Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

JUROX BTS ORAL POWDER

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Oral antibacterial and mucolytic for the treatment of respiratory disease in horses

SYNONYMS

"antibacterial mucolytic respiratory disease treament for horses veterinary use"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May cause harm to the unborn child.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can cause, if swallowed once, irreversible damage of organs.  Sulfonamides and their derivatives can cause extensive kidney damage, and destroy red blood cells. Overdose may cause an accumulation of acid in the blood or a diminished blood sugar level with confusion and coma resulting. Predisposed persons can develop hypersensitivity reactions, including for topical application. Deaths have occurred due to hypersensitivity, anemia, imbalances in blood cell distribution and kidney and liver damage. 2-5 grams can be fatal. Sulfonamides cross the placental barrier, are excreted in the breast milk and may produce adverse effects in the fetus/ embryo and newborn, including loss of certain white blood cells causing immune function deficiency, anemia, jaundice and kernicterus.  Concentrated solutions of many cationics may cause corrosive damage to mucous membranes and the esophagus. Nausea and vomiting (sometimes bloody) may follow ingestion. Serious exposures may produce an immediate burning sensation of the mouth, throat and abdomen with profuse salivation, ulceration of mucous membranes, signs of circulatory shock (hypotension, labored breathing, and cyanosis) and a feeling of apprehension, restlessness, confusion and weakness. Weak convulsive movements may precede central nervous system depression. Erosion, ulceration, and petechial hemorrhage may occur through the small intestine with glottic, brain and pulmonary edema. Death may result from asphyxiation due to paralysis of the muscles of respiration or cardiovascular collapse. Fatal poisoning may arise even when the only pathological signs are visceral congestion, swallowing, mild pulmonary edema or varying signs of gastrointestinal irritation. Individuals who survive a period of severe hypertension may develop kidney failure. Cloudy swelling, patchy necrosis and fatty infiltration in such visceral organs as the heart, liver and kidneys shows at death.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  Eye drops with sulfonamides can cause local irritation, sensations of burning and stinging, blurred vision and loss of depth perception. The conjunctiva and cornea may become inflamed, and the cornea and lens may become clouded.  

SKIN

  Skin contact is not thought to produce harmful health effects (as classified using animal models). Systemic harm, however, has been identified following exposure of animals by at least one other route and the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  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.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Ample evidence exists, from results in experimentation, that developmental disorders are directly caused by human exposure to the material.  

  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.  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 limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  There is some evidence to provide a presumption that human exposure to the material may result in impaired fertility on the basis of: some evidence in animal studies of impaired fertility in the absence of toxic effects, or evidence of impaired fertility occurring at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects but which is not a secondary non-  specific consequence of other toxic effects.  There is some evidence that human exposure to the material may result in developmental toxicity. This evidence is based on animal studies where effects have been observed in the absence of marked maternal toxicity, or at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects but which are not secondary non-specific consequences of the other toxic effects.  Exposure to the material for prolonged periods may cause physical defects in the developing embryo (teratogenesis).  Prolonged oral treatment with sulfonamides has caused nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, inflammation of the mouth cavity, impaired folic acid absorption, exacerbation of porphyria, acidosis, liver damage with impaired blood clotting, jaundice and inflammation of the pancreas. Effects on the kidney include blood and crystals in the urine, painful and frequent urination or lack of urine with nitrogen retention. Nervous system symptoms include headache, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, depression, hallucinations, inco-ordination,  paralysis of muscles, numbness in the extremities, spinal cord damage and inflammation, convulsions and unconsciousness. Effects on the blood includes a change in blood cell distribution with loss of white blood cells and platelets, and anemia, which Africans seem to be more prone to developing than Europeans. Cyanosis can occur owing to complexes being formed by hemoglobin. Eye effects include inflamed cornea and conjunctiva with eyelid swelling and in severe cases, fear of the light. Allergies and cross-sensitivity is common, and can cause itches, wheals and sometimes a severe red rash with blisters that is often fatal. This class of drugs can scar the cornea and conjunctiva, swelling around the eyes, painful and inflamed joints, reduced sperm counts, pneumonia, fever, chills, hair loss, inflammation of vessels, lupus, reduced lung function, infertility, hypothyroidism and goiter, and increased urinary output. More seriously, the lungs may become permanently scarred and there may be irreversible damage to the nervous system and muscles. Inflammation of the skin has occurred after the drug is ingested and has traveled through the bloodstream. Skin effects often occur when there has been exposure in conjunction with UV light. Clothed areas are initially less likely to be affected but may be in later stages. Rarely there may be persistence of inflammation on light contact even after the drug has been removed.  Sensitization may result in allergic dermatitis responses includingrash, itching, hives or swelling of extremities.