Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

OLEOYLSARCOSINE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Component of surfactants

SYNONYMS

C21-H39-N-O3, C21-H39-N-O3, "glycine, N-methyl-n-(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)-, (Z)-",
"glycine, N-methyl-n-(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)-, (Z)-", (Z)-N-methyl-n-(1-oxo-9-
octadecenyl)glycine, (Z)-N-methyl-n-(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)glycine, "n-oleoyl sarcosine",
"n-oleoyl sarcosine", "oleic sarcosine", "medialinic acid", "oleolyl N-methylaminoacetic
acid", "oleolyl N-methylaminoacetic acid", "oleoyl N-methylglycine", "oleoyl N-
methylglycine", "oleoyl methylaminoethanoic acid", "Maprosyl O", "Hamposyl O"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre-  existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Ingestion may result in nausea, abdominal irritation, pain and vomiting.  Ingestion of anionic surfactants may produce diarrhea, bloated stomach,and occasional vomiting.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  Direct eye contact with some anionic surfactants in high concentration can cause severe damage to the cornea. Low concentrations can cause discomfort, excess blood flow, and corneal clouding and swelling. Recovery may take several days.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Anionic surfactants can cause skin redness and pain, as well as a rash. Cracking, scaling and blistering can occur.  Acyl sarcosinates are generally non-irritating or only mildly irritating to human skin. When applied by the epicutaneous patch test, to persons who have had severe eczema (aqueous solutions were left to dry on the skin), these individuals exhibited low reaction. Numerous skin test on animals have confirmed the mildness of sarcosine surfactants.  When lauroyl- and cocoyl- sarcosine were tested for primary skin irritation (as described in CFR-16, 1500.41 Federal Hazardous Substances Act), results indicated that they were not primary skin irritants (oleoylsarcosine - irritation score 0.83 for four-hour skin exposure).  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  No human exposure data available. For this reason health effects described are based on experience with chemically related materials.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact/eye contact with the material and inhalation of vapor.  Acyl sarcosines and acyl sarcosinates are reportedly cytotoxic to Chinese hamster cells in culture but are not mutagenic to these cells, nor to bacterial cells in culture. They are generally of low oral rat toxicity and nonirritating and nonsensitising to animal and human skin. Several are reportedly photosensitisers.  This family of materials is often used in formulations requiring anionic surfactants; they may enhance the penetration of other ingredients through the skin and caution should be exhibited when formulating cosmetic products containing substances which are systemic toxins but which do not normally penetrate the skin.  Because sarcosine can be nitrosated to form N-nitrososarcosine, a known animal carcinogen,  sarcosines (N-methylglycine derivatives) and their salts (sarcosinates) are not generally compounded with agents which might promote such reaction.  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.  Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause drying with cracking,irritation and possible dermatitis following.