Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

HYDROCARBONS, C2-4, SWEETENED

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Petroleum process stream. Refined liquefied petroleum gases are usedas aerosol propellants
and fuels. Use in closed pressurised systems fitted with temperature and pressure safety
relief valves which are vented to allow safe dispersal.

SYNONYMS

"sweetened propane/ propylene, petroleum", "alkane/alkene hydrocarbons", "liquified
petroleum gas LPG"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May cause CANCER.
May cause heritable genetic damage.
Extremely flammable.
Risk of explosion if heated under confinement.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

EYE

  Vaporizing liquid causes rapid cooling and contact may cause cold burns,frostbite.  

SKIN

  Vaporizing liquid causes rapid cooling and contact may cause cold burns,frostbite.  

INHALED

  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.  Symptoms of asphyxia (suffocation) may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscular weakness, drowsiness and ringing in the ears. If the asphyxia is allowed to progress, there may be nausea and vomiting, further physical weakness and unconsciousness and, finally, convulsions, coma and death. Significant concentrations of the non-toxic gas reduce the oxygen level in the air. As the amount of oxygen is reduced from 21 to 14 volume %, the pulse rate accelerates and the rate and volume of breathing increase. The ability to maintain attention and think clearly is diminished and muscular coordination is somewhat disturbed. As oxygen decreases from 14-10% judgement becomes faulty; severe injuries may cause no pain. Muscular exertion leads to rapid fatigue. Further reduction to 6% may produce nausea and vomiting and the ability to move may be lost. Permanent brain damage may result even after resuscitation at exposures to this lower oxygen level. Below 6% breathing is in gasps and convulsions may occur. Inhalation of a mixture containing no oxygen may result in unconsciousness from the first breath and death will follow in a few minutes.  Exposure to Hydrocarbons may result in irregularity of heart beat. Symptoms of moderate poisoning may include dizziness, headache, nausea. Serious poisoning can result in decreased respiratory function, this may lead to unconsciousness and death. C4 hydrocarbons are especially dangerous to the nervous system. Inhalation of petroleum gases (partly due to olefin impurities) can induce sleep. Serious cases can result in cyanosis due to reduced oxygen concentration and hence asphyxiation, with symptoms of fast breathing, mental dullness, inco- ordination, poor judgment, nausea and vomiting; leading to unconsciousness and death.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is sufficient evidence to suggest that this materialdirectly causes cancer in humans.  Based on experiments and other information, there is ample evidence to presume that exposure to this material can cause genetic defects that can be inherited.  

  Principal routes of exposure are usually by inhalation and skin contact/eye contact.  No long-term effects have been reported for exposure to propylene.  Propylene exposure induced an increase in the incidence of squamous  metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium in male and female rats and  epithelial hyperplasia in female rats. No concentration-response  relationship was identified. Squamous metaplasia was accompanied by  submucosal lymphocytic and macrocytic infiltration and a concentration  dependent increase in regenerative, epithelial hyperplasia. Suppurative  nasal inflammation occurred at all concentrations in male rats and at high  concentrations only, in female rats.  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.  Long term low level exposure to hydrogen sulfide may produce headache, fatigue, dizziness,  irritability and loss of sexual desire. These symptoms may also result when exposed to hydrogen sulfide at high concentration for a short period of time.