Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

LINSEED OIL

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Drying oils are characterized by high levels of fatty acids One common measure of the
siccative (drying) property of oils is iodine number. Oils with an iodine number greater
than 130 are considered drying, those with an iodine number of 115- 130 are semi- drying
oils and those with an iodine number of less than 115 are non- drying oils The " drying" ,
" hardening" , or, more properly, " curing" of oils is the result of an exothermic
reaction in the form of autoxidation Oxygen attacks the hydrocarbon chain, touching off a
series of addition reactions. As a result, the oil, forms long, chain- like a vast polymer
network molecules, resulting in a vast polymer network. Over time, this network may
undergo further change. Certain functional groups in the networks become ionised and the
network transitions from a system held together by nonpolar covalent bonds to one governed
by the ionic forces between these functional groups and the metal ions present in the
paint pigment. In oil autoxidation, oxygen attacks a hydrocarbon chain, often at the site
of an allylic hydrogen (a hydrogen on a carbon atom adjacent to a double bond). This
produces, a free radical a substance with an unpaired electron which makes it highly
reactive. A series of addition reactions ensues. Each step produces additional free
radicals, which then engage in further polymerization. The process finally terminates when
free radicals collide, combining their unpaired electrons to form a new bond. The
polymerisation stage occurs over a period of days to weeks, and renders the film dry to
the touch. . Component of paints coatings varnishes, oil cloth, putty, printing inks, core
oils, caulkings, alkyd resins.

SYNONYMS

groco, "polymerised linseed oil", "linseed oil, polymerized", "linseed oil, heatbodied",
"linseed oil, homopolymer", "flaxseed oil", "stand oil", linum, polylin, "bodied raw
linseed oil", "boiled linseed oil", "pure linseed oil", "alkali refined acid refined
linseed oil", "non break N.B.", "NB linseed", "heat thickened linseed oil", "pblo (pale
boiled linseed oil)", "White Ref 1215", "drying oil"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

None

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

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 liquid is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  

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 the material may cause moderate 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.  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

  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.  Inhalation of oil droplets/ aerosols may cause discomfort and may produce chemical pneumonitis.  Fine mists generated from plant/ vegetable (or more rarely from animal) oils may be hazardous. Extreme heating for prolonged periods, at high temperatures, may generate breakdown products which include acrolein and acrolein-like substances.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Synthetic 1,2-diglycerides of short chain (C6, C8, C10) fatty acids are activators of protein kinase C (PKC). PKC is a serine-threonine kinase which also requires calcium ion for its activation. Activated PKC phosphorylates proteins of the cellular signal cascade, which eventually induce expression of growth regulatory genes. This, in turn, may promote the growth of tumours. Structural analogues of the 1,2-diglycerides, such as the phorbol esters, have been shown to strongly promote such an event.  Glyceryl triesters (triglycerides), following ingestion, are metabolised to monoglycerides, free fatty acids and glycerol, all of which are absorbed in the intestinal mucosa and undergo further metabolism. Little or no acute, subchronic or chronic oral toxicity was seen in animal studies unless levels approached a significant percentage of calorific intake. Subcutaneous injections of tricaprylin in rats over a five-week period caused granulomatous reaction characterised by oil deposits surrounded by macrophages. Diets containing substantial levels of tributyrin produced gastric lesions in rats fed for 3-35 weeks; the irritative effect of the substance was thought to be the cause of tissue damage.  Dermal application was not associated with significant irritation in rabbit skin; ocular exposures were, at most, mildly irritating to rabbit eyes. No evidence of sensitisation or photosensitisation was seen in a guinea pig maximisation test. Most of the genotoxicity test systems were negative. Tricaprylin, trioctanoin and triolein have been used, historically, as vehicles in carcinogenicity testing of other chemicals. In one study, subcutaneous injection of tricaprylin, in newborn mice, produced more tumours in lymphoid tissue than were seen in untreated animals whereas, in another study, subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection in 4- to 6-week old female mice produced no tumours. Trioctanoin injected subcutaneously in hamster produced no tumours; when injected intraperitoneally in pregnant rats there was an increase in mammary tumours among the off-spring but similar studies in pregnant hamsters and rabbits showed no tumours in the off-spring.  The National Toxicological Program conducted a 2-year study in rats given tricaprylin by gavage. The treatment was associated with a statistically significant dose-related increase in pancreatic acinar cell hyperplasia and adenoma but there were no acinar carcinomas.  Tricaprylin is not teratogenic to mice or rats but some reproductive effects were seen in rabbits. A low level of foetal eye abnormalities and a small percentage of abnormal sperm were reported in mice injected with trioctanoin.