Trimethylamine, TMA

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA EMERGENCY OVERVIEW DANGER! Flammable, corrosive liquid and gas under pressure. Can cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract burns. May cause liver, kidney, and heart damage. May form explosive mixtures with air. May cause dizziness and drowsiness. Self-contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing must be worn by rescue workers. Under ambient conditions, this is a colorless gas with a fishy, ammonia-like, odor. OSHA REGULATORY STATUS: This material is considered hazardous by the OSHA Hazard Communications Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

Potential health effects

Effects of a Single (Acute) Overexposure Inhalation. Irritates the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, producing coughing, difficult breathing, chemical pneumonitis or bronchitis (inflammation of the windpipe, bronchial passages, and lungs) pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), and possible liver damage. Lack of oxygen can kill. Skin Contact. Irritates the skin, producing local redness and swelling with necrosis (tissue destruction). Prolonged or widespread skin contact may result in absorption of harmful amounts of material. Liquid may cause frostbite. Swallowing. An unlikely route of exposure; this product is a gas at normal temperature and pressure. Liquid is highly toxic and may cause frostbite of the lips and mouth, irritation Copyright © 1980, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2009, Praxair Technology, Inc. of the mouth and throat with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, faintness, weakness, drowsiness, and coma. May cause liver damage. Eye Contact. Causes severe irritation seen as marked excess redness and swelling of the conjunctiva; corneal opacity may occur. Liquid may cause frostbite. Vapor may cause temporary disturbance of vision. Effects of Repeated (Chronic) Overexposure. No harm expected. Other Effects of Overexposure. Skin contact may result in the development of an allergic skin reaction. Secondary and tertiary amines may react with nitrites to form nitrosamines. Some nitrosamines have been shown to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Overexposure. Breathing of vapor and/or mist may aggravate asthma and inflammatory or fibrotic pulmonary disease. CARCINOGENICITY: Trimethylamine is not listed by NTP, OSHA, or IARC.

Environmental effects

None known. For further information, see section 12, Ecological Information.