Perfluoroheptanoic acid

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CHEMWATCH HAZARD RATINGS Min Max Flammability 1 Toxicity 2 Min/Nil=0 Body Contact 4 Low=1 Reactivity Moderate=2 1 High=3 Chronic 2 Extreme=4 CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Harmful if swallowed. Causes severe burns. Risk of serious damage to eyes. Harmful to aquatic organisms.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED ! The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion. ! 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. ! Ingestion of acidic corrosives may produce burns around and in the mouth, the throat and oesophagus. Immediate pain and difficulties in swallowing and speaking may also be evident. 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. ! 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 severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin. ! 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. ! Skin contact is not thought to produce harmful health effects (as classified under EC Directives using animal models). Systemic harm, however, has been identified following exposure of animals by at least one other route and 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. ! Solution of material in moisture on the skin, or perspiration, may increase irritant effects. ! 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. ! Corrosive acids can cause irritation of the respiratory tract, with coughing, choking and mucous membrane damage. There may be dizziness, headache, nausea and weakness. ! 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 hazard is increased at higher temperatures.

Potential chronic health

! 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. Chronic exposure may inflame the skin or conjunctiva. Long-term exposure to respiratory irritants may result in disease of the airways involving difficult breathing and related systemic problems. There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment. 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. Long chain PCFAs are present in the environment of most developed countries, and have the potential to adversely affect animal and human health. In tests on laboratory animals, one PFCA (perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA) has been shown to cause tumours and damage the immune system, and cause moderate to high toxicity in the medium term if given by mouth. Because they are cleared more slowly and have more potential to accumulate in the body, longer chain PFCAs are expected to be of greater concern than PFOA.