Section 2 - Composition, Information on Ingredients

CAS#	Chemical Name	Percent	EINECS/ELINCS
75-05-8	Acetonitrile	100	200-835-2

Section 3 - Hazards Identification

Appearance: clear, colorless liquid. Flash Point: 2 deg C.
Warning! Flammable liquid and vapor. Causes eye irritation. May be harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. May cause skin and respiratory tract irritation. Metabolized to cyanide in the body, which may cause headache, dizziness, weakness, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma and possible death.
Target Organs: Central nervous system, lungs, eyes.


Potential Health Effects
Eye: Causes eye irritation. Lachrymator (substance which increases the flow of tears). May produce superficial reversible injury.
Skin: Causes mild skin irritation. If absorbed, causes symptoms similar to those of inhalation. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. May be metabolized to cyanide which in turn acts by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase impairing cellular respiration. A Skin notation is recommended based upon the case report of child poisoning from dermal contact. A LD50 >2000 mg/kg was obtained in a well-conducted acute dermal toxicity study in rabbits.
Ingestion: May cause tissue anoxia, characterized by weakness, headache, dizziness, confusion, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), weak and irregular heart beat, collapse, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma and death. Metabolism may release cyanide, which may result in headache, dizziness, weakness, collapse, unconsciousness and possible death. Different animal species and individuals of the same species varied widely in susceptibility to acetonitrile in single-dose toxicity studies by various routes. The range of oral LD50 values for acetonitrile in mammals is between 140 - 6762 mg/kg body weight. Mouse and guinea pig seem to be the most sensitive species. In a well-conducted study in mice, the oral LD50 of acetonitrile was calculated to be 617 mg/kg.
Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation. May cause lung damage. May be harmful if inhaled. Acetonitrile breaks down slowly in the body to release the cyanide ion. Exposure to very high concentrations of acetonitrile can result in cyanide poisoning. Symptoms are usually delayed several hours after exposure. Early symptoms include weakness, headache, giddiness, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, breathing is rapid, then becomes slow and gasping. The victim may feel an irregular heart beat and tightness in the chest.
Chronic: May be metabolized to cyanide which in turn acts by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase impairing cellular respiration. Exposure to small amounts of cyanide compounds over long periods of time is reported to cause loss of appetite, headache, weakness, nausea, dizziness, and symptoms of irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. Animal studies indicate that the product may affect the liver and kidneys. Animal evidence for acetonitrile and other cyanide compounds clearly indicates that toxic effects would be expected in the fetus at exposure levels which are toxic to the mother.

Section 4 - First Aid Measures

Eyes: In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for a t least 15 minutes. Get medical aid.
Skin: In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Get medical aid immediately. Wash clothing before reuse.
Ingestion: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical aid.
Inhalation: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical aid.
Notes to Physician: Exposure should be treated as a cyanide poisoning. Effects may be delayed. For methemoglobinemia, administer oxygen alone or with Methylene Blue depending on the methemoglobin concentration in the blood. May be partially metabolized to cyanide in the body.
Antidote: Always have a cyanide antidote kit on hand when working with cyanide compounds. Get medical advice to use. Methylene blue, alone or in combination with oxygen is indicated as a treatment in nitrite induced methemoglobinemia.

Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures

General Information: As in any fire, wear a self-contained breathing apparatus in pressure-demand, MSHA/NIOSH (approved or equivalent), and full protective gear. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Flammable liquid and vapor. Approach fire from upwind to avoid hazardous vapors and toxic decomposition products. Vapors are heavier than air and may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. Vapors can spread along the ground and collect in low or confined areas.
Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or appropriate foam.
Flash Point: 2 deg C ( 35.60 deg F)
Autoignition Temperature: 524 deg C ( 975.20 deg F)
Explosion Limits, Lower:3.0 vol %
Upper: 16.00 vol %
NFPA Rating: (estimated) Health: 2; Flammability: 3; Instability: 0

Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures

General Information: Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8.
Spills/Leaks: Absorb spill with inert material (e.g. vermiculite, sand or earth), then place in suitable container. Remove all sources of ignition. Provide ventilation. Evacuate unnecessary personnel. Approach spill from upwind.

Section 7 - Handling and Storage

Handling: Wash thoroughly after handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. Ground and bond containers when transferring material. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Empty containers retain product residue, (liquid and/or vapor), and can be dangerous. Keep container tightly closed. Keep away from heat, sparks and flame. Do not pressurize, cut, weld, braze, solder, drill, grind, or expose empty containers to heat, sparks or open flames. Use only with adequate ventilation. Avoid breathing vapor or mist.
Storage: Keep away from sources of ignition. Store in a tightly closed container. Keep from contact with oxidizing materials. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible substances. Flammables-area. Store protected from moisture.

Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection

Engineering Controls: Use explosion-proof ventilation equipment. Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use adequate general or local exhaust ventilation to keep airborne concentrations below the permissible exposure limits.
Exposure Limits

Chemical Name	ACGIH	NIOSH	OSHA - Final PELs
Acetonitrile	20 ppm TWA; Skin - potential significant contribution to overall exposure by the cutaneous r oute	20 ppm TWA; 34 mg/m3 TWA 500 ppm IDLH	40 ppm TWA; 70 mg/m3 TWA

OSHA Vacated PELs: Acetonitrile: 40 ppm TWA; 70 mg/m3 TWA
Personal Protective Equipment
Eyes: Wear chemical splash goggles.
Skin: Wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent skin exposure.
Clothing: Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin exposure.
Respirators: A respiratory protection program that meets OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.134 and ANSI Z88.2 requirements or European Standard EN 149 must be followed whenever workplace conditions warrant respirator use.

Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical State: Liquid
Appearance: clear, colorless
Odor: sweetish odor - ethereal odor
pH: Not available.
Vapor Pressure: 88.8 mm Hg @ 25 deg C
Vapor Density: 1.42 (air=1)
Evaporation Rate:5.79 (Butyl acetate=1)
Viscosity: 0.36 cP 20 deg C
Boiling Point: 81.6 deg C @ 760 mm Hg
Freezing/Melting Point:-45 deg C
Decomposition Temperature:> 500 deg C
Solubility: Soluble.
Specific Gravity/Density:.7810g/cm3
Molecular Formula:C2H3N
Molecular Weight:41.04

Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under normal temperatures and pressures.
Conditions to Avoid: Ignition sources, excess heat, exposure to moist air or water.
Incompatibilities with Other Materials: Strong oxidizing agents, strong reducing agents, strong acids.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide.
Hazardous Polymerization: Will not occur.

Section 11 - Toxicological Information

RTECS#:      
CAS# 75-05-8: AL7700000
LD50/LC50:
CAS# 75-05-8:
     Draize test, rabbit, eye: 100 uL/24H Moderate;
     Inhalation, mouse: LC50 = 2693 ppm/1H;
     Inhalation, rabbit: LC50 = 2828 ppm/4H;
     Inhalation, rat: LC50 = 7551 ppm/8H;
     Oral, mouse: LD50 = 269 mg/kg;
     Oral, rabbit: LD50 = 50 mg/kg;
     Oral, rat: LD50 = 2460 mg/kg;
     Skin, rabbit: LD50 = >2 gm/kg;
.
In a well-conducted study in mice, the oral LD50 of acetonitrile was calculated to be 617 mg/kg.
Carcinogenicity:
CAS# 75-05-8: Not listed by ACGIH, IARC, NTP, or CA Prop 65.

Epidemiology: Three volunteers were exposed for 4 hours at 40, 80, or 160 ppm acetonitrile. At 40 ppm, odor was detected, after which olfactory fatigue was noted. At this concentration, 2 persons had no signs of response, including no appreciable blood or urinarycyanide or thiocyanate. The third person experienced slight tightness in the chest that evening. A sensation of cooling in the lungs was observed and persisted for 24 hours. Traces of urinary thiocyanate were recorded.
Teratogenicity: In most of the available assays, teratogenicity was associated with maternal toxicity. In a well-conducted study, rats exposed by inhalation to acetonitrile did not result in significant fetal effects, even at concentrations which were overtly toxic tothe dam. In this study, a maternal NOAEL of 1200 ppm and NOAEL of 1200 ppm with respect to developmental toxicity were established. A case-control study of pregnancy outcome among Finnish lab workers revealed no association between exposure toacetonitrile and increased risk of spontaneous abortion in mothers, or malformation and birth weight in their children.
Reproductive Effects: In relation to fertility, there is no information available in humans and there are no animal studies specifically investigating such effects. However, no changes were seen in weight of the right cauda or right testis and no effect on sperm motility inrats or mice exposed for 13 weeks with 100, 200 and 400 ppm to acetonitrile.
Mutagenicity: See actual entry in RTECS for complete information.
Neurotoxicity: No information available.
Other Studies:

