Biphenyl-4,4"-dicarboxylic acid

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability 1 Toxicity 2 Min/Nil=0 Body Contact 2 Low=1 Reactivity Moderate=2 1 High=3 Chronic 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK May cause SENSITISATION by skin contact. 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. ■ Biphenyl is metabolised and excreted via the bile. High oral doses caused rapid breathing, excessive tear secretion, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle weakness and incoordination, coma and death within 18 days in experimental animals. 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 is not thought to have harmful health effects (as classified under EC Directives); 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. INHALED ■ The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. ■ Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual. ■ 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. ■ Workers exposed to biphenyl vapour during paper impregnation complained of transient nausea, vomiting and airway inflammation but no effect was seen at concentrations below 1 mg/m3.

Potential chronic health

Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitisation reaction in some persons compared to the general population. 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. Studies show that exposure to high level dusts and vapours of biphenyl and its compounds can cause organ damage (kidney, heart, liver, nerves and lungs) in humans as well as headache, fatigue and abdominal pain with nausea or diarrhoea. Damage to the nervous system can also occur.