Resorcinol

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Danger! Causes eye burns. Causes respiratory tract irritation. Harmful if swallowed. Causes skin irritation. May be harmful if absorbed through skin or if inhaled. May cause methemoglobinemia. May cause cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood). Dangerous for the environment. Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). 1 Target Organs: Blood, kidneys, liver, spleen, nerves.

Potential health effects

Eye: Contact with eyes may cause severe irritation, and possible eye burns. Contact of the eye with resorcinol has caused necrosis and corneal perforation. Application of 0.1 gram of resorcinol into the eyes of rabbits caused discomfort, conjunctivitis, and corneal ulcerations which were not reversible. Skin: Causes moderate skin irritation. May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts. May cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction, which becomes evident upon re-exposure to this material. If absorbed, may cause symptoms similar to those for ingestion. Resorcinol has been known to cause hyperemia (an excess of blood in a part), itch, dermatitis, edema, and corrosion. Ingestion: May cause severe gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and possible burns. May cause methemoglobinemia, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), convulsions, and death. Inhalation: Dust is irritating to the respiratory tract. Causes irritation of the mucous membrane and upper respiratory tract. Chronic: May cause liver and kidney damage. Repeated exposure may cause sensitization dermatitis. Repeated exposure may cause damage to the spleen.