*Disclosure as a toxic chemical is required under Section 313 of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 and 40 CFR part 372.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation
If inhaled, remove to fresh air.  If not breathing, give artificial respiration.  If breathing is difficult, give oxygen.  Call a physician.

Skin Contact
Flush skin with water after contact.  Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.

Eye Contact
In case of contact immediately, flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes.  Call a physician.

Ingestion
If swallowed, do not induce vomiting.  Allow victim to rinse his mouth and then to drink 2-4 cupfuls of water.  Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.  Call a physician.

Notes to Physicians
Activated charcoal mixture may be administered.  To prepare activated charcoal mixture, suspend 50 grams activated charcoal in 400-ml water and mix thoroughly.  Administer 5 ml/kg or 350 ml for an average adult.

Because of the danger of aspiration, emesis or gastric lavage should not be employed unless the risk is justified by the presence of additional toxic substances.  Activated charcoal may induce vomiting, but may be given after emesis or lavage to absorb toxic additives.  Steroid therapy in mild to moderate cases does not improve outcome.  Bacterial pneumonia often occurs after exposure, but prophylactic antibiotics are not indicated and should be reserved for documented bacterial pneumonia.

Fire Fighting Measures

Flammable Properties
            Flash Point................. 117F (53C)
         Method....................... PMCC

Extinguishing Media
           Water Spray, Foam, Dry Chemical, CO₂.

Fire Fighting Instructions
          Wear self-contained breathing apparatus. 
        Wear full protective equipment.

Accidental Release Measures

Note: Review fire fighting measures and handling (PERSONNEL) Sections before proceeding with clean up.  Use appropriate PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT during clean up.  Soak up with sawdust, sand, oil dry or other absorbent material.  Remove source of heat, sparks, flame, impact, friction, or electricity.  Dike spill.  Prevent material from entering sewers, waterways, or low areas.

Spill Clean-Up
Soak up with sawdust, sand, oil dry or other absorbent material.

Accidental Release Measures
Spills are very slippery and should be cleaned up promptly.

Handling and Storage

Handling (Personnel)
Avoid breathing vapors or mist.  Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing. Wash thoroughly after handling. 

Handling (Physical Aspects)
Keep away from heat, sparks and flames.

Storage
Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.  Store in accordance with National Fire Protection Association recommendations.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical Data
      Appearance.................. Pale Translucent
     Form........................... Liquid
     Odor........................... Aromatic
     Specific Gravity......... 0.914 @ 60/60F (16/16C)
     Density................... 7.61 lbs./gal. @ 60F (16C)
     Solubility in water.......... Nil

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability
Stable at normal temperatures and storage conditions.

Incompatibility
Incompatible with strong oxidizers.

Decomposition
Decomposes with heat. 

Polymerization
Will not occur.

Animal Data

A single inhalation or dermal exposure to Kerosene produces skin irritation, diarrhea, reduced activity, and temporary weight loss.  Repeated dermal exposure produces changes in blood analyses and organ weights.

A single ingestion exposure to Kerosene produces intestinal irritation (anal lesions).  Repeated exposure to Kerosene produces intestinal irritation, diarrhea, and inactivity.

Mouse skin painting studies indicate that petroleum middle distillates which include kerosene can cause skin cancer.  Kerosene does not produce developmental toxicity and heritable genetic damage in animals, or genetic damage in mammalian cell cultures.  Genetic damage has been observed in bacterial cell cultures.          

Dermal absorption of Xylene in animals causes narcosis.  Toxic effects described in animals by inhalation include upper respiratory irritation; central nervous system effects; behavioral effects; decreased weight gain; hearing loss; and effects on the blood, liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, lungs and bone marrow. By ingestion, xylene caused central nervous system effects; decreased body weight and liver effects.  Tests of xylene in animals demonstrate no carcinogenic activity.  Xylene does not produce heritable genetic damage in animals or genetic damage in bacterial or mammalian cell cultures.  Although abnormal sperm were observed after an interperitoneal injection in rats, xylene did not produce reproductive effects.  Developmental toxicity was observed in animals exposed to xylene but only at concentrations that were maternally toxic.

Vinyl Acetate is a slight skin and a severe eye irritant, but is untested for animal sensitization.  No effects from repeated exposure to Vinyl Acetate by inhalation were observed at 100 ppm in rats.  Exposure to higher concentrations of Vinyl Acetate by inhalation caused eye irritation and lacrimation, reduced weight gain, and irritation of the respiratory tract with breathing difficulty.  The effects observed in rats and mice exposed by inhalation to 200 and 600 ppm for two years include reduced body weight.  Repeated exposures by administration of Vinyl Acetate in the drinking water caused decreased weight gain, and low liver weights. Reduced body weight occurred in rats administered 5000 ppm in their drinking water for two years.  Vinyl acetate is weakly carcinogenic in rats, but not in mice.  The compound does not have an adverse effect on the development of rats and its effect on reproduction is not considered significant.  The genotoxicity of vinyl acetate is equivocal.  Genetic damage was produced in some types of cell cultures and in animals, but was negative in other studies.  No tests for heritable genetic damage were available.

The data in this Material Safety Data Sheet relates only to the specific material designated herein and does not relate to use in combination with any other material or in any process.

