Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

NAPHTHA PETROLEUM, LIGHT STEAM-CRACKED

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 as solvent, in lacquer and enamels; as
a component of aliphatic solvent blends; thinners, cleaners.

SYNONYMS

"naphtha, petroleum, light steam cracked", "steam cracked narrow cut naphtha,
petroleum", "light steam cracked naphtha piperylene concentrate petroleum", "ligt steam
cracked aromatic naphtha C6 concentrate, petroleum", "crude butadiene, petroleum"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Explosive when dry.
May form explosive peroxides.
May cause CANCER.
May cause heritable genetic damage.
HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Highly flammable.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Swallowing of the liquid may cause aspiration into the lungs with the risk of chemical pneumonitis; serious consequences may result. (ICSC13733).  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Ingestion of petroleum hydrocarbons can irritate the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and small intestine, and cause swellings and ulcers of the mucous. Symptoms include a burning mouth and throat; larger amounts can cause nausea and vomiting, narcosis, weakness, dizziness, slow and shallow breathing, abdominal swelling, unconsciousness and convulsions. Damage to the heart muscle can produce heart beat irregularities, ventricular fibrillation (fatal) and ECG changes. The central nervous system can be depressed. Light species can cause a sharp tingling of the tongue and cause loss of sensation there. Aspiration can cause cough, gagging, pneumonia with swelling and bleeding.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  The liquid may produce eye discomfort and is capable of causing temporary impairment of vision and/or transient eye inflammation, ulceration.  Direct eye contact with petroleum hydrocarbons can be painful, and the corneal epithelium may be temporarily damaged. Aromatic species can cause irritation and excessive tear secretion.  There is evidence that material may produce eye irritation in some persons and produce eye damage 24 hours or more after instillation. Severe inflammation may be expected with pain. There may be damage to the cornea. Unless treatment is prompt and adequate there may be permanent loss of vision. Conjunctivitis can occur following repeated exposure.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material may cause moderate 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.  The diepoxide of butadiene (1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane), a probable metabolite, has been reported to be a mild skin tumourigen when applied topically to the skin of mice.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Aromatic hydrocarbons may produce sensitivity and redness of the skin. They are not likely to be absorbed into the body through the skin but branched species are more likely to.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce health damage*.  Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by narcosis, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of coordination and vertigo.  Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  Exposure to toxic levels of butadiene has also produced chromosome damage. Human volunteers exposed at 2000-8000 ppm 1,3-butadiene for 6-8 hours showed slight smarting of the eyes, difficulty in focusing on instrument scales and a transient objection to butadiene odour. Characteristics of exposure include dry nose/mouth/throat, fatigue, headache, vertigo, nausea, narcosis, respiratory paralysis, and central nervous system depression. Very high concentrations may cause loss of consciousness or death. Repeated and prolonged exposure to 1,3-butadiene vapour may cause kidney and liver damage. Deep anaesthesia was induced in rabbits in 8 to 10 minutes at 200000 to 250000 ppm. Recovery from brief periods of anaesthesia occurred within two minutes of terminating the exposure.  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.  If exposure to highly concentrated solvent atmosphere is prolonged this may lead to narcosis, unconsciousness, even coma and possible death.  Inhaling high concentrations of mixed hydrocarbons can cause narcosis, with nausea, vomiting and lightheadedness. Low molecular weight (C2-C12) hydrocarbons can irritate mucous membranes and cause incoordination, giddiness, nausea, vertigo, confusion, headache, appetite loss, drowsiness, tremors and stupor. Massive exposures can lead to severe central nervous system depression, deep coma and death. Convulsions can occur due to brain irritation and/or lack of oxygen. Permanent scarring may occur, with epileptic seizures and brain bleeds occurring months after exposure. Respiratory system effects include inflammation of the lungs with edema and bleeding. Lighter species mainly cause kidney and nerve damage; the heavier paraffins and olefins are especially irritant to the respiratory system. Alkenes produce pulmonary edema at high concentrations. Liquid paraffins may produce sensation loss and depressant actions leading to weakness, dizziness, slow and shallow respiration, unconsciousness, convulsions and death. C5-7 paraffins may also produce multiple nerve damage. Aromatic hydrocarbons accumulate in lipid rich tissues (typically the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves) and may produce functional impairment manifested by nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, weakness,  fatigue, vertigo; severe exposures may produce inebriation or unconsciousness. Many of the petroleum hydrocarbons can sensitize the heart and may cause ventricular fibrillation,  leading to death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.  This material can cause serious damage if one is exposed to it for long periods. It can be assumed that it contains a substance which can produce severe defects. This has been demonstrated via both short- and long-term experimentation.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Amongst humans occupationally exposed to 1,3-butadiene several cancer sites with high statistically significant mortality ratios were identified.  These included cancer of the testes, cancers of the digestive system (oesophagus, stomach,  large intestine), larynx and Hodgkin's disease.  Exposure by rats to 1,3-butadiene gas at 1000 ppm/6hrs/day, 5 days /week (105 weeks for females and 111 weeks for males) caused significant increases in the incidence of tumours at various sites; mammary gland adenomas and sarcomas; uterine sarcomas; Zymbal gland carcinomas; thyroid adenomas and pancreatic adenomas. A high incidence of malignant lymphoma was found amongst a group of exposed rats in a second study.  Constant or exposure over long periods to mixed hydrocarbons may produce stupor with dizziness, weakness and visual disturbance, weight loss and anemia, and reduced liver and kidney function. Skin exposure may result in drying and cracking and redness of the skin. Chronic exposure to lighter hydrocarbons can cause nerve damage, peripheral neuropathy, bone marrow dysfunction and psychiatric disorders as well as damage the liver and kidneys.  Chronic exposure to benzene may cause headache, fatigue, loss of appetite and lassitude with incipient blood effects including anaemia and blood changes. Benzene is a myelotoxicant known to suppress bone- marrow cell proliferation and to induce haematologic disorders in humans and animals. Signs of benzene-induced aplastic anaemia include suppression of leukocytes (leukopenia), red cells (anaemia), platelets (thrombocytopenia) or all three cell types (pancytopenia). Classic symptoms include weakness, purpura, and haemorrhage. The most significant toxic effect is insidious and often reversible injury to the blood forming tissue. Leukaemia may develop. Occupational exposures have shown a relationship between exposure to benzene and production of myelogenous leukaemia. There may also be a relationship between benzene exposure and the production of lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In chronic exposure, workers exhibit signs of central nervous system lesions and impairment of hearing.Benzene haemotoxicity and leukaemogenicity involve metabolism, growth factor regulation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell regulation, and apoptosis. (Yoon et al Environmental Health Perspectives, 111, pp 1411-1420, 2003).