Cyclohexene oxide

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability: 3 Toxicity: 2 Body Contact: 4 Min/Nil=0 Low=1 Reactivity: 1 Moderate=2 High=3 Chronic: 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Causes severe burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes. Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Flammable. Vapours potentially cause drowsiness and dizziness*. Cumulative effects may result following exposure*. Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect*. * (limited evidence).

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. ■ The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion. EYE ■ The material can produce severe chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapours or mists may be extremely irritating. ■ If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. SKIN ■ Skin contact with the material may be harmful; systemic effects may result following absorption. ■ The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin. ■ 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 ■ Inhalation of vapours or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be harmful. ■ The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. ■ Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by sleepiness, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of co-ordination, and vertigo. ■ Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures. ■ Inhalation of high concentrations of gas/vapour causes lung irritation with coughing and nausea, central nervous depression with headache and dizziness, slowing of reflexes, fatigue and inco-ordination.

Potential chronic health

■ 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. Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. Substance accumulation, in the human body, may occur and may cause some concern following repeated or long-term occupational exposure. There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment. The epoxide group is an alkylating agent and thus destroys nucleotides within the cell. This may cause cancer.