Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

NAPHTHALENE STILL RESIDUE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Residues from redistillation of the naphthalenes fraction derived from coal coking
processes. A component of coal tar creosote used a flux in making refined tars and as a
scrubbing oil in fume scrubbing systems in aluminium plants. Intermediate

SYNONYMS

"extract residues (coal), tar oil alkaline, naphthalene distillation", residues,
"naphthalenes, alkyl substituted"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes severe burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.
Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Harmful in contact with skin and if swallowed.
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.  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.  Swallowing of the liquid may cause aspiration into the lungs with the risk of chemical pneumonitis; serious consequences may result. (ICSC13733).  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments. The liquid may produce gastrointestinal discomfort and may be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion may result in nausea, pain and vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  Ingestion of naphthalene and its congeners may produce abdominal cramps with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, profuse perspiration, listlessness, confusion, and in severe poisonings, coma with or without convulsions. Irritation of the urinary bladder may also occur (presumably due to the excretory products of naphthalene metabolism) and produce urgency, dysuria, and the passage of brown or black urine with or without albumin or casts. These effects may disappear within a few days and have not been associated with haemolysis which is a prominent finding in naphthalene poisoning. Severe naphthalene poisoning in humans produces haemoglobinuria, methaemoglobinaemia, the production of Heinz bodies and death. Methaemoglobinemia produces a form of oxygen starvation (anoxia). Symptoms include cyanosis (a bluish discolouration skin and mucous membranes) and breathing difficulties. Symptoms may not be evident until several hours after exposure. At about 15% concentration of blood methaemoglobin there is observable cyanosis of the lips, nose and earlobes. Symptoms may be absent although euphoria, flushed face and headache are commonly experienced. At 25-40%, cyanosis is marked but little disability occurs other than that produced on physical exertion. At 40-60%, symptoms include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, increasingly severe headache, ataxia, rapid shallow respiration, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and stupor. Above 60% symptoms include dyspnea, respiratory depression, tachycardia or bradycardia, and convulsions. Levels exceeding 70% may be fatal. In those who survive haemotoxic effects, life-threatening acute renal failure, secondary to renal blockade, occurs. The acute lethal dose of naphthalene is estimated to be between 5 and 15 grams, although certain susceptible individuals have died after ingestion of a total dose of 2 grams. Hypersusceptibility, based on congenital deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, has been identified and is more common amongst Asians, Arabs, Caucasians of Latin ancestry and American and African blacks; males in particular are sensitive.  

EYE

  The material can produce severe 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.  Pyridine and its derivatives generally produce local irritation oncontact with the cornea.  Exposure to naphthalene and its congeners has produced cataracts in animals and workers. In one study, eight of twenty-one workers, exposed to naphthalene for 5-years, showed opacities of the lens.  

SKIN

  The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Skin contact with the material may be harmful; systemic effects may resultfollowing absorption.  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  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.  Workers sensitized to naphthalene and related compounds show an inflammation of the skin with scaling and reddening. Some individuals show an allergic reaction. Generally, absorption through the skin does not cause acute systemic reactions except in new-born babies. Photosensitization, sunburn-like responses or blisters have been reported. Animal testing revealed naphthalene can cause disease changes in a range of organs.  Pyridine and derivatives cause local irritation on skin; absorption through the skin can cause similar effects as inhalation.  

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.  Inhalation of aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  Processing for an overly long time or processing at overly high temperatures may cause generation and release of highly irritating vapors, which irritate eyes, nose, throat, causing red itching eyes, coughing, sore throat.  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.  Inhalation of naphthalene vapour has been associated with headache, loss of appetite and nausea. Other conditions associated with exposure to the vapour include optic neuritis, corneal injury and kidney damage. Animals exposed to aerosols of a refined commercial solvent mixture consisting primarily of mono-methylated naphthalenes, exhibited dyspnoea. When animals were exposed to this mixture for 27 daily one-hour exposures over a 35-day period, they showed dyspnoea, listlessness, prostration and marked salivation. Weight loss was evident in mice but not in other species. Pathological changes occurred in the lungs, liver and skin. Pulmonary changes consisted mainly of oedema, bronchopneumonia, emphysema, and thickening of the parabronchiolar alveolar septa. Haematology did not identify significant changes.  

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.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  In a two-year inhalation study, groups of mice were exposed at 0, 10 or 30 ppm naphthalene, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 103 weeks. Female mice showed an increase of pulmonary alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas at 30 ppm. There was no increase in the incidence of tumours in male mice. Naphthalene inhalation was associated with an increase in the incidence and severity of chronic inflammation, metaplasia of the olfactory epithelium, and hyperplasia of the respiratory epithelium in the nose, and chronic inflammation of the lungs of both sexes.  Overexposure to vapours may cause headaches, drowsiness and dizziness. Prolonged vapour overexposure may cause irregular breathing, collapse and coma.