Toluene Industrial Grade

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA Hazards Emergency Overview Color: Colorless Physical State: Liquid Odor: Pungent Hazards of product: DANGER! Flammable liquid and vapor. May cause eye irritation. May cause skin irritation. May be harmful if inhaled. May cause central nervous system effects. May cause central nervous system effects; may cause respiratory tract irritation. Harmful or fatal if swallowed; can enter lungs and cause damage. Vapor explosion hazard. Vapors may travel a long distance; ignition and/or flash back may occur. Isolate area. Keep upwind of spill. Stay out of low areas. Warn public of downwind explosion hazard. Cancer hazard. Can cause cancer.

Potential health effects

Eye Contact: May cause slight eye irritation. May cause slight temporary corneal injury. Vapor may cause eye irritation experienced as mild discomfort and redness. Vapor may cause lacrimation (tears). Skin Contact: Prolonged contact may cause moderate skin irritation with local redness. May cause drying and flaking of the skin. Skin Absorption: Prolonged skin contact is unlikely to result in absorption of harmful amounts. Inhalation: Vapor concentrations are attainable which could be hazardous on single exposure. May cause respiratory irritation and central nervous system depression. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness and drowsiness, progressing to incoordination and unconsciousness. Alcohol consumption and exertion may increase the adverse effects of toluene. Ingestion: Low toxicity if swallowed. Small amounts swallowed incidentally as a result of normal handling operations are not likely to cause injury; however, swallowing larger amounts may cause injury. Aspiration into the lungs may occur during ingestion or vomiting, causing lung damage or even death due to chemical pneumonia. Effects of Repeated Exposure: May cause central nervous system depression. Excessive exposure may cause neurologic signs and symptoms. Target organs for benzene include blood, bone marrow, central nervous system, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and testes. Intentional misuse by deliberately inhaling toluene may cause nervous system damage, hearing loss, liver and kidney effects and death.

Cancer information

Benzene has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals and humans Ethylbenzene has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Birth Defects/Developmental Effects: In laboratory animals, toluene has been toxic to the fetus at doses toxic to the mother; it has caused birth defects in mice when administered orally, but not by inhalation. Contains component(s) which, in laboratory animals, have been toxic to the fetus only at doses toxic to the mother. The component(s) is/are: Benzene. Reproductive Effects: Contains component(s) which have been shown to interfere with reproduction in animal studies. The component(s) is/are: Benzene.