Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet - New Jersey

1 Right to Know Hazardous Substance fact Sheet Common Name: XYLENES. Synonyms: Methyl Toluene (mixed isomers); Xylol CAS Number: 1330-20-7. Chemical Name: Benzene, Dimethyl- RTK Substance Number: 2014. Date: October 2011 Revision: March 2016 DOT Number: UN 1307. Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE. Xylenes are colorless liquids with a faint, sweet odor. They Hazard Summary are used as solvents and in making paints, adhesives and Hazard Rating NJDHSS NFPA. other chemicals. health - 2. FLAMMABILITY - 3. ODOR THRESHOLD = to 40 ppm REACTIVITY - 0. Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone to FLAMMABLE. determine potentially Hazardous exposures. POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. This fact Sheet can be used for: CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious;. m-Xylene CAS#: 108-38-3. 4=severe o-Xylene CAS#: 95-47-6.

2 P-Xylene CAS#: 106-42-3 Xylenes can affect you when inhaled and by passing through the skin. Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Prolonged or repeated Reasons for Citation contact can cause a skin rash, dryness and redness. Xylenes are on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance Inhaling Xylenes can irritate the nose and throat causing List because they are cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, coughing and wheezing. DEP, IARC, NFPA and EPA. Exposure can cause headache, dizziness, lightheadedness and passing out. Repeated exposure can affect concentration, memory, vision, and muscle coordination. Higher levels can cause coma and death. SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. Xylenes may damage the liver and kidneys. Xylenes are FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS and DANGEROUS. FIRST AID FIRE HAZARDS. Eye Contact Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15. minutes, lifting upper and lower lids.

3 Remove contact lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention. Workplace Exposure Limits OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is Skin Contact 100 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 100 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and Inhalation 150 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute Remove the person from exposure. work period. Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 100 ppm averaged Transfer promptly to a medical facility. over an 8-hour workshift and 150 ppm as a STEL. (short-term exposure limit). EMERGENCY NUMBERS. The above exposure limits are for air levels only.

4 When skin Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 air levels are less than the limits listed above. NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337. National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802. XYLENES Page 2 of 7. Determining Your Exposure Other Effects Read the product manufacturer's Material Safety Data Repeated exposure can affect concentration, memory, Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product vision, and muscle coordination. Higher levels can cause ingredients and important safety and health information coma and death. about the product mixture. Prolonged or repeated contact can cause a skin rash, dryness and redness. For each individual Hazardous ingredient, read the New Xylenes may damage the liver and kidneys. Jersey Department of health Hazardous Substance fact Sheet , available on the RTK website ( Medical know) or in your facility's RTK Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file.

5 Medical Testing For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or You have a Right to this information under the New Jersey greater), the following are recommended before beginning Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public work and at regular times after that: Employees Occupational Safety and health (PEOSH) Act if you are a public worker in New Jersey , and under the Liver and kidney function tests federal Occupational Safety and health Act (OSHA) if you If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the are a private worker. following are recommended: The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and Exam of the eyes and vision requires public employers to provide their employees with Exam of the nervous system information concerning chemical hazards and controls. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29.)

6 Present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for CFR ) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication damage already done are not a substitute for controlling Standard ( 12:100-7) require employers to provide exposure. similar information and training to their employees. You have a legal Right to request copies of your medical testing This fact Sheet is a summary of available information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Records Standard (29 CFR ). Duration of exposure, concentration of the Substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential Mixed Exposures effects described below. More than light alcohol consumption can cause liver damage. Drinking alcohol can increase the liver damage caused by Xylenes. health Hazard Information Acute health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Xylenes: Contact can irritate the skin and eyes.

7 Inhaling Xylenes can irritate the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing. Exposure can cause headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness and passing out. Chronic health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Xylenes and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard While Xylenes have been tested, they are not classifiable as to their potential to cause cancer. Reproductive Hazard Xylenes may damage the developing fetus. XYLENES Page 3 of 7. Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or Wear indirect vent goggles when working with liquids that sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less may splash, spray or mist. A face shield is also required if toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures the liquid is severely irritating or corrosive to the skin and include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely eyes.

8 Irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single Respiratory Protection exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on should only be used if the employer has implemented a written workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control program that takes into account workplace conditions, Banding at requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory The following work practices are also recommended: Protection Standard (29 CFR ). Only NIOSH. approved respirators should be used. Label process containers. Where the potential exists for exposure over 100 ppm, use a Provide employees with hazard information and training.

9 Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. full facepiece respirator with an organic vapor cartridge. Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed Increased protection is obtained from full facepiece recommended exposure levels. powered-air purifying respirators. Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a Hazardous cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect material. Xylenes, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal Always wash at the end of the workshift. resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to contaminated. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, Do not take contaminated clothing home.

10 Replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. you may need a new respirator. Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace. being handled, processed or stored. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as applying cosmetics or using the toilet. vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals. Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a supplied- air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure- In addition, the following may be useful or required: demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained Before entering a confined space where Xylenes may be breathing apparatus or an emergency escape air cylinder.