Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HEXACHLOROPHENE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Topical antiinfective (restricted), germicidal soaps, veterinary medicine. Intermediate

SYNONYMS

C13-H6-Cl6-O2, (C6HCl3OH)2CH2, "bis(2-hydroxy-3, 5, 6-trichlorophenyl)methane", "bis(2-
hydroxy-3, 5, 6-trichlorophenyl)methane", Nabac, "bis(3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-
hydroxyphenyl)methane", "bis(3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methane", NCI-C02653, "2,
2'-dihydroxy-3, 3', 5, 5', 6, 6', hexachlorodiphenylmethane", "2, 2'-dihydroxy-3, 3', 5,
5', 6, 6', hexachlorodiphenylmethane", Neosept, "2, 2', 3, 3', 5, 5'-hexachloro-6, 6'-
dihydroxydiphenylmethane", "2, 2', 3, 3', 5, 5'-hexachloro-6, 6'-
dihydroxydiphenylmethane", Phisodan, "methane, bis(2, 3, 5-trichloro-6-hydroxyphenyl)",
"methane, bis(2, 3, 5-trichloro-6-hydroxyphenyl)", Phisohex, "2, 2'-methylenebis(3, 4, 6-
trichlorophenol)", "2, 2'-methylenebis(3, 4, 6-trichlorophenol)", Ritosept, "phenol, 2,
2'-methylenebis(3, 4, 6-trichloro-", "phenol, 2, 2'-methylenebis(3, 4, 6-trichloro-",
antiinfective, Septisol, Acigena, Exophene, Hexabalm, Septofen, Almederm, Fomac,
Hexachlorofen, Steral, "AT 7", Fostril, Hexachlorophane, Steraskin, AT-17, G-II,
Hexachlorophen, Surgi-cen, B32, Gamophen, Hexafen, Surgi-cin, Bilevon, Gamophene, Hexide,
Surofene, "Compound G-11", G-Eleven, Hexophene, Trichlorophene, Cotofilm, Germa-Medica,
Hexosan, Dermadex, HCP, Isobac

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

None

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Toxic in contact with skin and if swallowed.
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.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay result following absorption.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material may cause mild but significant inflammation of the skin either following direct contact or after a delay of some time. Repeated exposure can cause contact dermatitis which is characterized by redness, swelling and blistering.  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.  Exposure to the material may result in a skin inflammation called chloracne. This is characterized by white- and blackheads, keratin cysts, spots, excessive discoloration. These mainly involve the skin under the eyes and behind the ears. The reaction may be delayed. There may also be excess hair growth, degeneration of elastic tissue as a result of sunlight, and scarring of the membrane of the penis.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  There is limited evidence that, skin contact with this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  There is some evidence that human exposure to the material may result in developmental toxicity. This evidence is based on animal studies where effects have been observed in the absence of marked maternal toxicity, or at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects but which are not secondary non-specific consequences of the other toxic effects.  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Exposure to the material for prolonged periods may cause physical defects in the developing embryo (teratogenesis).  Chronic  (long-term) health effects may include brain damage with paralysis and blindness;  skin allergy. If an allergy develops, very low future exposures can cause itching and a skin rash. There is a suspected association between exposure of pregnant women to hexachlorophene and birth defects. Hexachlorohene is embryotoxic and teratogenic in rats following oral or intravaginal administration of large doses. Teratogenic effects include cleft palate, micro- and anophthalmia, angulated ribs, reduced litter size, hydrocephaly and wavy ribs. Malformation has been reported amongst the off-spring of women repeatedly exposed to the substance but no adequately controlled study has been conducted to confirm this observation.  It is suggested that health care personnel who are or may become pregnant should avoid hexachlorophene antibacterial scrubs. One retrospective study reports on the increased incidence of foetal malformations and minor deformities in the children of nurses who used hexachlorophene preparations to scrub their hands 10 to 60 times daily.  Topical exposure of neonatal male rats to 3% commercial hexachlorophene caused decreased fertility at 7 months of age as a result of inability to ejaculate. Prostatic cysts were observed. It has been suggested that androgenic contaminants such as 2,3,7,8-TCDD may be effect the ejaculatory  reflex.