Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYPOCHLOROUS ACID

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Disinfectant. An aqueous solution of the potassium salt is known as Javelle water or Eau
de Javelle.

SYNONYMS

Cl-H-O, HClO

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Contact with combustible material may cause fire.
Irritating to eyes.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Symptoms of exposure to perchlorates include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and a bluish discoloration of the skin. The effects may be delayed for several hours following exposure. Nausea, vomiting, rashes, fever may occur; there may be anemia (which can be fatal), loss of platelets and white blood cells.  Nausea and vomiting are almost always apparent after chlorate poisonings usually with upper stomach pain. Diarrhea may also occur. Chlorates are poisonous to the kidney and this can cause death. Healing can be slow and kidney symptoms last weeks. Often there is severe blood cell damage.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  

SKIN

  Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions.  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can cause inflammation of the skin on contact in some persons.  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

  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.  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Based on experience with animal studies, there is a possibility that exposure to the material may result in toxic effects to the development of the fetus, at levels which do not cause significant toxic effects to the mother.  Reduced respiratory capacity may result from chronic low level exposure to chlorine gas. Chronic poisoning may result in coughing, severe chest pains, sore throat and haemoptysis (bloody sputum). Moderate to severe exposures over 3 years produced decreased lung capacity in a number of workers.  Delayed effects can include shortness of breath, violent headaches, pulmonary oedema and pneumonia.  Amongst chloralkali workers exposed to mean concentrations of 0.15 ppm for an average of 10.9 years a generalised pattern of fatigue (exposures of 0.5 ppm and above) and a modest increased incidence of anxiety and dizziness were recorded. Leukocytosis and a lower haematocrit showed some relation to exposure.  Perchlorates may affect the use of iodine by the thyroid gland and chronic exposures may result in symptoms of thyroid dysfunction such as goiter.