Ethylene Glycol Health And Safety Information

PRODUCT SAFETY DATA SHEET:

Ethylene Glycol

ISSUE NO:

1

AUTHORISED:

DATE:

November 1998

• IDENTIFICATION OF THE SUBSTANCE/PREPARATION AND OF THE COMPANY UNDERTAKING

Product Name:    

Ethylene Glycol

Application:

Antifreeze’ for water based fire extinguishers

• COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON THE INGREDIENTS

Ingredients

CAS Number

%

EINECS Number

C2H6O2  Ethylene Glycol

107/21/1

* 8 - 11

203-473-3

• HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

Important Hazards

No known acute health Slightly irritant to the eyes and to the respiratory organs. On continuous/repeated exposure/contact:  slightly irritant to the skin.
Narcotic in high concentrations.
Harmful by ingestion

• FIRST AID MEASURES

Contact with the eyes

Consult a doctor/medical service.
Rinse immediately with plenty of water for 15 minutes.  Do not apply neutralising agents.

Contact with the skin

Wash immediately with lots of water/soap (15 minutes).  Remove clothing before washing.
Consult a doctor/medical service if irritation persists.

Inhalation

Remove the victim into fresh air.  Unconscious:  maintain adequate airway and respiration. Consult a doctor/medical service if breathing problems develop

Ingestion

Consult a doctor/medical service.
Rinse mouth with water - do not allow vomiting.
Immediately give lots of water to drink.  Never give water to an unconscious person

• FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

Extinguishing Media

Suitable

Water Spray, polyvalent foam, alcohol foam, BC Powder, Carbon Dioxide

Unsuitable Extinguishing Media

Container may slop over if solid jet is applied

Instructions

Cool tanks/drums and remove them to safety.  Take account of toxic fire fighting water.  Limit and if possible collect/contain the fire fighting water

Protective Equipment for Fire Fighting Head/Fire Exposure

Compressed air/oxygen apparatus

Large Spills in Enclosed Spaces

Compressed air apparatus

• ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

Personal precautions

Safety goggles, neoprene-nitrile rubber gloves, protective clothing.

Environmental precautions

Collect/pump leaking substance into a suitable container.  Plug the leak, cut off the supply.  Dam up the liquid spill.                 Do not discharge into the sewer

Spillages

Liquid Spill: absorb into non-combustible absorbent, sand, earth, vermiculite or powdered limestone.
Scoop the absorbed substance into sealable containers.  Carefully collect the spill/residue.  Clean with an excess of water.  Wash clothing and equipment after handling.

• HANDLING AND STORAGE

Handling

Reduce/avoid exposure and/or contact.  Keep container tightly closed.  Provide appliances with  earthing.  Do not discharge into the sewer

Storage

Protect from frost.  Store out of direct sunlight.  Store between 1° - 48° C

• EXPOSURE CONTROLS AND PERSONAL PROTECTION

Occupational Exposure Limits

TLV value: 127mg/m3 - 50 ppm (ceiling value)
(TLV A4: not classifiable as a human carcinogen)

Eye Protection:

Safety goggles

Skin Protection

Gloves - neoprene-nitrile rubber, protective clothing

Respiratory Protection

high vapour concentrations:  gas mask with filter AX

Engineering Control Measures

Measure the concentration in the air regularly.  Carry operations in the open/under local                 exhaust/ventilation

• PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Physical State (at 20°C)

Liquid

Odour

Odourless

Colour

Colourless

pH

5.5/7.5 (50% solution)

Boiling point/range (°C)

197°C

Melting Range/Point

-13°C

Flash Point

111°C

Auto Ignition Point

3/15% vol

Explosion Limits (%)

1050 ± 10

Vapour Pressure (at 20°C)

0.08hPa

Relative Density (at °C)

1.113

Water Solubility

Unlimited

Soluble In

Ethanol, acetone, acetic acid, glycerol

Relative Vapour Density

2.1

Saturation Concentration

0.3 g/m3

Viscosity

21 mPa.s

• STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

Stability: Hygrscopic

On burning: release of harmful/irritant gases/vapours (CO - CO2).  Reacts violently with (strong) oxidisers, increased risk of fire.
Violent to explosive reaction with some acids.
Reacts on exposure to temperature rise with some bases

Reactivity

On burning: release of harmful/irritant gases/vapours (CO - CO2).  Reacts violently with (strong) oxidisers, increased risk of fire Violent to explosive reaction with some acids.
Reacts on exposure to temperature rise with some bases

• TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Acute Toxicity

LD50 oral rat: 5840 mg/kg. LD50 dermal rabbit: 9530 mg/kg. 
LC50 inhalation rat: - no data
IARC classification: N. A.

Routes of exposure

Routes of exposure:
Swallowed and skin contact

Acute effect/symptoms

Slightly irritant to the respiratory tract and to the eye tissue.
Slightly irritant to the nasel mucous membranes.
Headache, dizziness, mental confusion.
Vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea
Gastrointestinal complaints
CNS depression

Chronic Effect:

Skin rash/inflammation
Enlargement/affection of the liver and the renal tissue
Change in the haemogramme/blood composition

• ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Biodegradation    Soil

T ½:     days
BOD20:0.47g 02/g substances
COD:   1.24g 02/g substances

Biodegradation Water

Readily degradable in water
Test:MITI 83/96% 14 days

Bio-accumulation

log Pow: 1.34/-1.93 - BCF: 10 (72h) Leuciscus Idus

Aquatric Toxity:

LC50 (96h):     53000 mg/l (Pimephales Promelas)
EC50 (24h):>10000 mg/l (Daphnia Magna)
EC50: 180000 mg/l (Chlorella Sp)

Other Information

WGK: 0 - Effect on the ozone layer:-
Waste water purification:  Harmless to activated sludge

• DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS

Disposal of product

Recycle by distillation
Do not discharge into surface water
Remove to an incinerator equipped with an afterburner and a flue gas scrubber

• TRANSPORT INFORMATION

UN No

N/A

ADR/RID Substance Identification No

N/A

IMDG - Class

N/A

• REGULATORY INFORMATION

EU labelling information

Labelling according to EC directives 67/548/EEC and 88/379/EEC

Harmful

R22 -  Harmful is swallowed
S02 -  Keep out of reach of children

• OTHER INFORMATION

This Safety Data Sheet provides Health and Safety information.  Individuals handling this product should be informed of the recommended safety precautions and should have access to this information.
The product information on this sheet is, to the best of this Company’s knowledge, correct as at the date of publication.  The user must be satisfied that the product is entirely suitable for the purpose for which it is being used.
The Company accepts no liability for any loss or damage (other than that arising from death or personal injury caused by negligence if proved) resulting from reliance on this information).