Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

KESTER 185 SOLDERING FLUX

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Soldering flux

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Irritating to eyes.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Highly flammable.
Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Overexposure to non-ring alcohols causes nervous system symptoms. These include headache, muscle weakness and inco-ordination, giddiness, confusion, delirium and coma. Digestive symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Aspiration is much more dangerous than ingestion because lung damage can occur and the substance is absorbed into the body. Alcohols with ring structures and secondary and tertiary alcohols cause more severe symptoms, as do heavier alcohols.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments. The liquid may produce gastrointestinal discomfort and may be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion may result in nausea, pain and vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  

EYE

  There is evidence that material may produce eye irritation in some persons and produce eye damage 24 hours or more after instillation. Severe inflammation may be expected with pain. There may be damage to the cornea. Unless treatment is prompt and adequate there may be permanent loss of vision. Conjunctivitis can occur following repeated exposure.  The liquid may produce eye discomfort and is capable of causing temporary impairment of vision and/or transient eye inflammation, ulceration.  

SKIN

  There is some evidence to suggest that the material may cause mild but significant inflammation of the skin either following direct contact or after a delay of some time. Repeated exposure can cause contact dermatitis which is characterized by redness, swelling and blistering.  Most liquid alcohols appear to act as primary skin irritants in humans. Significant percutaneous absorption occurs in rabbits but not apparently in man.  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.  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

  Inhalation may produce health damage*.  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Aliphatic alcohols with more than 3-carbons cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness, muscle weakness and delirium, central depression, coma, seizures and behavioral changes. Secondary respiratory depression and failure, as well as low blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms, may follow. Nausea and vomiting are seen, and liver and kidney damage is possible as well following massive exposures. Symptoms are more acute the more carbons there are in the alcohol.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  Inhalation of high concentrations of gas/vapor causes lung irritation with coughing and nausea, central nervous depression with headache and dizziness, slowing of reflexes, fatigue and inco-ordination.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  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.  Information not supplied on manufacturer's material safety data sheet.  Chronic solvent inhalation exposures may result in nervous system impairment and liver and blood changes. [PATTYS].  Rosin (colophany) has caused allergic contact dermatitis in solderers using resin flux-  cored solders, can be a sensitiser for strings players, and has caused dermatitis after use in adhesive tapes [NIOSHTEC]. It is found in many products that commonly come in contact with the skin, including cosmetics, sunscreens, veterinary medications, adhesives,  sealants, polishes, paints and oils. Industrial use of rosins (both natural and modified) is common and they are found in such products as printing inks, cutting fluids, corrosion inhibitors and surface coatings. High-quality gloss paper may also be coated with rosin or its derivatives.  The main component of rosin is abietic acid, which by itself is non-sensitising.  Several allergens have been isolated from rosin; these include 15-hydroperoxyabietic acid (15-HPA) and 15-hydroperoxydehydroabietic acid (15-HPDA), a peroxide of dehydroabietic acid. In animal allergic-challenge testing, these two substances are cross-reactive despite differences in molecular weight and unsaturation. Both substances react via a radical mechanism generating structurally similar molecules which give rise to antigens producing the allergic reaction.  Gafvert et al: Arch Dermatol Res 284; 1992; pp 409-413  For a better understanding of the mechanisms of contact allergic reactions, the patterns of cross-reactivity between different resin acid oxidation products were studied.  The 13,14(a)-epoxide and the 13,14(b)-epoxide of abietic acid and 15-HPDA are contact allergens in experimental studies. The b-epoxide of abietic acid has been detected in gum rosins.  Cross reactivity has been observed between the a - and b- epoxides and also between the epoxides and 15-HPA (and also between 15-HPDA and 15-HPA). This can be explained if 15-  HPA forms an epoxide which then reacts with skin protein to generate the complete antigen. Cross-reactivity between the two hydroperoxides might be preceded by the formation of similar alkoxy radicals which further react with skin protein. Cross-  reactivity patterns of resin oxidation products indicate that 15-HPA may react with skin proteins either as a radical or as an epoxide, thus generating different antigens.  Gafvert et al: Chemical Research in Toxicology; 1994; pp 260-266  Esterification of rosin, with polyalcohols for example, reduces allergenic activity although some individuals still are allergic to the polyester. Reduced or diminished reaction to glycerol- and pentaerythritol- esterified rosins, is probably due to the formation of larger molecules (with reduced bioavailability).  Methyl ester of rosins, however, have molecular weights of similar magnitude to the parent rosin and when both are tested in sensitised patients, there is little difference in reactivity.  Shao et al: Contact Dermatitis 28; 1993; pp 229-234  Patch tests conducted using methyl resinate produced a lower level of response than similar tests on the same resin allergic individuals, conducted with glycerol, pentaerythritol and propylene glycol esters of rosin. It was not possible to determine whether those individuals who were methyl resin positive were cross-sensitised or were reacting to a non-specific irritant effect  Private Communication  The main compound formed in glycerol-modified rosins is glyceryl triabietate; lesser amounts of the monoabietate and diabietate are also formed. Whilst the triabietate elicits no or low allergenic activity, the monoabietate has been identified as a contact allergen.  Some individuals react to glycerol-modified rosins: both unmodified abietic acid and the monoabietate have been identified in these modified rosins.  Gafvert et al. Contact Dermatitis; 31 1994; pp 11-17  Rosin modified with fumaric acid or maleic anhydride is often used in paper size. A major product of the paper size in the modification of the rosin is fumaropimaric acid (FPA) which is formed by Diels-Alder addition of fumaric acid to levopimaric acid (l-abietic anhydride), another of the major components of rosin. The allergenic activity of isomers of FPA, tested in guinea pigs is low but maybe present. After prolonged heating, however, FPA is converted to maleopimaric acid (MPA). MPA has been shown to be a potent allergen in previous studies. MPA also forms when abietic acid and fumaric acid are heated together at 220 deg. C and is present in commercially available fumaric acid-  modified rosins. Free abietic acid has also been detected in these modified rosins.  Fumaric acid-modified rosins were shown to elicit positive test results in guinea pigs sensitised to MPA.  Gafvert et al: Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal 10: 1995; 139-144.