Terminology Used in MSDS

By
A.K. Gupta
 Synonym
• Synonyms are alternative names for the same
chemical.
• For example:
– Methanol and methyl hydrate are synonyms for
methyl alcohol
– Dimethyl ketone is synonym for acetone.
• Synonyms may help in locating additional
information on a chemical.

2
 U.N. Number
• UN number stands for United Nations substance
identification number.
• The UN number is a four-digit number assigned
to a potentially hazardous material (such as
Petrol, UN 1203) or class of materials (such as
corrosive liquids, UN 1760).
• These numbers are used by firefighters and other
emergency response personnel for identification
of materials during transportation emergencies.
• UN (United Nations) numbers are internationally
recognized.
3
 CAS No.: Chemical Abstracts Service
(Registry) Number
• CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers
for chemical elements, compounds, polymers,
biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. They are
also referred to as CAS numbers, CAS RNs or CAS #s.
• Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), a division of the
American Chemical Society, assigns these identifiers
to every chemical that has been described in the
literature. The intention is to make database searches
more convenient, as chemicals often have many
names. Almost all molecule databases today allow
searching by CAS number. (Contd.)
4
 CAS No. (Contd.)
• As of 15th March 2010, there were 52,429,231
organic and inorganic substances in the CAS
registry.
• Around 50,000 new numbers are added each
week.
• CAS also maintains and sells a database of
these chemicals, known as the CAS Registry.

(Contd.)
5
 CAS No. (Contd.)
• A CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) Registry
Number is a unique identifier that tells you,
for example, that acetone and dimethyl
ketone are actually the same substance.

6
 Hazchem Code or EAC
[Emergency Action Code]
• The HAZCHEM Code provides advisory
information to the emergency services personnel
to enable them to take the appropriate action to
combat the incident.
• It enables us to know at once what action is
needed in case of a –
– spillage or leakage of a hazardous material, or
– fire involving such material.
• It is primarily meant for the fire-fighters and
rescuers.
(Contd.)
7
 Hazchem Code or EAC
[Emergency Action Code]
• The Hazchem Code (EAC) uses one of the
numerals 1, 2, 3, or 4, followed by one or two
English alphabets, which signify–
– what fire-extinguishing agent should be used;
– whether the spillage should be contained or
diluted with plenty of water;
– whether the substance is violently reactive
– what PPE should be used; and
– whether evacuation of the surrounding area
should be carried out.
(Contd.)
8
 Emergency Action Code (EAC) or
Hazchem Code

1 WATER JETS In the absence of

water fog, a fine
water spray may be
2 WATER FOG used.

3 FOAM
v Water must not be
allowed to come in
contact with the
4 DRY AGENT material.

(Contd.) 9
Emergency Action Code (EAC) or
Hazchem Code

Dilute

Contain

CONSIDER EVACUATION
10
(Contd.)
 Emergency Action Code (EAC) or
Hazchem Code
• Some examples:
Benzene [UN 1114] : 3WE
Petrol [UN 1203] : 3YE
Kerosene [UN 1223] : 3Y
EO [UN 1040] : 2PE
LPG [UN 1075] : 3WE

11
 Vapour Pressure
• Vapour pressure is a measure of the tendency
of a material to form a vapour.
• The higher the vapour pressure, the higher
the potential vapour concentration.
• In general, a material with a high vapour
pressure is more likely to be an inhalation or
fire hazard than a similar material with a
lower vapour pressure.
(Contd.)
12
 Vapour Pressure
• Vapour Pressure: The process of
evaporation in a closed container
will proceed until there are as many
molecules returning to the liquid as
there are escaping.
• At this point the vapour is said to be
saturated, and the pressure of that
vapour (usually expressed in mmHg)
is called the saturated vapour
pressure.
(Contd.)
13
 Vapour Pressure
• Vapour pressure (or equilibrium vapour
pressure) is the pressure of a vapour in
thermodynamic equillibrium with its
condensed phase in a closed system.

