Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

M-CRESIDINE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Intermediate in the production of azo- dyes.

SYNONYMS

C8-H11-N-O, C8-H11-N-O, CH3C6H3(OCH3)NH2, 2-methyl-p-anisidine, 2-methyl-p-anisidine,
"benzenamine, 4-methoxy-2-methyl-", "benzenamine, 4-methoxy-2-methyl-", 4-methoxy-2-
methylaniline, 4-methoxy-2-methylaniline, 4-methoxy-2-methylbenzenamine, 4-methoxy-2-
methylbenzenamine, 2-methyl-4-methoxyaniline, 2-methyl-4-methoxyaniline, NCI-C02993

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.
May cause SENSITIZATION by skin contact.
Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  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.  The substance and/or its metabolites may bind to hemoglobin inhibiting normal uptake of oxygen. This condition, known as "methemoglobinemia", is a form of oxygen starvation (anoxia).  Symptoms include cyanosis (a bluish discoloration skin and mucous membranes) and breathing difficulties. Symptoms may not be evident until several hours after exposure.  At about 15% concentration of blood methemoglobin there is observable cyanosis of the lips, nose and earlobes. Symptoms may be absent although euphoria, flushed face and headache are commonly experienced. At 25-40%, cyanosis is marked but little disability occurs other than that produced on physical exertion. At 40-60%, symptoms include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, increasingly severe headache, ataxia, rapid shallow respiration, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy and stupor. Above 60% symptoms include dyspnea, respiratory depression, tachycardia or bradycardia, and convulsions. Levels exceeding 70% may be fatal.  

EYE

  Although the liquid is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may produce transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn).  

SKIN

  The liquid may be miscible with fats or oils and may degrease the skin, producing a skin reaction described as non-allergic contact dermatitis. The material is unlikely to produce an irritant dermatitis as described in EC Directives .  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.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce either adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract following inhalation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, adverse effects have been produced following exposure of animals by at least one other route and good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Skin contact with the material is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Most arylamines are powerful poisons to the blood-making system. High chronic doses cause congestion of the spleen and tumor formation.  When administered in the diet, the congener substance, p-cresidine increased the incidence of squamous cell and transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder and olfactory neoblastomas in rats of both sexes and neoplastic liver nodules in male rats. When administered to the diet of mice, p-cresidine increased the incidence of carcinomas of the urinary bladder in both sexes, and hepatocellular carcinomas in female mice.