Section 12 - Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Fish: Fathead Minnow: 1150 ppm; 24 Hr; TLm (hard water)Fish: Fathead Minnow: 1000 mg/L; 96 Hr; TLm (soft water)Fish: Bluegill/Sunfish: 1850 mg/L; 96 Hr; TLm (soft water)Fish: Fathead Minnow: 1640 mg/L; 96 Hr; LC50 (flow-bioassay)Fish: Fathead Minnow: 1640 mg/L; 96 Hr; EC50 (flow-bioassay) No data available.
Environmental: Estimated Koc value = 16. Acetonitrile is expected to weakly adsorb to most soils based on the Koc value. Volatilization from soil surfaces and leaching into ground water is expected to be significant. Estimated BCF value = 0.3. This value indicates that acetonitrile will not significantly bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms or adsorb to suspended solids and sediments in water. Acetonitrile is unreactive towards photochemically-generated free radicals and direct photolysis in the gaseous phase.
Physical: No information available.
Other: Biodegradable.

Section 13 - Disposal Considerations

Chemical waste generators must determine whether a discarded chemical is classified as a hazardous waste. US EPA guidelines for the classification determination are listed in 40 CFR Parts 261.3. Additionally, waste generators must consult state and local hazardous waste regulations to ensure complete and accurate classification.
RCRA P-Series: None listed.
RCRA U-Series:
CAS# 75-05-8: waste number U003 (Ignitable waste, Toxic waste).

Section 14 - Transport Information

	US DOT	Canada TDG
Shipping Name:	ACETONITRILE	ACETONITRILE
Hazard Class:	3	3
UN Number:	UN1648	UN1648
Packing Group:	II	II
Additional Info:		FLASHPOINT 6 C

Section 15 - Regulatory Information

US FEDERAL

TSCA
     CAS# 75-05-8 is listed on the TSCA inventory.
Health & Safety Reporting List
     CAS# 75-05-8: Effective 10/4/82, Sunset 10/4/92
Chemical Test Rules
     CAS# 75-05-8: Testing required by manufacturers, processors
Section 12b
     CAS# 75-05-8: Section 4
TSCA Significant New Use Rule
     None of the chemicals in this material have a SNUR under TSCA.
CERCLA Hazardous Substances and corresponding RQs
     CAS# 75-05-8: 5000 lb final RQ; 2270 kg final RQ
SARA Section 302 Extremely Hazardous Substances
     None of the chemicals in this product have a TPQ.
SARA Codes
     CAS # 75-05-8: immediate, delayed, fire.
Section 313
     This material contains Acetonitrile (CAS# 75-05-8, 100%),which is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 313 of SARA Title III and 40 CFR Part 373.
Clean Air Act:
     CAS# 75-05-8 is listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP).
     This material does not contain any Class 1 Ozone depletors.
     This material does not contain any Class 2 Ozone depletors.
Clean Water Act:
     None of the chemicals in this product are listed as Hazardous Substances under the CWA.
     None of the chemicals in this product are listed as Priority Pollutants under the CWA.
     None of the chemicals in this product are listed as Toxic Pollutants under the CWA.
OSHA:
     None of the chemicals in this product are considered highly hazardous by OSHA.
STATE
     CAS# 75-05-8 can be found on the following state right to know lists: California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Massachusetts.

California Prop 65

California No Significant Risk Level: None of the chemicals in this product are listed.

European/International Regulations
European Labeling in Accordance with EC Directives
Hazard Symbols:
     XN F
Risk Phrases:
     R 11 Highly flammable.
     R 20/21/22 Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if
     swallowed.
     R 36 Irritating to eyes.

Safety Phrases:
     S 16 Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking.
     S 36/37 Wear suitable protective clothing and gloves.

WGK (Water Danger/Protection)
     CAS# 75-05-8: 2
Canada - DSL/NDSL
     CAS# 75-05-8 is listed on Canada's DSL List.
Canada - WHMIS
     This product has a WHMIS classification of B2, D1B, D2B.
This product has been classified in accordance with the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products Regulations and the MSDS contains all of the information required by those regulations.
Canadian Ingredient Disclosure List
     CAS# 75-05-8 is listed on the Canadian Ingredient Disclosure List.

Section 16 - Additional Information

MSDS Creation Date: 4/23/1999
Revision #9 Date: 10/03/2005

The information above is believed to be accurate and represents the best information currently available to us. However, we make no warranty of merchantability or any other warranty, express or implied, with respect to such information, and we assume no liability resulting from its use. Users should make their own investigations to determine the suitability of the information for their particular purposes. In no event shall Fisher be liable for any claims, losses, or damages of any third party or for lost profits or any special, indirect, incidental, consequential or exemplary damages, howsoever arising, even if Fisher has been advised of the possibility of such damages.