Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDROCARBONS, C4-UNSATURATED

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used as a polymer component in the manufacture of synthetic rubbers, and as an organic
synthesis reagent.

SYNONYMS

C4H6, "isoprene, C4-products"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Explosive when dry.
May form explosive peroxides.
Extremely flammable.
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

SKIN

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

INHALED

  Material is highly volatile and may quickly form a concentrated atmosphere in confined or unventilated areas. Vapor is heavier than air and may displace and replace air in breathing zone, acting as a simple asphyxiant. This may happen with little warning of overexposure.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Primary routes of exposure are usually by inhalation and skin  contact/absorption.  Amongst humans occupationally exposed to 1,3-butadiene several cancer  sites with high statistically significant mortality ratios were identified.  These included cancer of the testes, cancers of the digestive system  (oesophagus, stomach, large intestine), larynx and Hodgkin's disease.  Exposure by rats to 1,3-butadiene gas at 1000 ppm/6hrs/day, 5 days /week  (105 weeks for females and 111 weeks for males) caused significant  increases in the incidence of tumours at various sites; mammary gland  adenomas and sarcomas; uterine sarcomas; Zymbal gland carcinomas; thyroid  adenomas and pancreatic adenomas. A high incidence of malignant lymphoma  was found amongst a group of exposed rats in a second study.