Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HEXAFLUOROACETONE

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. Used in chemical synthesis. Solvent for
insoluble Acetal / Polyamide resins. A chemical intermediate for the production of
hexafluoroisopropanol, polyacrylates used for textile coating, and polyester coating for
textiles. Regeant

SYNONYMS

C3F6O, F3CCOCF3, "acetone, hexafluoro", B6FK, "1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3 hexafluoroacetone gas"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
Irritating to skin.
Possible risk of impaired fertility.
Possible risk of harm to the unborn child.
Toxic by inhalation and in contact with skin.
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Overexposure is unlikely in this form.  After oral dosing in rats, moderate to severe CNS depression persisting for several days was noted. No other signs were discernible. On gross necropsy, no abnormalities were evident.  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  

EYE

  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  Undiluted hexafluoroacetone sesquihydrate was instantly painful and produced a severe extensive injury in the rabbit eye. When rinsed with water 20 seconds after instillation, the eye appeared to return to normal 29 days after exposure except for a small corneal injury with local vascularisation. The unwashed eye showed extensive corneal opacity, scar tissue, pannus, and chronic conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons.  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.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  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.  Solution of material in moisture on the skin, or perspiration, may markedly increase skin corrosion and accelerate tissue destruction.  Undiluted hexafluoroacetone sesquihydrate is a severe skin irritant as expected by its acidic (pH = 1) nature. Concentrations below 50% produced mild to no irritation on rabbit skin. The irritation response at higher concentrations included definite erythema that became scaly and developed crusts 1 to 5 days postapplication. One drop of undiluted dihydrate produced marked erythema and blanching to guinea pig skin, but no irritation was seen with dilutions of 0.1 to 10%.  After dermal application, there was no measurable amount of material remaining on the skin of the rabbits at the end of the exposure period. The exposed area was erythematous and scaly and developed crusts (eschar formation) 2 to 5 days after exposure. Mild CNS depression preceded death, but no other abnormal signs were evident. On gross necropsy, no abnormalities were present except for discolouration and oedema of the exposed skin.  

INHALED

  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce toxic effects.  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.  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.  Symptoms of exposure may be burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, vomiting. An acute severe inhalation exposure may be fatal as a result of spasm, inflammation and edema of larynx, chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema.  For hexafluoroacetone dihydrate, the maximum concentration causing irritation of the upper respiratory tract was reported to be 32 mg/m3 (equivalent to 26 mg/m3 hexafluoroacetone).  After inhalation exposure by rats, depression of the central nervous system (CNS) was manifest as hind leg instability and loss of postural and righting reflexes . The effects persisted for several hours. Most of the fatalities occurred 2 to 6 days after exposure. There was little, if any, lung damage. There were no  histological findings in heart, kidney, or liver.  Central nervous system (CNS) depression may include general discomfort, symptoms of giddiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, anaesthetic effects, slowed reaction time, slurred speech and may progress to unconsciousness. Serious poisonings may result in respiratory depression and may be fatal.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Repeated or prolonged exposure to corrosives may result in the erosion of teeth, inflammatory and ulcerative changes in the mouth and necrosis (rarely) of the jaw. Bronchial irritation, with cough, and frequent attacks of bronchial pneumonia may ensue. Gastrointestinal disturbances may also occur. Chronic exposures may result in dermatitis and/or conjunctivitis.  Ample evidence from experiments exists that there is a suspicionthis material directly reduces fertility.  Results in experiments suggest that this material may cause disorders in the development of the embryo or fetus, even when no signs of poisoning show in the mother.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Animal testing with the gas at 12 ppm for rats and dogs (13 weeks @ 6 hour) showed testicular degeneration and atrophy, hyperglycaemia, anemia.  In reproduction toxicity studies in which pregnant rats were exposed during organogenesis,  minimal but statistically significant decreases in female offspring body weight were seen at exposure by inhalation to 0.76 mg/m3, and a higher incidence of hydronephrosis, one anophthalmic foetus and 2 stunted fetuses at a dermal dose of 0.75 mg /kg bw , the lowest concentration/dose tested.