Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

OCTANOL, ETHOXYLATED, PROPOXYLATED

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Alcohol ethoxylates (AE) are used in many types of consumer and industrial products like,
e.g., laundry detergents, all- purpose cleaning agents, dishwashing agents, emulsifiers,
and wetting agents. Alcohol alkoxylates (AA) are used as weakly foaming and foam-
mitigating surfactants in household cleaning agents, dishwashing agents and cleaning
agents designed for the food industry. Other applications of AA include textile
lubricants, agricultural chemicals, and rinse aid formulations Alcohol ethoxylates (AE)
are nonionic surfactants composed of a hydrophobic alkyl chain (fatty alcohol) which is
combined with a number of ethoxylate, or ethylene oxide, units via an ether linkage.
Alcohol alkoxylates (AA) normally contain both ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide
(PO) in their hydrophilic moiety, whereas butylene oxide (BO) is less frequently used. The
abbreviation AA has been used to designate nonionic surfactants with a hydrophilic part
containing PO (or BO), frequently in combination with EO. Nonionic surfactant. Synthetic
lubricant. Regeant

SYNONYMS

"propoxylated alcohol ethoxylate", "oxirane methyl, polymer with oxirane, octyl ether",
"poly(propylene oxide, ethylene oxide) octyl ether", "octanol, ", "ethoxylated and
propoxylated", "polyethylenepolypropylene glycol monooctanol ether", "polyethylene/
polypropylene glycol monooctyl ether", "alkoxylated linear alcohol"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
Irritating to eyes and skin.
May cause long- term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Nonionic surfactants may produce localized irritation of the oral or gastrointestinal lining and induce vomiting and mild diarrhea.  

EYE

  This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Non-ionic surfactants can cause numbing of the cornea, which masks discomfort normally caused by other agents and leads to corneal injury. Irritation varies depending on the duration of contact, the nature and concentration of the surfactant.  

SKIN

  The material may cause mild but significant 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

  Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by narcosis, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of coordination and vertigo.  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  The material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.