Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

K & H PAINT STRIPPER

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Industrial grade paint stripper. Applied by brush. Softened coating removed by hand
scraper. DO NOT heat. The use of a quantity of material in an unventilated or confined
space may result in increased exposure and an irritating atmosphere developing.Before
starting consider control of exposure by mechanical ventilation.

SYNONYMS

"paint and varnish remover methylene chloride base"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.
Possible risk of irreversible effects.
Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Toxic to aquatic organisms.

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.  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Ingestion may result in nausea, pain, vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  

EYE

  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  The vapour when concentrated has pronounced eye irritation effects and this gives some warning of high vapour concentrations. If eye irritation occurs seek to reduce exposure with available control measures, or evacuate area.  The material may produce moderate eye irritation leading to inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may be harmful; systemic effects may resultfollowing absorption.  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Toxic effects may result from skin absorption.  Exposure limits with "skin" notation indicate that vapor and liquid may be absorbed through intact skin. Absorption by skin may readily exceed vapor inhalation exposure. Symptoms for skin absorption are the same as for inhalation. Contact with eyes and mucous membranes may also contribute to overall exposure and may also invalidate the exposure standard.  The material may cause severe skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin. Repeated exposures may produce severe ulceration.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  Inhalation exposure may cause susceptible individuals to show change in heart beat rhythm i.e. cardiac arrhythmia. Exposures must be terminated.  Inhalation of high concentrations of gas/vapor causes lung irritation with coughing and nausea, central nervous depression with headache and dizziness, slowing of reflexes, fatigue and inco-ordination.  Anesthetics and narcotic effects (with dulling of senses and odor fatigue) are a consequence of exposure to chlorinated solvents.  Individual response varies widely; odor may not be considered objectionable at levels which quickly induce central nervous system effects. High vapor concentrations may give a feeling of euphoria. This may result in reduced responses, followed by rapid onset of unconsciousness, possible respiratory arrest and death.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  

  Principal routes of exposure are usually by inhalation of vapor and skin contact with the material.  Prolonged or continuous skin contact with the liquid may cause defatting with drying, cracking, irritation and dermatitis following.  Dichloromethane is stored in body fat and metabolized to carbon monoxide, which reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.  Symptoms of overexposure include mental confusion, light-headedness,  impaired judgement, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, unconsciousness and in  extreme, possible death.  Methylene chloride causes liver and kidney damage in animals and this  justifies consideration before exposing persons with a history of impaired  liver function and/or renal disorders.