1-Dodecylpyridinium Chloride

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 1 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 3 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 1 Moderate=2 High=3 Chronic: 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed. Irritating to eyes and skin. Toxic to aquatic organisms.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual. Concentrated solutions of many cationics may cause corrosive damage to mucous membranes and the esophagus. Nausea and vomiting (sometimes bloody) may follow ingestion. Concentrated solutions of cationic surfactants may cause destruction of the tissue lining the mouth, throat and gullet, and may cause nausea and vomiting. In sufficient quantity may produce restlessness, confusion, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, collapse, convulsion, labored breathing, blue coloration of the lips and coma. EYE This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons. If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. Pyridine and its derivatives generally produce local irritation oncontact with the cornea. Many cationic surfactants are very irritating to the eyes at low concentration. Concentrated solutions can cause severe burns with permanent clouding. SKIN Skin contact with the material may be harmful; systemic effects may resultfollowing absorption. This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons. The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition. 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. Pyridine and derivatives cause local irritation on skin; absorption through the skin can cause similar effects as inhalation. INHALED There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled. Pyridine and its derivatives generally produce local irritation on contact with the mucous membranes. Overexposure to pyridine and some of its derivatives may produce headache, nausea, loss of consciousness, nervousness, loss of appetite, sleeplessness and narcosis;

Potential chronic health

There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment. Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause degreasing with drying, cracking and dermatitis following. Data from experimental studies indicate that pyridines represent a potential cause of cancer in man. They have also been shown to cross the placental barrier in rats and cause premature delivery, miscarriages and stillbirths.