Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

O-ANISIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Intermediate in production of azo dyestuffs.

SYNONYMS

C7-H10-Cl-N-O, C7-H10-Cl-N-O, "o-aminoanisole hydrochloride", "o-aminoanisole
hydrochloride", "2-aminoanisole hydrochloride", "2-aminoanisole hydrochloride", "1-amino-
2-methoxybenzene hydrochloride", "1-amino-2-methoxybenzene hydrochloride", "2-anisidine
hydrochloride", "2-anisidine hydrochloride", "o-anisylamine hydrochloride", "o-
anisylamine hydrochloride", "benzenamine, 2-methoxy-, hydrochloride", "benzenamine, 2-
methoxy-, hydrochloride", "2-methoxy-1-aminobenzene hydrochloride", "2-methoxy-1-
aminobenzene hydrochloride", "o-methoxyaniline hydrochloride", "o-methoxyaniline
hydrochloride", "2-methoxyaniline hydrochloride", "2-methoxyaniline hydrochloride", "2-
methoxybenzenamine hydrochloride", "2-methoxybenzenamine hydrochloride", "o-
methoxyphenylamine hydrochloride", "o-methoxyphenylamine hydrochloride", "Fast Red BB
Base"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May cause CANCER.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Although ingestion is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still be damaging to the health of the individual following ingestion, especially where pre-  existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally based on doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-health). Gastrointestinal tract discomfort may produce nausea and vomiting. In an occupational setting however, ingestion of insignificant quantities is not thought to be cause for concern.  

EYE

  Although the material 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

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Temporary discomfort, however, may result from prolonged dermal exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Toxic effects may result from skin absorption.  

INHALED

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or irritation of the respiratory tract (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable control measures be used in an occupational setting.  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.  Respiratory sensitization may result in allergic/asthma like responses; from coughing and minor breathing difficulties to bronchitis with wheezing, gasping.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is some evidence that inhaling this product 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.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Workmen exposed to air concentrations of 0.4 ppm of the anisidine for  3.5 hours/day for 6 months developed no anaemia or chronic poisoning.  There were however complaints of headache and vertigo. Blood chemistry  revealed increased sulfhaemoglobin, methaemoglobin and frequent occurrence  of erythrocytic inclusion bodies (Heinz bodies). When p-anisidine was  painted on mice skin at 10-30 mg/m3 for 2 hours/day, 6 days/week there was a  decrease in excitable nerves at the end of 1 month, followed after 12  months by chronic intoxication, anaemia and reticulocytosis.  In a study of mice and rats fed o-anisidine hydrochloride for 103 weeks  (5000 mg/kg) there was a significant increase in transitional cell  carcinomas of the urinary bladder in both sexes and carcinomas of the  kidneys, and follicular cell adenomas, carcinomas, cystadenomas and  cystadenocarcinomas of the thyroid in male rats.  The p-isomer gave equivocal results when administered in the diet male  rats and no evidence of carcinogenicity in male or female mice or female  rats.  Most arylamines are powerful poisons to the blood-making system. High chronic doses cause congestion of the spleen and tumor formation.