Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

VINYLIDENE FLUORIDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Polymers and copolymers; intermediate.

SYNONYMS

C2H2F2, H2C=CF2, "ethylene, 1, 1-difluoro-", "ethylene, 1, 1-difluoro-", "1, 1-
difluoroethene", "1, 1-difluoroethene", "ethene, 1, 1-difluoro-", "ethene, 1, 1-
difluoro-", "1, 1-difluorethylene", "1, 1-difluorethylene", "Halocarbon 1132A", NCI-
C60208, VDF, "vinylidene difluoride", "Refrigerant R1132A"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Extremely flammable.
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre-  existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  Overexposure is unlikely in this form.  

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).  capable of causing pain and severe conjunctivitis. Corneal injury may develop, with possible permanent impairment of vision, if not promptly and adequately treated.  

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.  Vaporizing liquid causes rapid cooling and contact may cause cold burns,frostbite.  

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.  Acute intoxication by halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons appears to take place over two stages. Signs of a reversible narcosis are evident in the first stage and in the second stage signs of injury to organs may become evident, a single organ alone is (almost) never involved.  Exposure to fluorocarbons can produce non-specific flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, chest discomfort, sore throat and dry cough with rapid recovery. High concentrations can cause irregular heartbeats and a stepwise reduction in lung capacity. Heart rate may be reduced.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Fluorocarbons can cause an increased risk of cancer, spontaneous abortionand birth defects.  The principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact and  inhalation.  The metabolism of haloethylenes by microsomal oxidation leading to  epoxide formation across the double bond has been proposed. The resulting  oxiranes are highly reactive and may covalently bind to nucleic acids  leading to mutations and possible cancers. A comparison between the  monohaloethylenes and the 1,1-dihaloethylenes indicates that the monohalo-  compounds are more carcinogenic. A measure of such potential  carcinogenicity is the development of significant preneoplastic foci in  livers of treated rats.