Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

LITHIUM 3-(1H,1H,2H,2H-FLUOROALKYLTHIO)PROPIONATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Fluorinated surfactant.

SYNONYMS

(CF2)nC5H9FO2S.Li, "poly(difluoromethylene), ", "alpha-[2-[(2-carboxyethyl)thio)ethyl]-
omega-fluoro-, lithium salt", lithium, alpha-[2-((2-carboxyethyl)thio)ethyl]-omega-
fluoropoly(difluoromethylene), "polyethylene glycol fluoroalkyl thiopropionate, lithium
salt", fluorosurfactant

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Toxic to bees.
Harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Ingestion of anionic surfactants may produce diarrhea, bloated stomach,and occasional vomiting.  Lithium, in large doses, can cause dizziness and weakness. If a low salt diet is in place,  kidney damage can result. There may be dehydration, weight loss, skin effects and thyroid disturbances. Central nervous system effects include slurred speech, blurred vision, numbness, inco-ordination and convulsions. Repeated exposure can cause diarrhea, vomiting,  tremor, muscle jerks and very brisk reflexes.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  Direct eye contact with some anionic surfactants in high concentration can cause severe damage to the cornea. Low concentrations can cause discomfort, excess blood flow, and corneal clouding and swelling. Recovery may take several days.  

SKIN

  Skin contact is not thought to have harmful health effects, however the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions.  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can cause inflammation of the skin on contact in some persons.  Anionic surfactants can cause skin redness and pain, as well as a rash. Cracking, scaling and blistering can occur.  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.  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

  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  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.  Lithium compounds can affect the nervous system and muscle. This can cause tremor, inco-  ordination, spastic jerks and very brisk reflexes. They may cause birth defects and should not be used when pregnancy is suspected. They are effective in treating manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Restricting sodium in the diet increases the risks of taking lithium.  Perfluoroalkylsulfonyl fluoride-based products have included surfactants, paper and packaging treatments, surface protectants (e.g., for carpet, upholstery, textile) and are found in specialised fire-fighting foams (AFFF for example). Depending on the specific functional derivatization or degree of polymerization, such products may degrade or metabolize, to an undetermined degree, to perfluoroalkylsulfonates (such a perfluorooctanesulfonate - PFOS), which are stable and persistent end products that have the potential to bioaccumulate. Salts of PFOS are known to cause significant toxic effects, including mortality, in cynomolgus monkeys (oral doses of 0.75 mg/ kg/ day),12 rabbits (oral doses of 3.75 mg kg/ day), rats (oral doses of 1.6 mg/ kg/day) and zooplankton (10 mg/l)  PFOS is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic to mammalian species. There are species differences in the elimination half-life of PFOS; the half-life is 100 days in rats, 200 days in monkeys, and years in humans. The toxicity profile of PFOS is similar among rats and monkeys. Repeated exposure results in hepatotoxicity and mortality; the dose-response curve is very steep for mortality. This occurs in animals of all ages, although the neonate may be more sensitive. In addition, a 2-year bioassay in rats has shown that exposure to PFOS results in hepatocellular adenomas and thyroid follicular cell adenomas; the hepatocellular adenomas do not appear to be related to peroxisome proliferation.  In one study which followed exposed workers for 37 years there was a statistically significant risk of death from bladder cancer. Neoplasms of the male reproductive system, of the gastrointestinal tract also appeared to be elevated. Risk ratios were highest in workers with highest and longest exposure to fluorochemicals. PFOS has not been shown to be genotoxic in a variety of assay systems.