2-Methylaziridine

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Risk of serious damage to eyes. May cause CANCER. Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Highly flammable. 1 of 17 LOW Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED Severely toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 5 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual. EYE If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. SKIN Skin contact with the material may produce severely toxic effects; systemic effects may result following absorption and these may be fatal. 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. This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons. INHALED Inhalation of aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce severely toxic effects. Relatively small amounts absorbed from the lungs may prove fatal. Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by narcosis, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of coordination and vertigo. Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures. Inhalation of high concentrations of gas/vapor causes lung irritation with coughing and nausea, central nervous depression with headache and dizziness, slowing of reflexes, fatigue and inco-ordination. The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.

Potential chronic health

There is ample evidence that this material can be regarded as being able to cause cancer in humans based on experiments and other information. Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population. Repeated or prolonged exposure to corrosives may result in the erosion of teeth, inflammatory and ulcerative changes in the mouth and necrosis (rarely) of the jaw. Bronchial irritation, with cough, and frequent attacks of bronchial pneumonia may ensue. Gastrointestinal disturbances may also occur. Chronic exposures may result in dermatitis and/or conjunctivitis. When given to rats by oral intubation (10 mg/kg, twice weekly for 60 weeks) propylene imine was a potent tumourigen.