of oxidizing materials and other chemicals2 .e.g. Disulphuryl Difluoride, Silver Nitrate, Bromine Pentafluoride, Potassium Perchlorate, Nitrosyl Perchlorate, Chromyl Chloride, Chloryl Perchloride, Uranyl Perchlorite, Chromium Trioxide, Fluorine Nitrate, Dioxygen Difluoride, Uranium Hexafluoride, Iodine Heptafluoride, Tetra chlorosilane, Permanganic acid, Nitric acid [the nitric acid fizz reaction used formally for cleaning laboratory glassware should not be used3,5], Hydrogen Peroxide, Peroxodisulphuric acid, Potassium Dioxide, Sodium Peroxide, Potassium Permanganate, Ruthenium (VIII) Oxide, Platinum, Potassium6, Potassium tert – Butoxide, Silver Oxide and Sodium7. Biological Hazard : Ethanol is rapidly oxidized in the body to acetaldehyde, then to acetate, and finally to carbon dioxide and water; un-oxidized alcohol is excreted in the urine and expired in the air. 8, 9 Reproductive hazard : Some evidence of foetotoxicity26-28 and teratogenicity29 has been observed in experimental animals treated with high doses of ethanol during gestation. Alcohol may induce spontaneous abortions, may impair fertility, may cause harm to the unborn child and may cause harm to breast fed babies. The reproductive hazards have been determined after repeated excessive consumption of ethanol; these effects are not likely to occur through exposure below the Occupational Exposure Limits in the working environment.

Potential health effects

eyes : Moderately irritating. Exposure to liquid, vapours, fumes or mist may cause irritation. Direct contact may cause irritation, redness, pain, corneal inflammation and possible corneal damage. – ingestion : Large doses lead to alcohol poisoning while repeated ingestion can lead to alcoholism. Alcohol abuse and dependence can have a profound effect on work performance and tendency to accidents at work.11-13 The presence of denaturants, e.g. Methanol, pyridines, and benzene in industrial alcohol greatly increase the toxicity on ingestion. Ethanol drinking is also suspected of increasing the toxic effect of other chemicals encountered in the laboratory and the workplace by inhibition of their metabolism or excretion14; e.g. 1, 1, 1–Trichloroethane15, Xylene, Trichloroethylene and Dimethylformamide16, Benzene17 and Lead.18, May 19 cause harmful central nervous system effects. Effects may include excitation, euphoria, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, fatigue, tremors, convulsions, loss of consciousness, coma, respiratory arrest and death. Severe acute intoxication may cause Hypoglycaemia, Hypothermia and extensor rigidity. Prolonged or frequent contact may result in liver injury. – inhalation : Intoxicating if continuously inhaled for a long period of time. Occupational Exposure Limits (8-hour reference period) 1000ppm (1900mg/m3).30 May cause respiratory tract irritation. Carcinogenicity : Long-term consumption of alcoholic beverages demonstrates an increase in the occurrence of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Malignant tumours of the oral cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Oesophagus and Liver is also causally related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages.31 Some studies20, have shown an excess 21 incidence of laryngeal cancer over the expected from exposure to synthetic alcohol, with Diethyl Sulphate probably being the causative agent. Mutagenicity : Ethanol has been found to be non- mutagenic in the Salmonella microsome test, but some transient 22 mutagenic changes have been observed in male, but not female, mice treated with rather large doses.23-25 Ethanol is mutagenic in man via its first metabolite, Acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde induces chromosomal aberrations, sister-chromatid exchanges and cross-links between DNA strands.32 Neurotoxicity : Over exposure may cause Central Nervous System (CNS) depression.

Health Effects - Skin

Repeated or prolonged contact may result in defatting, redness, pain, itching, inflammation, cracking and possible secondary infection. Repeated skin contact may result in allergic skin reaction in a very small proportion of individuals.