2,2"-Dithiobis(5-nitropyridine)

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 1 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 2 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 1 Moderate=2 High=3 Chronic: 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual. Limited evidence exists that the substance may cause irreversible but non-lethal mutagenic effects following a single exposure. The substance and/or its metabolites may bind to hemoglobin inhibiting normal uptake of oxygen. This condition, known as "methemoglobinemia", is a form of oxygen starvation (anoxia). EYE This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons. Pyridine and its derivatives generally produce local irritation oncontact with the cornea. SKIN This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons. The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition. Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. 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 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

Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment. Exposure to the material may result in a possible risk of irreversible effects. The material may produce mutagenic effects in man. This concern is raised, generally, on the basis of appropriate studies with similar materials using mammalian somatic cells in vivo. Such findings are often supported by positive results from in vitro mutagenicity studies. 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. 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.