Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HEXAMINE DINITRATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Formed in situ as an additive to explosive mixtures.

SYNONYMS

C6-H12-N4.2HNO3, "HMTA dinitrate"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Explosive when dry.
Extreme risk of explosion by shock, fire, friction or other sources of ignition.
Contact with combustible material may cause fire.
Irritating to eyes.
Flammable.
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  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

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  The dust may produce eye discomfort causing smarting, pain and redness.  

SKIN

  Sensitization may result in allergic dermatitis responses includingrash, itching, hives or swelling of extremities.  Sensitization reactions may appear suddenly after repeatedsymptom free exposures.  Contact allergies quickly manifest themselves as contact eczema, more rarely as urticaria or Quincke's edema. The pathogenesis of contact eczema involves a cell-mediated (T lymphocytes) immune reaction of the delayed type. Other allergic skin reactions, e.g. contact urticaria, involve antibody-mediated immune reactions. The significance of the contact allergen is not simply determined by its sensitization potential: the distribution of the substance and the opportunities for contact with it are equally important. A weakly sensitizing substance which is widely distributed can be a more important allergen than one with stronger sensitizing potential with which few individuals come into contact. From a clinical point of view, substances are noteworthy if they produce an allergic test reaction in more than 1% of the persons tested.  

INHALED

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material, if inhaled, can irritate the throat and lungs of some persons.  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.  Respiratory sensitization may result in allergic/asthma like responses; from coughing and minor breathing difficulties to bronchitis with wheezing, gasping.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Free HMTA is a known skin sensitiser and some individuals develop skin  irritation from contact with the solid, vapour or solution.