Potential Health Effects
Skin contact may cause skin irritation with discomfort or rash.  Xylene can penetrate the skin in amounts capable of causing systemic toxicity.  Eye contact may cause eye irritation with discomfort, tearing or blurring of vision.  Inhalation of Ethylbenzene may cause irritation of the upper respiratory passages with coughing and discomfort.

Inhalation or ingestion of Xylene or Ethylbenzene may cause nonspecific discomfort, such as nausea, headache, or weakness; or temporary nervous system depression with anesthetic effects such as dizziness, headache, confusion, incoordination, and loss of consciousness.

Inhalation or ingestion of Ethylbenzene may cause abnormal liver or kidney function.  Aspiration of Ethyl benzene into the lungs during ingestion or vomiting may lead to chemical pneumonitis.

Ingestion of Xylene or Ethylbenzene may cause gastrointestinal tract irritation.  Higher exposure to Xylene may lead to cardiac stress; anemia and other blood changes; respiratory effects; possible liver and kidney damage; or fatality from gross overexposure. Inhalation of Kerosene may cause nonspecific discomfort, such as nausea, headache, or weakness; temporary nervous system depression with anaesthetic effects such as dizziness, headache, confusion, incoordination, and loss of consciousness; or possibly modest initial symptoms of lung irritation, followed in hours by severe shortness of breath, requiring prompt medical attention.

Ingestion of Kerosene may cause liver and kidney effects; or gastrointestinal irritation with upper abdominal pain, heart burn, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  However, there may be no symptoms at all.  A serious ingestion hazard is aspiration (liquid entering the lungs during ingestion or vomiting) which may result in chemical pneumonia.  Symptoms include coughing, gasping, choking, shortness of breath, bluish discoloration of the sin, rapid breathing and heart rate and fever.  Pulmonary edema or bleeding, drowsiness, confusion, coma and seizures may occur in more serious cases.  Symptoms may develop immediately or as late as 24 hours after the exposure, depending on how much chemical entered the lungs.

Pulmonary fibrosis has been reported in cable plant workers exposed to mist and vapors of mineral oils and kerosene for 5-35 years.  Because of mixed exposures to mineral oils as well as kerosene it is difficult to attribute these effects to kerosene alone.

Eye contact with the product ingredients may cause eye irritation with discomfort, tearing, or blurring of vision.  Direct exposure may cause skin irritation (redness, swelling).  A single prolonged exposure may result in the material being absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts.

In general, overexposure to high atmospheric concentrations of alkyl-substituted aromatics may produce central nervous system depression, headache, dizziness, incoordination, nausea and loss of appetite.  Aspiration (liquid enters the lung), may cause lung damage due to chemical pneumonia, a condition caused by petroleum-like solvents.

Minute amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons aspirated into the lungs during ingestion or vomiting may cause mild to severe pulmonary injury and possible death.

Individuals with preexisting diseases of the kidneys or liver may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive exposures.

Carcinogenicity Information
Vinyl Acetate Monomer has been classified by the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).  This IARC classification was based upon limited evidence of carcinogenicity to animals and inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity to humans.

Ethylbenzene has been classified by the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).  This IARC classification was based upon limited evidence of carcinogenicity to animals and inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity to humans.

Exposure Controls

Engineering Controls
Use only with adequate ventilation.  Keep container tightly closed.

Personal Protective Equipment

Exposure Limits

The skin notation following the exposure guideline refers to the potential for dermal absorption of the material.  It is intended to alert the reader that inhalation may not be the only route of exposure and that measures to minimize dermal exposure should be considered

* ael is RMCs acceptable exposure limit.  Where governmentally imposed occupational exposure limits which are lower than the AEL are in effect, such limits shall take precedence.

Ecological Information

Xylene:
96 hour LC50 fathead minnow: 27-42 mg/L

Kerosene:  
Low toxicity with a 24 hour TLm in bluegill sunfish: 2,990 mg/L

Disposal Considerations

Waste Disposal
Treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal must be in accordance with applicable Federal, State/Provincial and Local regulations.

Shipping Information

DOT
    Proper Shipping Name...... Combustible Liquid, n.o.s.
                            (Xylene, Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
    Hazard Class.................. 3
    I.D. No. (UN/NA)............. NA 1993
    Packing Group................ III
    Special Information......... Flash Point: 53C
        Marine Pollutant......... No
        Reportable Quantity.... Xylene  100 lbs.
    DOT Label(s)................. Combustible Liquid

IMO
    Proper Shipping Name...... Flammable Liquid, n.o.s.
                                     (Xylene, Aromatic Hydrcarbons)
    Hazard Class.................. 3
    I.D. No. (UN)................. 1993
    Packing Group................ III
    Special Information......... Flash Point: 53C
        Marine Pollutant......... No
    IMO Label..................... Flammable Liquid

Shipping Containers
           Steel Drums UN1A1/Y/100

US Federal Regulations

TSCA Inventory Status................ Reported / Included

Title III Hazard Classifications Sections 311, 312
          Acute............................................Yes
        Chronic.......................................... Yes
        Fire................................................Yes
        Reactivity....................................... No
        Pressure......................................... No

Other Information

npca-hmis Rating
         Health......................2* (Chronic Health Effects)
       Flammability...............2
       Reactivity..................0

Personal Protection rating to be supplied by user depending on uses conditions.