Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

WERTHEIM PAINT STRIPPER GEL GS125

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

The use of a quantity of material in an unventilated or confined space may result in
increased exposure and an irritating atmosphere developing.Before starting consider
control of exposure by mechanical ventilation. Stripper of paint and organic coatings.

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

In use, may form flammable/ explosive vapor- air mixture.
May form explosive peroxides.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
Toxic: danger of very serious irreversible effects through inhalation, in
contact with skin and if swallowed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Depression of the central nervous system is the most outstanding effect of most halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons. Inebriation and excitation, passing into narcosis, is a typical reaction. In severe acute exposures there is always a danger of death from respiratory failure or cardiac arrest due to a tendency to make the heart more susceptible to catecholamines (adrenalin).  Ingestion of alkyl ethers may produce stupor, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and irritation of the nose and throat. Respiratory distress and asphyxia may result.  

EYE

  This material may produce eye irritation in some persons and produce eye damage 24 hours or more after instillation. Moderate inflammation may be expected with redness; conjunctivitis may occur with prolonged exposure.  Eye contact with alkyl ethers (vapor or liquid) may produce irritation,redness and tears.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay result following absorption.  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  There is strong evidence to suggest that this material, on a single contact with skin, can cause serious, irreversible damage of organs.  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.  The material may cause severe skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin. Repeated exposures may produce severe ulceration.  Alkyl ethers may defat and dehydrate the skin producing dermatoses. Absorption may produce headache, dizziness, and central nervous system depression.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce toxic effects.  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 exposure may cause susceptible individuals to show change in heart beat rhythm i.e. cardiac arrhythmia. Exposures must be terminated.  At high concentrations most of the absorbed methylene chloride (dichloromethane) is exhaled unchanged; the remainder is metabolised to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and inorganic chloride. Inhalation may produce fatigue, weakness, sleepiness, light-  headedness, chills, nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. The lowest published lethal dose is 20,000 ppm for 20 hours. The body metabolises methylene chloride to carbon monoxide and adds to the body burden of carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) contributed by other sources. The increase in COHb is related to the magnitude of vapour exposure and duration. Serious poisoning can occur without raised COHb concentrations, although these raised concentrations may persist for several hours. Central nervous system (CNS) effects are thought to be due to methylene chloride itself or methylene chloride in combination with other sources of COHb, rather than the COHb metabolite. The raised COHb concentrations are not usually expected to produce adverse effects in healthy individuals but may be cause for concern in individuals with cardiovascular disease. Encephalopathy (brain injury) has been reported after repeated exposure. Angina, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest have also been reported, although the cardiovascular system is not generally a target for methylene chloride toxicity. Hypotension, shock and metabolic acidosis may also occur as a result of overexposure. Respiratory failure may develop, secondary to CNS depression, in severe cases.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact and by inhalation of vapors especially at higher temperatures.  Dichloromethane exposures cause liver and kidney damage in animals and this justifies consideration before exposing persons with a history of impaired liver function and/or renal disorders.  Dichloromethane is stored in body fat and metabolized to carbon monoxide, which reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.