Xylene

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

Major Route(s) of Entry Skin contact. Inhalation. Signs and Symptoms of Acute Exposure Inhalation Breathing high concentrations may be harmful. Mist or vapor can irritate the throat and lungs. Breathing this material may cause central nervous system depression with symptoms including nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, or unconsciousness. Breathing high concentrations of this material, for example, in an enclosed space or by intentional abuse, can cause irregular heartbeats which can cause death. Eye Contact This material can cause eye irritation with tearing, redness, or a stinging or burning feeling. Further, it can cause swelling of the eyes with blurred vision. Effects may become more serious with repeated or prolonged contact. Skin Contact May cause mild skin irritation with redness and/or an itching or burning feeling. Effects may become more serious with repeated or prolonged contact. It is likely that some components of this material are able to pass into the body through the skin and may cause similar effects as from breathing or swallowing it. Ingestion Swallowing this material may be harmful. Swallowing this material may cause stomach or intestinal upset with pain, nausea, and/or diarrhea. This material can get into the lungs during swallowing or vomiting. Small amounts in the lungs can cause lung damage, possibly leading to chronic lung dysfunction or death. Swallowing this material may cause effects similar to those described in the inhalation section (see "inhalation" above).

Potential chronic health

Prolonged and/or repeated contact may cause skin irritation and inflammation. Symptoms Summary include defatting, redness, blistering, lesions, and scaly dermatitis. of ingestion and subsequent aspiration into the lungs may cause pneumatocele (lung cavity) formation and chronic lung dysfunction. Reports have associated repeated and prolonged occupational overexposure to light petroleum products with irreversible brain and nervous system damage (sometimes referred to as "Solvent or Painter's Syndrome"). Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling this product may be harmful or fatal. Prolonged or repeated overexposure to xylene, a component of this product, has been associated with hearing damage in laboratory animals. This material (or a component) may cause harm to the human fetus based on tests with laboratory animals. This material, or a component of this material, has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The relevance of this to humans is not clear. See Toxicological Information (Section 11) Conditions Aggravated Disorders of the following organs or organ systems that may be aggravated by significant by Exposure exposure to this material or its components include: Skin, Respiratory System, Liver, Kidneys, Central Nervous System (CNS), Heart (Cardiac) Target Organs May cause damage to the following organs: blood, kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes, heart, upper respiratory tract, skin, auditory system, central nervous system (CNS), eye, lens or cornea Carcinogenic Potential This material contains ethylbenzene at concentrations at or above 0.1%. Ethylbenzene is considered possibly carcinogenic to humans by IARC (Group 2B) based on laboratory animal studies.

OSHA HCS Classification

is indicated by an "X" in the box adjacent to the hazard title. If no "X" is present, the product does not exhibit the hazard as defined in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). OSHA Health Hazard Classification OSHA Physical Hazard Classification Irritant X Sensitizer Combustible Explosive Pyrophoric Toxic Highly Toxic Flammable X Oxidizer Water-reactive Corrosive Carcinogenic Compressed Gas Organic Peroxide Unstable