Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

KOVACS COMPLEX

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

For preparing amino- acid pentachlorophenyl esters.

SYNONYMS

C31-H25-Cl15-N2-O3, "N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide pentachlorophenol complex", "N, N-
dicyclohexylcarbodiimide pentachlorophenol complex"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

EYE

  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  

SKIN

  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Sensitization may result in allergic dermatitis responses includingrash, itching, hives or swelling of extremities.  Exposure to the material may result in a skin inflammation called chloracne. This is characterized by white- and blackheads, keratin cysts, spots, excessive discoloration. These mainly involve the skin under the eyes and behind the ears. The reaction may be delayed. There may also be excess hair growth, degeneration of elastic tissue as a result of sunlight, and scarring of the membrane of the penis.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce serious health damage*.  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  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

  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact/absorption and inhalation of generated dust.  The long-term effects of exposure to pentachlorophenol include lung, liver  and kidney damage. Epidemiological evaluations of wood treatment workers  found compromised renal function and increased complaints of low-grade  inflammation. Several case reports exist which suggest an association  between occupational exposure to the technical pentachlorophenol and  various types of cancer (leukaemia, soft tissue sarcoma, Hodgkins disease).  These reports are confounded by concomitant exposure to other known or  suspected human carcinogens.