4-Chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability 1 Toxicity 2 Min/Nil=0 Body Contact 3 Low=1 Reactivity High=3 Chronic CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Harmful if swallowed. Risk of serious damage to eyes. Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect. Irritating to respiratory system and skin. Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness and cracking. Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

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. ■ Chlorphenoxy compounds irritate the digestive system and cause nausea and vomiting, chest pain, and diarrhoea. Taking large doses can result in mineral imbalance, temperature changes, hyperventilation, low blood pressure, dilated blood vessels, damage to the heart and liver with death of white blood cells, and convulsions. EYE ■ If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. ■ Corneal injury resulting from 2,4-D exposure may be slow to heal. SKIN ■ The material may cause mild but significant inflammation of the skin either following direct contact or after a delay of some time. Repeated exposure can cause contact dermatitis which is characterised by redness, swelling and blistering. ■ Repeated exposure may cause skin cracking, flaking or drying following normal handling and use. ■ Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material. ■ 2,4-D and its derivatives can all be absorbed through the skin of humans. Severe peripheral neuropathy has followed causing limb paralysis and loss of sensation. ■ 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. ■ 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. If prior damage to the circulatory or nervous systems has occurred or if kidney damage has been sustained, proper screenings should be conducted on individuals who may be exposed to further risk if handling and use of the material result in excessive exposures. ■ Inhalation of chlorophenoxy dusts or mists may result in sore throat, burning sensations in the throat and chest, cough, tears, inflamed nose, dizziness and inco-ordination, as a result of absorption from the lungs.

Potential chronic health

There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment. Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause drying with cracking, irritation and possible dermatitis following. Substance accumulation, in the human body, may occur and may cause some concern following repeated or long-term occupational exposure. 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. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray. Chlorophenoxy herbicides cause an increased risk of cancers of soft tissue, lymph and bronchi. Inflammation of skin can result from long term contact. Chronic exposure to 2,4-D can cause nausea, liver changes, skin eruptions, irritation of the airways and eyes, as well as nervous changes. People with chronic health conditions or who have endocrinological or immune disorders should not be exposed to herbicides. Chronic exposure may result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, hypotonia (state of reduced tension in muscle), enlarged liver, myocardium dysfunction. Low cumulative toxicity. Embryotoxic and teratogenic in high doses in rabbits and rats. [ILO]