Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

LEVODOPA

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

A naturally occurring amino- acid. The precursor of the synaptic neurotransmitter,
dopamine. In contrast to dopamine, levodopa readily enters the central nervous system and
as a result is used in the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson' s disease. Also used
to control the neurological symptoms of chronic manganese poisoning which resembles
Parkinsonism. Normally given by mouth.

SYNONYMS

C9-H11-N-O4, C9-H11-N-O4, (OH)2C6H3CH2CHNH2COOH, "levadopa (sic)", "alanine, 3-(3, 4-
dihydroxyphenyl)-, (-)-", "alanine, 3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-, (-)-", "2-amino-3-(3, 4-
dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid", "2-amino-3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid",
dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, L-
dihydroxyphenylalanine, "(-)-3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine", "(-)-3-(3, 4-
dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine", "beta-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-alpha-alanine", L-alpha-
dihydroxyphenylalanine, L-alpha-dihydroxyphenylalanine, "L-beta-(3, 4-
dihydroxyphenyl)alanine", "L-beta-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine", "L-3, 4-
dihydroxyphenylalanine", "L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine", "L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-alpha-
alanine", "L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-alpha-alanine", "beta-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine",
"beta-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine", "3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine", "3-(3, 4-
dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine", "3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine", "3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-
alanine", "3, 4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine", "3, 4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine", (-)-dopa, L-
O-hydroxytyrosine, L-O-hydroxytyrosine, 3-hydroxy-L-tyrosine, 3-hydroxy-L-tyrosine, "L-
tyrosine, 3-hydroxy-", "L-tyrosine, 3-hydroxy-", Bendopa, Biodopa, Brocadopa, Cerepap,
Cidandopa, DA, Deadopa, Dopaflex, Dopal, Dopaidan, Dopal-Fher, Dopalina, Dopar, Doparkine,
Doparl, Dopasol, Dopaston, Dopastral, Doprin, Eldopal, Eldopar, Eldopatec, Eurodopa,
"Helfo Dopa", Insulamina, Laradopa, Larodopa, Lepoda, Levopa, Maipedopa, Parda, Pardopa,
"RO 4-6316", "RO 4-6316", Sobiodopa, Veldopa, "dopaminergic amino-acid"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.

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.  

EYE

  Although the material 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).  The dust may produce eye discomfort causing smarting, pain and redness.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  

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.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Chronic exposure in humans produces somnolence, hallucinations and  distorted perceptions, toxic psychosis, ataxia, tetany, and changes in  motor activity. Skin tumours developed in one patient exposed to levodopa  for 18 months. The material may produce a teratogenic effect in rabbits at  doses of 125 mg/kg/day. Oral administration during days 1-22 of pregnancy  in rats, produced foetal developmental abnormalities. Effects on fertility  may also occur.