Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Preservative for cosmetic preparations.

SYNONYMS

C11-H16-N8-O8, "urea, N, N""-methylenebis(N'-(1-(hydroxymethyl)-2, 5-dioxo-4-
imidazolidinyl)-", "urea, N, N""-methylenebis(N'-(1-(hydroxymethyl)-2, 5-dioxo-4-
imidazolidinyl)-", "methanebis[N, N'-(5-ureido-2, 4-diketotetrahydroimidazole)-N, N-
dimethylol]", "methanebis[N, N'-(5-ureido-2, 4-diketotetrahydroimidazole)-N, N-
dimethylol]", "N, N""-methylenebis[N'-(1-(hydroxymethyl)-2, 5-dioxo-4-
imidazolidinyl)urea]", "N, N""-methylenebis[N'-(1-(hydroxymethyl)-2, 5-dioxo-4-
imidazolidinyl)urea]", "Germall 115"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  

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 this material can cause inflammation of the skin on contact in some persons.  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 either adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and 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.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  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.  Exposure to the material may cause concerns for human fertility, on the basis that similar materials provide some evidence of impaired fertility in the absence of toxic effects, or evidence of impaired fertility occurring at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects, but which are not a secondary non-specific consequence of other toxic effects..  Imidazole is structurally related to histamine and has been used as an antagonist to counteract the effects of excess histamine found in certain induced physiological conditions (it therefore acts as an antihistamine).  Imidazoles have been reported to disrupt male fertility through disruption of testicular function.  2-Methylimidazole decreased luteinising hormone secretion and tissue interstitial fluid testosterone concentration two hours after injection into Sprague Dawley rats.  Imidazoles bind to cytochrome P450 haeme, resulting in inhibition of catalysis. However, 2-substituted imidazoles are considered to be poor inhibitors. Imidazole is probably an inducer of cytochrome P4502E1. In general, inducers of this isozyme stabilise the enzyme by preventing phosporylation of a serine which leads to haeme loss.  Several drugs containing an imidazole moiety were retained and bound in connective tissue when administered to laboratory animals. The bound material was primarily recovered from elastin (70%) and the collagen. It is postulated that reaction with aldehydes gives an aldol condensation product.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Exposure to small quantities may induce hypersensitivity reactions characterized by acute bronchospasm, hives (urticaria), deep dermal wheals (angioneurotic edema), running nose (rhinitis) and blurred vision . Anaphylactic shock and skin rash (non-thrombocytopenic purpura) may occur. An individual may be predisposed to such anti-body mediated reaction if other chemical agents have caused prior sensitization (cross-sensitivity).