1-Bromopropane

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 3 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 2 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 1 Moderate=2 High=3 Chronic: 3 Extreme=4 CANADIAN

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED ■ Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual. ■ At sufficiently high doses the material may be nephrotoxic(i. e. ■ At sufficiently high doses the material may be hepatotoxic(i. e. EYE ■ This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons. SKIN ■ This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons. ■ The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition. ■ Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption. ■ Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material. ■ Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected. INHALED ■ The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. ■ Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by sleepiness, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of co-ordination, and vertigo. ■ Inhalation of vapours or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual. ■ Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures. ■ Acute intoxication by halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons appears to take place over two stages. Signs of a reversible narcosis are evident in the first stage and in the second stage signs of injury to organs may become evident, a single organ alone is (almost) never involved. ■ Depression of the central nervous system is the most outstanding effect of most halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Inebriation and excitation, passing into narcosis, is a typical reaction. ■ In the case of iodised and brominated compounds, exposure effects cannot be described by simple central nervous system depression produced by other halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Headache, nausea, ataxia (loss of muscle co-ordination), tremors, speech difficulties, visual disturbances, convulsions, paralysis, delirium, mania and apathy are all evidence of additional effects.

Potential chronic health

■ Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. Ample evidence exists from experimentation that reduced human fertility is directly caused by exposure to the material. Based on experience with animal studies, exposure to the material may result in toxic effects to the development of the foetus, at levels which do not cause significant toxic effects to the mother. Substance accumulation, in the human body, may occur and may cause some concern following repeated or long-term occupational exposure. Chronic intoxication with ionic bromides, historically, has resulted from medical use of bromides but not from environmental or occupational exposure; depression, hallucinosis, and schizophreniform psychosis can be seen in the absence of other signs of intoxication. Bromides may also induce sedation, irritability, agitation, delirium, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, forgetfulness (aphasias), dysarthria, weakness, fatigue, vertigo, stupor, coma, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, hallucinations, an acne like rash on the face, legs and trunk, known as bronchoderma (seen in 25-30% of case involving bromide ion), and a profuse discharge from the nostrils (coryza). Long term overexposure may cause adverse effects in liver, respiratory system, kidney and central nervous system. [Albemarle]