Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

TALL OIL/ROSIN/MALEIC-PHTHALIC ANHYD/GLYCEROL/FORMALDEHYDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Synthetic polymer.

SYNONYMS

"alkyd resin", "fatty acids, tall oil, polymers with phenol, formaldehyde, glycerol,
maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride and rosin"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

None

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Ingestion may result in nausea, pain, vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  

SKIN

  The liquid may produce skin discomfort following prolonged contact. Defatting and/or drying of the skin may lead to dermatitis.  

INHALED

  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  Inhalation of vapor may aggravate a pre-existing respiratory condition.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact/absorption and inhalation of vapor.  This material contains a polymer with a functional group considered to be of moderate concern. Aldehydes are reactive, soluble and are highly irritating. The lower (lighter) aldehydes attack exposed tissues and less soluble species can enter the lungs. Toxicity is lower for larger species because they are less easily absorbed by the body. However even large polymers with more than one medium-risk reactive group cannot be classified as a low risk polymer.  Rosin (colophany) has caused allergic contact dermatitis in solderers using resin flux-  cored solders, can be a sensitiser for strings players, and has caused dermatitis after use in adhesive tapes [NIOSHTEC]. It is found in many products that commonly come in contact with the skin, including cosmetics, sunscreens, veterinary medications, adhesives,  sealants, polishes, paints and oils. Industrial use of rosins (both natural and modified) is common and they are found in such products as printing inks, cutting fluids, corrosion inhibitors and surface coatings. High-quality gloss paper may also be coated with rosin or its derivatives.  The main component of rosin is abietic acid, which by itself is non-sensitising.  Several allergens have been isolated from rosin; these include 15-hydroperoxyabietic acid (15-HPA) and 15-hydroperoxydehydroabietic acid (15-HPDA), a peroxide of dehydroabietic acid. In animal allergic-challenge testing, these two substances are cross-reactive despite differences in molecular weight and unsaturation. Both substances react via a radical mechanism generating structurally similar molecules which give rise to antigens producing the allergic reaction.  Gafvert et al: Arch Dermatol Res 284; 1992; pp 409-413  For a better understanding of the mechanisms of contact allergic reactions, the patterns of cross-reactivity between different resin acid oxidation products were studied.  The 13,14(a)-epoxide and the 13,14(b)-epoxide of abietic acid and 15-HPDA are contact allergens in experimental studies. The b-epoxide of abietic acid has been detected in gum rosins.  Cross reactivity has been observed between the a - and b- epoxides and also between the epoxides and 15-HPA (and also between 15-HPDA and 15-HPA). This can be explained if 15-  HPA forms an epoxide which then reacts with skin protein to generate the complete antigen. Cross-reactivity between the two hydroperoxides might be preceded by the formation of similar alkoxy radicals which further react with skin protein. Cross-  reactivity patterns of resin oxidation products indicate that 15-HPA may react with skin proteins either as a radical or as an epoxide, thus generating different antigens.  Gafvert et al: Chemical Research in Toxicology; 1994; pp 260-266  Esterification of rosin, with polyalcohols for example, reduces allergenic activity although some individuals still are allergic to the polyester. Reduced or diminished reaction to glycerol- and pentaerythritol- esterified rosins, is probably due to the formation of larger molecules (with reduced bioavailability).  Methyl ester of rosins, however, have molecular weights of similar magnitude to the parent rosin and when both are tested in sensitised patients, there is little difference in reactivity.  Shao et al: Contact Dermatitis 28; 1993; pp 229-234  Patch tests conducted using methyl resinate produced a lower level of response than similar tests on the same resin allergic individuals, conducted with glycerol, pentaerythritol and propylene glycol esters of rosin. It was not possible to determine whether those individuals who were methyl resin positive were cross-sensitised or were reacting to a non-specific irritant effect  Private Communication  The main compound formed in glycerol-modified rosins is glyceryl triabietate; lesser amounts of the monoabietate and diabietate are also formed. Whilst the triabietate elicits no or low allergenic activity, the monoabietate has been identified as a contact allergen.  Some individuals react to glycerol-modified rosins: both unmodified abietic acid and the monoabietate have been identified in these modified rosins.  Gafvert et al. Contact Dermatitis; 31 1994; pp 11-17  Rosin modified with fumaric acid or maleic anhydride is often used in paper size. A major product of the paper size in the modification of the rosin is fumaropimaric acid (FPA) which is formed by Diels-Alder addition of fumaric acid to levopimaric acid (l-abietic anhydride), another of the major components of rosin. The allergenic activity of isomers of FPA, tested in guinea pigs is low but maybe present. After prolonged heating, however, FPA is converted to maleopimaric acid (MPA). MPA has been shown to be a potent allergen in previous studies. MPA also forms when abietic acid and fumaric acid are heated together at 220 deg. C and is present in commercially available fumaric acid-  modified rosins. Free abietic acid has also been detected in these modified rosins.  Fumaric acid-modified rosins were shown to elicit positive test results in guinea pigs sensitised to MPA.  Gafvert et al: Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal 10: 1995; 139-144.