I am having problems with printer drivers and postscript files and the like
but will let you know how I get on.
I note that there has been much debate on formaldehyde. At my work we have
cut down on the use of formaldehyde as much as possible. It may not be that
bad for you ...... but then the odd cigarette probably isn't that bad for
you either.
In the long run it is probably best to design protocols that are as 'edible'
as possible. Not just for the user but for the environment etc etc. So more
power to the arms of those coming up with alternatives.
A gopher site we have on the computer in the lab is the Chemistry department
of the University of Utah which has Material Safety Data Sheets on many
chemicals. I include the text of the sheet on formaldehyde 37% solution. If
you would like to visit the site yourself the address is:
gopher://gopher.chem.utah.edu:70/11
Perhaps some one would like to post the UK COSSH recomendations to the list
if they have them on disc.
Goodluck and take care,
Roger.
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-- MSDS for FORMALDEHYDE, 37% SOLUTION Page 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 1 - PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------PRODUCT NAME: FORMALDEHYDE, 37% SOLUTION FORMULA: HCHO FORMULA WT: 30.03 CAS NO.: 50-00-0 NIOSH/RTECS NO.: LP8925000 COMMON SYNONYMS: FORMALIN; METHYLENE OXIDE; METHYL ALDEHYDE; METHANAL PRODUCT CODES: 2106,2112,2105 EFFECTIVE: 09/08/86 REVISION #02
PRECAUTIONARY LABELLING BAKER SAF-T-DATA(TM) SYSTEM
HEALTH - 3 SEVERE (CANCER CAUSING) FLAMMABILITY - 2 MODERATE REACTIVITY - 2 MODERATE CONTACT - 3 SEVERE (CORROSIVE) HAZARD RATINGS ARE 0 TO 4 (0 = NO HAZARD; 4 = EXTREME HAZARD).
LABORATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES; CLASS B EXTINGUISHER
PRECAUTIONARY LABEL STATEMENTS
POISON DANGER CAUSES BURNS MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED MAY CAUSE ALLERGIC SKIN REACTION - COMBUSTIBLE NOTE: REPORTED AS CAUSING CANCER IN LABORATORY ANIMALS. EXERCISE DUE CARE. KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT, SPARKS, FLAME. DO NOT GET IN EYES, ON SKIN, ON CLOTHING. AVOID BREATHING VAPOR. KEEP IN TIGHTLY CLOSED CONTAINER. USE WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION. WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING. IN CASE OF FIRE, USE WATER SPRAY, ALCOHOL FOAM, DRY CHEMICAL, OR CARBON DIOXIDE. FLUSH SPILL AREA WITH WATER SPRAY.
SAF-T-DATA(TM) STORAGE COLOR CODE: RED (FLAMMABLE)
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-- 2 - HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------COMPONENT % CAS NO.
FORMALDEHYDE, 37% SOLUTION 37-38 50-00-0 METHANOL 10-15 67-56-1
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-- 3 - PHYSICAL DATA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- MSDS for FORMALDEHYDE, 37% SOLUTION Page 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOILING POINT: 96 C ( 205 F) VAPOR PRESSURE(MM HG): 1.3MELTING POINT: N/A VAPOR DENSITY(AIR=1): 1.0
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.08 EVAPORATION RATE: N/A (H2O=1) (BUTYL ACETATE=1)
SOLUBILITY(H2O): COMPLETE (IN ALL PROPORTIONS) % VOLATILES BY VOLUME: 100
APPEARANCE & ODOR: COLORLESS LIQUID, PUNGENT ODOR.
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-- 4 - FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FLASH POINT (CLOSED CUP 60 C ( 140 F) NFPA 704M RATING: 2-2-
FLAMMABLE LIMITS: UPPER - 73.0 % LOWER - 7.0 %
FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIA USE WATER SPRAY, ALCOHOL FOAM, DRY CHEMICAL OR CARBON DIOXIDE.
SPECIAL FIRE-FIGHTING PROCEDURES FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS WITH FULL FACEPIECE OPERATED IN POSITIVE PRESSURE MODE. MOVE CONTAINERS FROM FIRE AREA IF IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT RISK. USE WATER TO KEEP FIRE-EXPOSED CONTAINERS COOL.
UNUSUAL FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS VAPORS MAY FLOW ALONG SURFACES TO DISTANT IGNITION SOURCES AND FLASH BACK. CLOSED CONTAINERS EXPOSED TO HEAT MAY EXPLODE. CONTACT WITH STRONG OXIDIZERS MAY CAUSE FIRE.
TOXIC GASES PRODUCED FORMALDEHYDE, CARBON MONOXIDE, CARBON DIOXIDE
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-- 5 - HEALTH HAZARD DATA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------THIS SUBSTANCE IS LISTED AS AN ACGIH SUSPECT HUMAN CARCINOGEN, NTP ANTICIPATED HUMAN CARCINOGEN. ACCEPTABLE MAXIMUMPEAK ABOVE THE ACCEPTANCE CEILING CONCENTRATION FOR AN EIGHT-HOUR SHIFT = 10 PPM FOR 30 MINUTES. (PEL) CEILING = 5 PPM.
THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE (TLV/TWA): 1.5 MG/M3 ( 1 PPM)
SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE LIMIT (STEL): 3 MG/M3 ( 2 PPM)
PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL): MG/M3 ( 3 PPM)
TOXICITY: LD50 (ORAL-RAT)(MG/KG) - 800 LD50 (SCU-RAT)(MG/KG) - 420 LD50 (SKIN-RABBIT)(MG/KG) - 270 LC50 (INHL-RAT) (MG/KG) - 590
CARCINOGENICITY: NTP: YES IARC: NO Z LIST: NO OSHA REG: NO
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-- MSDS for FORMALDEHYDE, 37% SOLUTION Page 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE INHALATION AND INGESTION ARE HARMFUL AND MAY BE FATAL. INHALATION OF VAPORS MAY CAUSE HEADACHE, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIZZINESS, DROWSINESS, IRRITATION OF RESPIRATORY TRACT, AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. CONTACT WITH SKIN OR EYES MAY CAUSE SEVERE IRRITATION OR BURNS. PROLONGED CONTACT MAY CAUSE SKIN SENSITIZATION. SUBSTANCE IS READILY ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN. INGESTION MAY CAUSE BLINDNESS. INGESTION MAY CAUSE NAUSEA, VOMITING, GASTROINTESTINAL IRRITATION, AND BURNS TO MOUTH AND THROAT. CHRONIC EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE MAY INCLUDE KIDNEY AND/OR LIVER DAMAGE.
TARGET ORGANS RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, EYES, SKIN
MEDICAL CONDITIONS GENERALLY AGGRAVATED BY EXPOSURE NONE IDENTIFIED
ROUTES OF ENTRY INHALATION, INGESTION, EYE CONTACT, SKIN CONTACT
EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES CALL A PHYSICIAN. IF SWALLOWED, IF CONSCIOUS, GIVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER. INDUCE VOMITING. IF INHALED, REMOVE TO FRESH AIR. IF NOT BREATHING, GIVE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION. IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, GIVE OXYGEN. IN CASE OF CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY FLUSH EYES OR SKIN WITH PLENTY OF WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES.
TOXICITY TEST RESULTS AND SAFETY AND HEALTH EFFECTS ARE BASED ON THE SOLUTE.
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-- 6 - REACTIVITY DATA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------STABILITY: STABLE HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: MAY OCCUR
CONDITIONS TO AVOID: HEAT, FLAME, OTHER SOURCES OF IGNITION
INCOMPATIBLES: STRONG OXIDIZING AGENTS, STRONG ACIDS, STRONG BASES, ALKALIES, ALKALI METALS, AMINES AND AMMONIA, PHENOL, STRONG REDUCING AGENTS
DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: FORMALDEHYDE, CARBON MONOXIDE, CARBON DIOXIDE
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-- 7 - SPILL AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF A SPILL OR DISCHARGE WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND FULL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. SHUT OFF IGNITION SOURCES; NO FLARES, SMOKING OR FLAMES IN AREA. STOP LEAK IF YOU CAN DO SO WITHOUT RISK. USE WATER SPRAY TO REDUCE VAPORS. TAKE UP WITH SAND OR OTHER NON-COMBUSTIBLE ABSORBENT MATERIAL AND PLACE INTO CONTAINER FOR LATER DISPOSAL. FLUSH AREA WITH WATER.
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-- MSDS for FORMALDEHYDE, 37% SOLUTION Page 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------DISPOSAL PROCEDURE DISPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
EPA HAZARDOUS WASTE NUMBER: U122 (TOXIC WASTE)
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-- 8 - PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------VENTILATION: USE GENERAL OR LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION TO MEET TLV REQUIREMENTS.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: RESPIRATORY PROTECTION REQUIRED IF AIRBORNE CONCENTRATION EXCEEDS TLV. AT CONCENTRATIONS UP TO 50 PPM, A CHEMICAL CARTRIDGE RESPIRATOR WITH ORGANIC VAPOR CARTRIDGE IS RECOMMENDED. ABOVE THIS LEVEL, A SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS IS RECOMMENDED.
EYE/SKIN PROTECTION: SAFETY GOGGLES AND FACE SHIELD, UNIFORM, PROTECTIVE SUIT, PROPER GLOVES ARE RECOMMENDED.
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-- 9 - STORAGE AND HANDLING PRECAUTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------SAF-T-DATA(TM) STORAGE COLOR CODE: RED (FLAMMABLE)
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS KEEP CONTAINER TIGHTLY CLOSED. STORE IN A COOL, DRY, WELL-VENTILATED, FLAMMABLE LIQUID STORAGE AREA OR CABINET. STORE ABOVE 15 C.
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-- 10 - TRANSPORTATION DATA AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------DOMESTIC (D.O.T.)
PROPER SHIPPING NAME FORMALDEHYDE SOLUTION (FLASH PT. BELOW 141 F.) HAZARD CLASS COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID UN/NA UN1198 LABELS NO LABEL REQUIRED UNDER 110 GALLONS REPORTABLE QUANTITY 1000 LBS.
INTERNATIONAL (I.M.O.)
PROPER SHIPPING NAME FORMALDEHYDE, SOLUTIONS HAZARD CLASS 3.3 UN/NA UN1198 LABELS FLAMMABLE LIQUID
.