Diethyl (1-cyanoethyl)phosphonate

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability 1 Toxicity 3 Min/Nil=0 Body Contact 3 Low=1 Reactivity Moderate=2 1 High=3 Chronic 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas. Causes burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED ! The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion. ! Accidental ingestion of the material may be seriously damaging to the health of the individual; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal. ! Ingestion of acidic corrosives may produce burns around and in the mouth. the throat and esophagus. ! Nitrile poisoning exhibits similar symptoms to poisoning due to hydrogen cyanide. The substances irritate the eyes and skin, and are absorbed quickly and completely through the skin. EYE ! The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating. ! If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage. ! Direct eye contact with acid corrosives may produce pain, tears, sensitivity to light and burns. Mild burns of the epithelia generally recover rapidly and completely. SKIN ! The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin. ! Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption. ! 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. ! Skin contact with acidic corrosives may result in pain and burns; these may be deep with distinct edges and may heal slowly with the formation of scar tissue. INHALED ! If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons. ! Inhalation of aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce serious damage to the health of the individual. ! Inhalation of quantities of liquid mist may be extremely hazardous, even lethal due to spasm, extreme irritation of larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema. ! Corrosive acids can cause irritation of the respiratory tract, with coughing, choking and mucous membrane damage. There may be dizziness, headache, nausea and weakness. ! Aliphatic, aromatic and substituted phosphonates exhibit moderate to high toxicity, and toxicity is increased when there are benzene rings and halogen or nitro group substitution.

Potential chronic health

! Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. Repeated or prolonged exposure to acids may result in the erosion of teeth, swelling and or ulceration of mouth lining. Irritation of airways to lung, with cough, and inflammation of lung tissue often occurs. Repeated or prolonged exposures to cholinesterase inhibitors produce symptoms similar to acute effects. In addition workers exposed repeatedly to these substances may exhibit impaired memory and loss of concentration, severe depression and acute psychosis, irritability, confusion, apathy, emotional liability, speech difficulties, headache, spatial disorientation, delayed reaction times, sleepwalking, drowsiness or insomnia.