Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

LINURON

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Herbicide for selective pre- and post- emergence weed control in corn, grain, sorghum,
soybeans, asparagus, carrots, celery, parsnips, potatoes, cotton and wheat; and for short-
term control of annual weeds on roadsides etc.

SYNONYMS

C9-H10-Cl2-N2-O2, "3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxymethylurea", "3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-
1-methoxymethylurea", "3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea", "3-(3, 4-
dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea", "N'-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-N-methoxy-N-
methylurea", "N'-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-N-methoxy-N-methylurea", "N-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-
N'-methyl-N'-methoxyurea", "N-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-N'-methyl-N'-methoxyurea", "1-methoxy-
1-methyl-3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)urea", "1-methoxy-1-methyl-3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)urea",
Afalon, Linurex, "Afalon Inuron", Lorex, Aphalon, Lorox, Cephalon, "Lorox Linuron Weed
Killer", "Du Pont 326", Methoxydiuron, "Du Pont Herbicide 326", Premalin, Garnitan,
Sarclex, "Herbicide 326", Scarclex, "Hoe 2810", Sinuron, "Linex 4L", Linorox, "phenylurea
pesticide"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
Very toxic by inhalation.
Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.
May cause harm to the unborn child.
Possible risk of impaired fertility.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  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.  The substance and/or its metabolites may bind to hemoglobin inhibiting normal uptake of oxygen. This condition, known as "methemoglobinemia", is a form of oxygen starvation (anoxia).  Symptoms include cyanosis (a bluish discoloration skin and mucous membranes) and breathing difficulties. Symptoms may not be evident until several hours after exposure.  At about 15% concentration of blood methemoglobin there is observable cyanosis of the lips, nose and earlobes. Symptoms may be absent although euphoria, flushed face and headache are commonly experienced. At 25-40%, cyanosis is marked but little disability occurs other than that produced on physical exertion. At 40-60%, symptoms include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, increasingly severe headache, ataxia, rapid shallow respiration, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and stupor. Above 60% symptoms include dyspnea, respiratory depression, tachycardia or bradycardia, and convulsions. Levels exceeding 70% may be fatal.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Abrasive damage however, may result from prolonged exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  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 is not thought to produce either adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  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.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed.  Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed.  This material can cause serious damage if one is exposed to it for long periods. It can be assumed that it contains a substance which can produce severe defects. This has been demonstrated via both short- and long-term experimentation.  Ample evidence exists, from results in experimentation, that developmental disorders are directly caused by human exposure to the material.  Ample evidence from experiments exists that there is a suspicionthis material directly reduces fertility.  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.  Chronic effects of exposure may initially include skin irritation, or blurring of vision, liver enlargement; spleen and thyroid effects; red blood cell destruction; or reduction of the blood's oxygen carrying  capacity with cyanosis (bluish discolourisation), weakness or shortness of breath by formation of methaemoglobin.