Liqui-Med Analgesic Gas Mixture

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Emergency Overview WARNING! High-pressure, oxidizing gas. Vigorously accelerates combustion. Harmful if inhaled. Can cause rapid suffociation. May cause nervous system damage. May cause red blood cell damage. May cause frostbite. May cause dizziness and drowsiness. May cause embryo fetal toxicity.

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation. EFFECTS OF A SINGLE (ACUTE) OVEREXPOSURE: INHALATION: May cause excitation, euphoria, dizziness, drowsiness, incoordination, and narcosis. Analgesia (reduced sensitivity to pain) begins to occur at 10% nitrous oxide and exposure to concentrations of Nitrous Oxide of 50% and greater will produce clinical anesthesia. Anesthesia is accompanied by depressed pulse rate and high concentrations may cause asphyxia and death. This mixture contains 50% oxygen to support life and avoid the asphyxiation hazard of pure Nitrous oxide. SKIN CONTACT: No evidence of adverse effects from available information. SKIN No evidence of adverse effects from available information. ABSORPTION: SWALLOWING: An unlikely route of exposure. This product is a gas at normal temperature and pressure. EYE CONTACT: No evidence of adverse effects from available information. EFFECTS OF REPEATED (CHRONIC) OVEREXPOSURE: Metabolic injury to the nervous system has resulted from frequent exposure to anaesthetic concentrations of Nitrous Oxide. Complaints include numbness, tingling of hands and legs, loss of feeling in fingers, poor balance, and muscular weakness. OTHER EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: Exposure to Nitrous Oxide has produced embryo fetal toxicity in laboratory animals as evidenced by reduced fetal weight, delayed ossification, and increased incidence of visceral and skeletal variations. Exposure to Nitrous Oxide may be associated with an increased incidence of abortion in humans. Single prolonged exposure to high concentrations of Nitrous Oxide has resulted in bone marrow injury and adverse effects on the blood.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

OVEREXPOSURE Haemostatic gases in general, and Nitrous Oxide in particular, may suppress immunological function when administered for anaesthetic purpose. This may reduce the resistance to infection and other immuno-dependent disease process. SIGNIFICANT LABORATORY DATA WITH POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION: None. CARCINOGENICITY: Classified A4 (Not classifiable for human or animal.) by ACGIH [Nitrous oxide].