Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDRAZINE SOLUTION, >64%

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Used as a reducing agent, oxygen scavanger, inorganic solvent.

SYNONYMS

"hydrazine, aqueous solution concentrated", "aqueous hydrazine high concentration"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Heating may cause an explosion.
Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
May cause CANCER.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.
Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Highly flammable.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

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.  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Ingestion may result in nausea, pain, vomiting. Vomit entering the lungs by aspiration may cause potentially lethal chemical pneumonitis.  

EYE

  The material can produce 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.  Reactions may not occur on exposure but response may be delayed with symptoms only appearing many hours later.  The vapour when concentrated has pronounced eye irritation effects and this gives some warning of high vapour concentrations. If eye irritation occurs seek to reduce exposure with available control measures, or evacuate area.  The material may produce severe irritation to the eye causing pronounced inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay result following absorption.  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Bare unprotected skin should not be exposed to this material.  Toxic effects may result from skin absorption.  Exposure limits with "skin" notation indicate that vapor and liquid may be absorbed through intact skin. Absorption by skin may readily exceed vapor inhalation exposure. Symptoms for skin absorption are the same as for inhalation. Contact with eyes and mucous membranes may also contribute to overall exposure and may also invalidate the exposure standard.  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.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  If exposure to highly concentrated vapor atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and unless resuscitated - death.  The material may produce respiratory tract irritation, and result in damage to the lung including reduced lung function.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  There is ample evidence that this material can be regarded as being able to cause cancer in humans based on experiments and other information.  

  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by inhalation of vapor skin contact / absorption of the material.  Hydrazine is a strong irritant and is corrosive via all routes of exposure.  Chronic and systemic symptoms of exposure include damage to the liver,  kidney and blood producing system.  Hydrazine has also been reported as an allergen. Inhalation of  high concentrations may cause pulmonary oedema. (Sax, ILO Encyclopaedia)  The odour threshold of 4ppm is above the ACGIH recommended exposure limit  of 0.01ppm (TLV-TWA  SKIN).  When administered orally hydrazine induced pulmonary adenomas and  adenocarcinomas in mice. Inhalation induced alveolarogenic carcinomas and  lymphosarcomas of the spleen in female mice.  A study of 423 men involved in the manufacture of hydrazine revealed three  stomach, one prostate and a neurogenic cancer.