Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

KOPPERS TANALITH O TYPE C OXIDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used for the pressure impregnation of treatment of timber against fungal and insect
attack.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Very toxic by inhalation.
Causes severe burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
May cause CANCER.
May cause SENSITIZATION by inhalation and skin contact.
May cause heritable genetic damage.
Possible risk of impaired fertility.
Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation.
Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 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.  Ingestion may produce nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, bloody stools, shock, rapid pulse and coma. Severe gastritis or gastroenteritis may occur as a result of lesions produced by vascular damage from absorbed arsenic (and not local corrosion); symptoms may be delayed for several hours. Eventually a violent hemorrhagic gastroenteritis leads to profound loss of fluid and electrolyte resulting in shock and death. Occasionally alimentary symptoms are mild or absent in which case symptoms are usually referable to the central nervous system, headache, vertigo, muscle spasm or convulsion, delirium and, sometimes, mania. In advanced poisonings by arsenic and its inorganic salts, nervous symptoms are prominent; disorders of the brain (encephalopathies) and peripheral neuritis (more commonly) have been described. A prickling sensation (paresthesia), decreased sensitivity to sensation and pain (hypoesthesia), eventually paralysis and muscular atrophy appear, usually in the legs. "Glove and stocking' distribution of sensory loss may be prominent. The toxic moiety is presumed to be trivalent arsenic in the form of inorganic arsenious acid (arsenite) or an organic arsenoxide. Arsenites are active enzyme inhibitors. Arsenic and its compounds may damage the stem cell which acts as the precursor to components of the blood. Loss of the stem cell may result in pancytopenia (a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells and platelets) with a latency period corresponding to the lifetime of the individual blood cells. Granulocytopenia (a reduction in granular leukocytes) develops within days and thrombocytopenia (a disorder involving platelets), within 1-2 weeks, whilst loss of erythrocytes (red blood cells) need months to become clinically manifest. Aplastic anaemia develops due to complete destruction of the stem cells.  

EYE

  The material can produce severe chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  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.  Copper salts, in contact with the eye, may produce conjunctivitis or even ulceration and turbidity of the cornea.  

SKIN

  The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Skin contact with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay result following absorption.  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Chrome fume, as the chrome VI oxide, is corrosive to the skin and may aggravate pre-  existing skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. As a potential skin sensitizer, the fume may cause dermatoses to appear suddenly and without warning. Absorption of chrome VI compounds through the skin can cause systemic poisoning effecting the kidneys and liver.  Exposure to copper, by skin, has come from its use in pigments, ointments, ornaments, jewellery, dental amalgams and IUDs and as an antifungal agent and an algicide. Although copper algicides are used in the treatment of water in swimming pools and reservoirs, there are no reports of toxicity from these applications. Reports of allergic contact dermatitis following contact with copper and its salts have appeared in the literature, however the exposure concentrations leading to any effect have been poorly characterised. In one study, patch testing of 1190 eczema patients found that only 13 (1.1%) cross-  reacted with 2% copper sulfate in petrolatum. The investigators warned, however, that the possibility of contamination with nickel (an established contact allergen) might have been the cause of the reaction. Copper salts often produce an itching eczema in contact with skin. This is, likely, of a non-allergic nature.  Arsenic can cause skin irritation characterized by eczema, scaling, sensitization, and discoloration and thickening of the palms and soles.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce severely toxic effects; these may be fatal.  Inhaling materials containing arsenic can cause severe irritation to the nose, throat and lungs. Prolonged exposure can cause severe structural damage to the nose.  Copper poisoning following exposure to copper dusts and fume may result in headache, cold sweat and weak pulse. Capillary, kidney, liver and brain damage are the longer term manifestations of such poisoning. Inhalation of freshly formed metal oxide particles sized below 1.5 microns and generally between 0.02 to 0.05 microns may result in "metal fume fever". Symptoms may be delayed for up to 12 hours and begin with the sudden onset of thirst, and a sweet, metallic or foul taste in the mouth. Other symptoms include upper respiratory tract irritation accompanied by coughing and a dryness of the mucous membranes, lassitude and a generalised feeling of malaise. Mild to severe headache, nausea, occasional vomiting, fever or chills, exaggerated mental activity, profuse sweating, diarrhoea, excessive urination and prostration may also occur. Tolerance to the fumes develops rapidly, but is quickly lost. All symptoms usually subside within 24-36 hours following removal from exposure.  Chrome fume is irritating to the respiratory tract and lungs. Toxic effects result from over-exposure. Asthmatic conditions may result as a consequence of the sensitising action of chrome VI compounds.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Based on experiments and other information, there is ample evidence to presume that exposure to this material can cause genetic defects that can be inherited.  

  Toxic: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation.  Ample evidence from experiments exists that there is a suspicionthis material directly reduces fertility.  Long-term exposure to arsenic and its inorganic salts may produce loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, low fever, persistent headache, pallor, weakness and phlegm. Skin effects include redness, eczema, pigmentation, diffuse hair loss, scaling of the palms and soles, sloughing, brittle nails, white lines or bands on the nails, loss of hair and nails, and localized swelling. Kidney damage can occur and liver enlargement with jaundice may develop into cirrhosis (hardening of the liver), with fluid in the abdomen. Nervous system effects involving the extremities (numbness, tingling, burning pain, weakness, inco-ordination) may also occur. Arsenic is well-known to cause cancer in humans.  Copper has fairly low toxicity. Some rare hereditary conditions (Wilson disease or hepatolenticular degeneration) can lead to accumulation of copper on exposure, causing irreversible damage to a variety of organs (liver, kidney, CNS, bone, vision) and lead to death. There may be anemia and cirrhosis of the liver.