Common Name: 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
CAS Number: 95-50-1
DOT Number: UN 1591
Date: November, 1988
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HAZARD SUMMARY
* 1,2-Dichlorobenzene can affect you when breathed in and by
passing through your skin.
* Exposure can cause headaches, nausea, and irritation of the
eyes and throat. Higher exposures can cause you to be come
dizzy and lightheaded and to pass out.
* Exposure can damage blood cells.
* Contact can cause irritation of the skin and eyes. Prolonged
contact can cause severe burns.
* It may damage the liver, kidneys and lungs.
IDENTIFICATION
1,2-Dichlorobenzene is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a
pleasant odor. It is used in dry cleaning, as a degreasing agent,
and as an insecticide.
REASON FOR CITATION
* 1,2-Dichlorobenzene is on the Hazardous Substance List because
it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, NFPA, DOT, DEP and
EPA.
* Definitions are attached.
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED
* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely
evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air
samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your
employer. You have a legal right to this information under
OSHA 1910.20.
* ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.30 ppm.
* The odor threshold only serves as a warning of exposure. Not
smelling it does not mean you are not being exposed.
WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 50
ppm averaged over an 8 hour workshift.
ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 50 ppm, which
should not be exceeded at any time.
* The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air
levels are less than the limits listed above.
WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
* Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust
ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be
worn.
* Wear protective work clothing.
* Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to 1,2-
Dichlorobenzene and at the end of the workshift.
* Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort,
communicate all information on the health and safety hazards
of 1,2-Dichlorobenzene to potentially exposed workers.
This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential
and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure.
Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other
factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential
effects described below.
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HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Acute Health Effects
The following acute (short term) health effects may occur
immediately or shortly after exposure to 1,2-Dichlorobenzene:
* Contact with the liquid can irritate the skin. Prolonged
contact can cause skin burns.
* The liquid can irritate and burn the eyes.
* Exposure can cause headaches and nausea, and can irritate the
eyes, nose, and throat. Higher levels can cause you to become
dizzy and lightheaded and to pass out.
Chronic Health Effects
The following chronic (long term) health effects can occur at some
time after exposure to 1,2-Dichlorobenzene and can last for months
or years:
Cancer Hazard
* There is some evidence for an association between exposure to
Dichlorobenzenes and leukemia. It is unclear at this time
whether this association represents an increased cancer risk.
Reproductive Hazard
* 1,2-Dichlorobenzene may damage the testes (male reproductive
glands).
Other Long Term Effects
* 1,2-Dichlorobenzene may cause a skin allergy. If an allergy
develops, very low future exposures can cause itching and a
skin rash.
* The chemical may damage the lungs, liver, and kidneys. It may
affect the nervous system.
* Long term exposure can cause breakdown of blood cells.
* This chemical has not been adequately evaluated to determine
whether brain or other nerve damage could occur with repeated
exposure. However, many solvents and other petroleum based
chemicals have been shown to cause such damage. Effects may
include reduced memory and concentration, personality changes
(withdrawal, irritability), fatigue, sleep disturbances,
reduced coordination, and/or effects on nerves supplying
internal organs (autonomic nerves) and/or nerves to the arms
and legs (weakness, "pins and needles").
MEDICAL
Medical Testing
For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the TLV
or greater, or significant skin contact) the following are
recommended before beginning work and at regular times after that:
* Liver, kidney and lung function tests.
* Complete blood count.
* Interview for brain effects, including recent memory, mood
(irritability, withdrawal), concentration, headaches, malaise
and altered sleep patterns. Consider cerebellar, autonomic and
peripheral nervous system evaluation. Positive and borderline
individuals should be referred for neuropsychological testing.
If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the following may
be useful:
* Evaluation by a qualified allergist, including careful
exposure history and special testing, may help diagnose skin
allergy.
Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present
symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already
done are not a substitute for controlling exposure.
Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to
this information under OSHA 1910.20.
Mixed Exposures
* Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung
cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may
worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure.
Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will
reduce your risk of developing health problems.
* Because more than light alcohol consumption can cause liver
damage, drinking alcohol may increase the liver damage caused
by 1,2-Dichlorobenzene.
WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of
reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations
and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical
release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using
respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the
controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary.
In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1)
how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is
released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye
contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly
toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing
exposures are possible.
In addition, the following control is recommended:
* Where possible, automatically pump liquid 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
from drums or other storage containers to process containers.
Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The
following work practices are recommended:
* Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by 1,2-
Dichlorobenzene should change into clean clothing promptly.
* Eye wash fountains in the immediate work area should be
provided for emergency use.
* On skin contact with 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, immediately wash or
shower to remove the chemical.
* Wash any areas of the body that may have contacted 1,2-
Dichlorobenzene at the end of each work day, whether or not
known skin contact has occurred.
* Do not eat, smoke, or drink where 1,2-Dichlorobenzene is
handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be
swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating or smoking.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
However, for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry,
jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace
controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be
appropriate.
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply
to every situation.
Clothing
* Avoid skin contact with 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. Wear solvent
resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment
suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the
most protective glove/clothing material for your operation.
* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear)
should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.
Eye Protection
* Wear splash proof chemical goggles and face shield when
working with liquid, unless full facepiece respiratory
protection is worn.
Respiratory Protection
IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should
only be used if the employer has a written program that takes into
account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training,
respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA
1910.134.
* Engineering controls must be effective to ensure that exposure
to 1,2-Dichlorobenzene does not occur.
* Where the potential exists for exposure to 1,2-
Dichlorobenzene, use a MSHA/ NIOSH approved full facepiece
respirator with an organic vapor cartridge/ canister.
Increased protection is obtained from full facepiece powered
air purifying respirators.
* If while wearing a filter, cartridge or canister respirator,
you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect 1,2-Dichlorobenzene,
or in the case of a full facepiece respirator you experience
eye irritation, leave the area immediately. Check to make sure
the respirator to face seal is still good. If it is, replace
the filter, cartridge, or canister. If the seal is no longer
good, you may need a new respirator.
* Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your workplace.
You may need a combination of filters, prefilters, cartridges,
or canisters, to protect against different forms of a chemical
(such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals.
* Where the potential exists for higher exposures over 50 ppm,
use a MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied air respirator with a full
facepiece operated in the positive pressure mode or with a
full facepiece, hood, or helmet in the continuous flow mode,
or use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self contained breathing
apparatus with a full facepiece operated in pressure demand or
other positive pressure mode.
* Exposure to 1,700 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and
health. If the p.
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