Acetylene

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA Emergency Overview DANGER! Flammable gas under pressure. Can form explosive mixtures with air. Fusible plugs in top, bottom, or valve melt at 98 - 104 C. Do not discharge at pressures above 103 kPa. May cause dizziness and drowsiness. Self-contained breathing apparatus may be required by rescue workers. At normal temperature and pressure, commercial acetylene is a colourless gas with a distinctive garlic-like odour.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation. EFFECTS OF A SINGLE (ACUTE) OVEREXPOSURE: INHALATION: Asphyxiant. Effects are due to lack of oxygen. Moderate concentrations may cause headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, excitation, excess salivation, vomiting, and unconciousness. The vapour from a liquid (acetone) release may also cause incoordination and abdominal pain. Lack of oxygen can kill. SKIN CONTACT: No harm expected. Liquid (acetone) may cause frostbite. SKIN ABSORPTION: No harm expected. Liquid (acetone) may cause frostbite. SWALLOWING: An unlikely route of exposure, but frostbite of the lips and mouth may result from contact with the liquid (acetone). If swallowed, the liquid may cause nausea. EYE CONTACT: Vapour containing acetone may cause irritation. Liquid (acetone) may cause irritation and frosbite. EFFECTS OF REPEATED (CHRONIC) OVEREXPOSURE: NOTE: Acetylene cylinders are filled with a porous material containg acetone into which the acetylene is dissolved. ACGIH has established a TLV-TWA of 500 ppm for acetone and a STEL of 750 ppm. WORKING WITH WELDING AND CUTTING MAY CREATE ADDITIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS. FUMES AND GASES can be dangerous to your health and may cause serious lung disease.* Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe fumes and gases caused by the process. Use enough ventilation, local exhaust, or both to keep fumes and gases from your breathing zone and the general area. The type and amount of fumes and gases depend on the equipment and supplies used. Possibly dangerous materials may be found in fluxes, coatings, gases, metals etc. Obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each material used. Air samples can be used to find out what respiratory protection is needed. Short term overexposure to fumes may result in discomfort such as dizziness, nausea, or dryness or irritation of nose, throat, or eyes. *NOTES TO PHYSICIAN: Acute: Gases, fumes, and dusts may cause irritation to the eyes, lungs, nose, and throat. Some toxic gases associated with welding and related processes may cause pulmonary edema, asphyxiation, and death. Acute overexposure may include signs and symptoms such as watery eyes, nose and throat irritation, headache, difficulty breathing frequent coughing, or chest pains. Chronic: Protracted inhalation of air contaminants may lead to their accumulation in the lungs, a condition which may be seen as dense areas on chest x-rays. The severity of change is proportional to the length of exposure. The changes seen are not necessarily associated with symptoms or signs of reduced lung function or disease. In addition, the changes on x-rays may be caused by non-work related factors such as smoking, etc. OTHER EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: None known.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

OVEREXPOSURE Repeated or prolonged exposure is not known to aggravate medical condition. SIGNIFICANT LABORATORY DATA WITH POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION: None CARCINOGENICITY: Not listed as carcinogen by OSHA, NTP or IARC.