Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

LEAD DINITROORTHOCRESYLATE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

In explosive compositions.

SYNONYMS

C7-H7-N3-O10-Pb2, "lead (2-methyl-4, 6-dinitrophenolato-O(1))(nitrato-O)-mu-oxodi-,
monohydrate", "lead (2-methyl-4, 6-dinitrophenolato-O(1))(nitrato-O)-mu-oxodi-,
monohydrate", "(2-methyl-4, 6-dinitrophenolato-O(1))(nitrato-O)mu-oxodilead,
monohydrate", "(2-methyl-4, 6-dinitrophenolato-O(1))(nitrato-O)mu-oxodilead,
monohydrate", "lead 4, 6-dinitro-o-cresylate hydroxide nitrate", "lead 4, 6-dinitro-o-
cresylate hydroxide nitrate", "lead nitro-bis-basic-lead-4, 6-dinitro-ortho-cresylate",
"lead nitro-bis-basic-lead-4, 6-dinitro-ortho-cresylate", "lead dinitrocresylate, ", "4,
6-dinitro-o-cresylate, lead salt", "4, 6-dinitro-o-cresylate, lead salt", "lead, (4, 6-
dinitro-o-cresylate)", "lead, (4, 6-dinitro-o-cresylate)"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Explosive when dry.
Extreme risk of explosion by shock, fire, friction or other sources of ignition.
Danger of cumulative effects.
May cause harm to the unborn child.
Possible risk of impaired fertility.
Harmful: danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through
inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 40 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 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).  The dust may produce eye discomfort causing smarting, pain and redness.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay 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 respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of the material, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Symptoms of dinitrophenol poisoning include a rapid increase in body temperature, breathing rate and heart rate. Oxygen demand is raised even faster, causing oxygen deficiency and acid-base imbalance (acidosis) to occur. The cerebrum and brainstem is first stimulated, then depressed, and dinitrophenol derivatives also damage the kidney and liver. The symptoms may appear up to 2 days following exposure and may include high fever, abdominal pain, abdominal spasm, extreme weakness, thirst, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and breathing difficulties. These may progress to cyanosis (blue-gray skin), lividity and muscle tremor. There can be reduced frequency of urination due to kidney damage and jaundice as a result of hepatitis. Repeated exposure can cause tiredness, headache and a general feeling of unwellness. The symptoms appear to be more serious under high temperatures.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Ample evidence exists that developmental disorders are directlycaused by human exposure to the material.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Lead can cross the placenta, and cause miscarriage, stillbirths and birth defects. Exposure before birth can cause mental retardation, behavioral disorders and infant death. Lead can also cause reduced sex drive, impotence, sterility and damage the sperm of males, increasing the potential for birth defects. Periods in women can also be affected.  Lead, in large amounts, can affect the blood, nervous system, heart, glands, immune system and digestive system. Anemia may occur. If untreated muscles may become paralyzed, and there may be brain damage. Symptoms include joint and muscle pain, weakness in the back of the forearm and wrist and in the shin muscles, headaches, dizziness, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting, blue line on gums, sleep disturbance and a metallic taste in the mouth. The pressure in the brain may increase with high doses,  and cause brain damage, coma, and death. Early signs include loss of appetite and weight, constipation, tiredness and irritability, headache, weakness. Later there may be vomiting,  nervousness, and muscle pains in the arms and legs. Serious cases cause severe vomiting, inco-ordination, stupor, permanent eye damage, high blood pressure, multiple nerve disorders of the head resulting in paralysis and loss of reflexes, delirium, convulsions and coma. The kidneys may become irreversibly damaged, and the nervous system may become affected causing mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and jerks and seizures.  Lead can accumulate in the skeleton for a very long time.  2,4-dinitrophenol can cause skin eruption, peripheral nerve damage, liver and kidney damage, and rarely cataracts. Repeated or prolonged contact may produce an allergic or irritant inflammation of the skin. Chronic exposures may produce fatigue and weight loss.