Butane

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW DANGER! Flammable liquid and gas under pressure. Can form explosive mixtures with air. May cause frostbite. Can cause rapid suffocation. May cause dizziness and drowsiness. Self-contained breathing apparatus may be required by rescue workers. Odor: Faintly disagreeable above 5000 ppm THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE: TLV-TWA, 1000 ppm (ACGIH, 2004). TLV-TWAs should be used as a guide in the control of health hazards and not as fine lines between safe and dangerous concentrations. Copyright © 1981, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2004, Praxair Technology, Inc. Page 1 of 8 All rights reserved. Revised EFFECTS OF A SINGLE (ACUTE) OVEREXPOSURE: INHALATION–May be mildly irritating to mucous membranes. At high concentrations, may cause drowsiness. At very high concentrations, may act as an asphyxiant and cause headache, drowsiness, dizziness, excitation, excess salivation, vomiting, and unconsciousness. Lack of oxygen can kill. SKIN CONTACT–No harm expected from gas. Liquid may cause frostbite. SWALLOWING–An unlikely route of exposure. This product is a gas at normal temperature and pressure, but frostbite of the lips and mouth may result from contact with the liquid. EYE CONTACT–Butane is relatively nonirritating to the eyes, but liquid may cause frostbite. EFFECTS OF REPEATED (CHRONIC) OVEREXPOSURE: Repeated or prolonged exposure of the skin may cause cracking and drying. OTHER EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE: None known.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

OVEREXPOSURE The skin irritating properties of butane may aggravate an existing dermatitis. SIGNIFICANT LABORATORY DATA WITH POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION: In a study conducted in 1948, dogs breathed varying mixtures of hydrocarbons and oxygen for 10 minutes. Of a group of dogs exposed to butane, all (2/2) showed myocardial sensitivity to injected epinephrine hydrochloride as determined by electrocardiogram (EKG) readings. No direct evidence is known of butane-induced cardiac sensitization in humans. CARCINOGENICITY: Butane is not listed by NTP, OSHA, or IARC.