Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

UMG CYCOLAC EPX

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

May be used to produce molded or extruded articles or as a component of other industrial
products.

SYNONYMS

acrylonitril-butadiene-styrene, "synthetic thermoplastic polymer"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material has NOT been classified as "harmful by ingestion". This is because of the lack of corroborating animal or human evidence. 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, unintentional ingestion is not thought to be cause for concern.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

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.  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

  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  If exposure to highly concentrated vapor atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and unless resuscitated - death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  This material contains a substantial amount of polymer considered to be of low concern. These are classified under having MWs of between 1000 to 10000 with less than 25% of molecules with MWS under 1000 and less than 10% under 500; or having a molecular weight average of over 10000. Functional groups contained on the polymer are then classified into risk categories. Being classified as a polymer of "low concern" does not mean that there are no hazards associated with the chemical.  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  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.  One ingredient of the product has caused skin sensitization reactions, shown as localized reddening and hives, or may produce respiratory sensitization characterized by asthma-  like symptoms and runny nose.  Exposure to styrene may aggravate central nervous system disorders, chronic respiratory disease, skin disease, kidney disease and liver disease.  Workers engaged in the manufacture of styrene polymers with exposure to generally <1 ppm for 1-36 years had low erythrocyte counts and altered liver enzyme profiles. Blood and liver effects do not appear to be of concern for human exposures to styrene. Occupational studies in humans show styrene to be a neurotoxicant.  Occupational styrene exposure causes central and peripheral nervous system effects. It causes a reversible decrease in colour discrimination and in some studies effects on hearing have been reported.  Neuro-optic pathways have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to organic solvent exposure and studies support the proposition that styrene exposure can induce dose-  dependent colour vision loss. In the fibre-glass reinforced plastics industry, visual colour impairment was detected were exposure was above 4 ppm. Campagna D. et al, Neurotoxicology, 17(2), pp 367-374, 1996  Studies of effects of styrene on the haematopoietic and immune systems, liver and kidney, in exposed workers, do not reveal consistent changes. Central nervous system effects of styrene in rats, guinea pigs and rabbits, have been reported. Styrene exposure causes liver and lung toxicity in mice and nasal toxicity in rats and mice.  Chromosomal abnormalities (micronucleii, chromosome gaps or breaks, nuclear bridges and unscheduled DNA synthesis in peripheral lymphocytes) have been recorded in workers exposed to styrene. Such aberrations however are not always apparent in epidemiological studies and the status of styrene as a DNA effector is equivocal.  Death due to cancers among workers exposed to styrene is statistically unremarkable.  The dominant first metabolite of styrene is styrene-7,8-epoxide which binds covalently to DNA and shows activity in various in-vitro and in-vivo assays for genetic effects where it induces dose-related responses of chromosomal damage at low concentrations. Styrene-7,  8-oxide is detected in the blood of workers exposed to styrene. Adducts in haemoglobin and DNA, DNA single-strand breaks/ alkali-labile sites as well as significant increases in the frequency of chromosomal damage have been found in workers exposed to styrene in the reinforced plastics industry.  In humans there is little evidence for an association between workplace exposure to styrene and spontaneous abortions, malformations or decreased male fecundity.  Spontaneous abortions amongst female worker, exposed to styrene, has been reported in some studies. This finding has not been substantiated in other studies. Increased congenital malformations, embryonic foetal deaths or reduced birth weights have also been reported but simultaneous exposure to other substances makes the link to styrene conjectural. In rats, there is some evidence for reduced sperm count and peripubertal animals may be more sensitive than adult animals. Styrene crosses the placenta in rats and mice. It increases prenatal death at doses levels causing decreased maternal weight gain. Decreased pup weight, postnatal developmental delays as well as neurobehavioral and neurochemical abnormalities have been reported in rats exposed to styrene during pre- or postnatal development. The potential for developmental toxicity appears to be much higher for styrene-7,8-oxide, a metabolite.  Rats given weekly doses of styrene by gavage at 500 mg/kg for 102 weeks showed liver, kidney, and stomach lesions; no effects were seen in mice. Reduced weight gain and increased liver and kidney weights occurred in rats receiving 285 or 475 mg/kg/day for 185 days but no effects at 95 mg/kg/day . Male and female rats were given 0, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg and male and female mice were given 0, 150, or 300 mg/kg by gavage for 78 weeks . Reduced body weight occurred in both treated male rat groups, high-dose female rats, and both treated female mouse groups. In another study, male and female mice were treated weekly with 1350 mg/kg . At 20 weeks, mortality was 50% and 20% for males and females, respectively accompanied by liver necrosis, splenic hypoplasia, and lung congestion. Male and female mice were exposed to 0, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 ppm styrene for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks . In both sexes the liver to body weight ratio was increased at the two highest doses; histopathology of the respiratory tract revealed metaplasia and degeneration of the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity at the lowest dose, necrosis at higher concentrations, and bronchiolar regeneration at all concentrations. Male and female rats exposed to 0, 125, 500, 1000, or 1500 ppm on the same schedule had increased liver to body weight ratios at the three highest levels in males and the two highest levels in females; degeneration of the olfactory epithelium occurred in both sexes at around 1000 ppm. Pathological changes were observed in the respiratory mucosa of rats following exposure to 1000 ppm 4 hours/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks  Chromosomal abnormalities (micronucleii, chromosome gaps or breaks, nuclear bridges and unscheduled DNA synthesis in peripheral lymphocytes) have been recorded in workers exposed to styrene. Such aberrations however are not always apparent in epidemiological studies and the status of styrene as a DNA effector is equivocal.  Death due to cancers among workers exposed to styrene is statistically unremarkable.  The dominant first metabolite of styrene is styrene-7,8-epoxide which binds covalently to DNA and shows activity in various in-vitro and in-vivo assays for genetic effects where it induces dose-related responses of chromosomal damage at low concentrations. Styrene-7,  8-oxide is detected in the blood of workers exposed to styrene. Adducts in haemoglobin and DNA, DNA single-strand breaks/ alkali-labile sites as well as significant increases in the frequency of chromosomal damage have been found in workers exposed to styrene in the reinforced plastics industry.