Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

K&H 50% BENZOYL PEROXIDE HARDENER

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Mainly used for the curing of unsaturated polyester patching putties at ambient
temperature in combination with amine accelerators. Hardener or Part B of a 2 pack.
styrene polyester system. Requires that the two parts be mixed by hand or mixer before
use, in accordance with manufacturers directions. Mix only as much as is required. Do not
return the mixed material to the original containers.

SYNONYMS

"filler polyester putty hardener catalyst Benzoyl Peroxide hardener"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition.
Contact with combustible material may cause fire.
Irritating to eyes.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.
Harmful 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 damaging to the health of the individual.  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Ingestion of organic peroxides may produce nausea, vomiting, abnormal pain, stupor, bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes. Inflammation of the heart muscle may also occur.  Central nervous system (CNS) depression may include general discomfort, symptoms of giddiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, anaesthetic effects, slowed reaction time, slurred speech and may progress to unconsciousness. Serious poisonings may result in respiratory depression and may be fatal.  The toxicity of phthalates is not excessive due to slow oral absorption and metabolism. Absorption is affected by fat in the diet. Repeated doses can cause cumulative toxic effects, and symptoms include an enlarged liver which often reverses if exposure is maintained. Carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood falls. There can also be withering of the testicles. Some phthalates can increase the effects of antibiotics, thiamine (vitamin B1) and sulfonamides.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Eye contact with organic peroxides can cause clouding, redness, swelling and burns of the eye on prolonged contact.  Non-ionic surfactants can cause numbing of the cornea, which masks discomfort normally caused by other agents and leads to corneal injury. Irritation varies depending on the duration of contact, the nature and concentration of the surfactant.  The material may be irritating to the eye, with prolonged contact causing inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  All organic peroxides are irritating to the skin and if allowed to remain on the skin, may produce inflammation; some are allergenic.  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.  This material is a photosensitizer. Certain individuals working with this substance may show allergic reaction of the skin under sunlight. This results in sensitivity to sunburn (may be severe) unless protective covering and 15+PF sunscreen are used. Responses may vary from sunburn-like effects to swelling and blistering lesions.  The material may cause skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin.  

INHALED

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material, if inhaled, can irritate the throat and lungs of some persons.  The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  The inhalation of organic peroxide dusts or vapors can produce throat and lung irritation and cause an asthma-like effect. Over-exposure can cause tears, salivation, lethargy, slow breathing, breathing difficulties, headache, weakness, tremor, stupor and swelling of the lung.  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects 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.  Acute effects from inhalation of high vapor concentrations may be chest and nasal irritation with coughing, sneezing, headache and even nausea.  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Persistent exposure over a long period of time to peroxides produces allergic skin reactions ( redness and scaling of the skin ) and asthmatic wheezing.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Asthma-like symptoms may continue for months or even years after exposure to the material ceases. This may be due to a non-allergenic condition known as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) which can occur following exposure to high levels of highly irritating compound. Key criteria for the diagnosis of RADS include the absence of preceding respiratory disease, in a non-atopic individual, with abrupt onset of persistent asthma-like symptoms within minutes to hours of a documented exposure to the irritant. A reversible airflow pattern, on spirometry, with the presence of moderate to severe bronchial hyperreactivity on methacholine challenge testing and the lack of minimal lymphocytic inflammation, without eosinophilia, have also been included in the criteria for diagnosis of RADS. RADS (or asthma) following an irritating inhalation is an infrequent disorder with rates related to the concentration of and duration of exposure to the irritating substance. Industrial bronchitis, on the other hand, is a disorder that occurs as result of exposure due to high concentrations of irritating substance (often particulate in nature) and is completely reversible after exposure ceases. The disorder is characterised by dyspnea, cough and mucus production.  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Exposure to phthalates over years leads to pain, numbness and spasms in the hands and feet. Many people have developed multiple disorders in the nervous system and the balancing system. Levels of sex hormones are reduced in women, leading to missed ovulations and miscarriages. They also reduce sperm counts and fertility in men. They mimic certain sex hormones and can damage the fetus. Phthalates are found in paints, inks and glues.  Exposure to alkyl phenolics  is associated with reduced sperm count andfertility in males.  Long term exposure to organophosphonate chelating agents may cause adverse effects.  Rats fed on aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid) (ATMP), for up to 24 months, exhibited reduced body weight and changes in liver, spleen and kidney weights. No adverse histologic. haematologic, biochemical or urinological effects were seen. The "no-effect" level was 150 mg/kg/day. No significant teratogenic or foetotoxic effects were observed in the off-spring of rats and mice exposed to the neutral sodium salt, by gavage. No maternal toxicity was observed at any level. No adverse treatment related effects or reproductive parameters and no pathological or histopathological lesions were observed in either parental animals or pups following dietary exposure of the solid active acid at various times in the mating and birth cycle for three generations.  Rats fed on ethylenediamine(methylenephosphonic acid (EDTMP) (300 mg/kg daily for 10 weeks) before mating and up to the end of the mating period, showed reduced body weights, defects in dental enamel on the incisors and significantly reduced liver weights. In an ongoing study, several rats treated with EDTMP (50-333 mg/kg/day) died during the first twelve months and were seen to have osteosarcomas with metastases. Other adverse effects of EDTMP treatment included increased white blood cell counts in mice, anaemia and reduction in erythrocytes, haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum cholesterol, total serum protein and globulin, in rats.  In a one-generation reproductive study the off-spring of rats, fed up to 3000 ppm DTPMPA (diethylenetriaminepentakis(methylenephosphonic acid)), showed no adverse effects although there was a slight decrease in birth weights.  Diluted forms of benzoyl peroxide have been used as acne and skin bleach  treatment and have resulted in 1-2% of these applications showing severe  irritation, allergic responses and / or sensitisation.