• Reid Vapour Pressure: Vapour pressure

generated by a substance (in psi) at 100oF

14
 Boiling Point
• The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which
the vapour pressure of the liquid equals the environmental
pressure surrounding the liquid.
• A liquid in a vacuum environment has
a lower boiling point than when the
liquid is at atmospheric pressure.
• A liquid in a high pressure
environment has a higher boiling
point than when the liquid is at
atmospheric pressure.
• In other words, the boiling point of
liquids varies with and depends upon
the surrounding environmental
pressure. 15
 Boiling Range
• It is the range between initial and final boiling
temperatures of a multi-component solvent.
• It may also be
defined as the
temperature range
of a laboratory
distillation of an oil
from start until
evaporation is
complete. 16
 M.P. / F.P.
• Melting Point: The temperature at which a solid
becomes a liquid at standard atmospheric
pressure.

• Freezing Point: When considered as the

temperature of the reverse change from liquid to
solid, it is referred to as the freezing point or
crystallization point.

17
 Vapour Density
• Vapour density is the density of a vapour,
expressed as the mass of a given volume of the
vapour divided by the mass of an equal volume
of a reference gas (such as hydrogen or air) at
the same temperature and pressure.
Vapour Density = mass of n molecules of gas or vapour/
mass of n molecules of hydrogen
• In MSDS, the vapour density is expressed in relation to air.
• It is expressed as “Vapour Density (Air=1)”
• Example:
Vapour density of Ethylene Oxide (Air =1) = 1.52
(It means that EO vapour is 1.52 times heavier than air.)
18
 Specific Gravity
• Specific gravity is the ratio of density of a substance
compared to the density of fresh water at 4°C (39° F).
• At this temperature the density of water is at its
greatest value and equal 1 g/mL.
• Since specific gravity is a ratio, so it has no units.
• An object will float in water if its density is less than
the density of water and sink if its density is greater
that that of water.
• Similarly, an object with specific gravity less than 1 will
float and those with a specific gravity greater than one
will sink.
(Contd.)
19
 Specific Gravity
• Specific gravity values for a few common
substances are:
Gold (Au) = 19.3
Mercury (Hg) = 13.6
Water = 1.0
Benzene = 0.8786
Alcohol = 0.7893
• Note that since water has a density of 1 g/cm3,
the specific gravity is the same as the density of
the material measured in g/cm3.
• Remember: Sp. Gr. has no units.
20
 Flash Point
• The flash point of a volatile liquid is the lowest
temperature at which it can vaporize to form
an ignitable mixture in air.
• At the flash point, the vapour may cease to
burn when the source of ignition is removed.
• Flash points of substances are measured
according to standard test methods.
– Closed Cup (cc) method
– Open Cup (oc) method

21
Apparatus for determining the flash point

22
 Fire Point
• The fire point, a higher temperature than the
flash point, is defined as the temperature at
which the vapour continues to burn after
being ignited.
• Neither the flash point nor the fire point is
related to the temperature of the ignition
source or of the burning liquid, which are
much higher.

23
 Flammability Limits
• Vapour/air mixtures are flammable only over a
limited range of vapour concentrations.
• This range is defined by the lower and upper
flammability limits.

(Contd.)
24
 Flammability Limits
• Flammability limits, also called flammable limits, or
explosive limits, give the proportion of a combustible
gas in a mixture with air, between which limits this
mixture is flammable.
• The lower flammability limit (LFL) or lower explosive
limit (LEL) describes the leanest mixture that is still
flammable, i.e., the mixture with the smallest fraction
of combustible gas.
• The upper flammability limit (UFL) or upper explosive
limit (UEL) is the richest flammable mixture.
• Increasing the fraction of inert gases in a mixture raises
the LFL and decreases UFL.
• Dusts also have upper and lower explosion limits.
(Contd.)
25
 Lower Flammability Limit (LFL)
• LFL (LEL): The lowest concentration (percentage) of a gas
or vapour in air, capable of producing a flash of fire in
presence of an ignition source (arc, flame, heat).
• Concentrations lower than LEL are "too lean" to burn.
• For example, Methane gas has an LEL of 5.1%v (at 20 oC),
meaning 5.1 of the total volume of the air consists of
methane.
• If the atmosphere has less that 5.1% methane, a fire or
explosion cannot occur even if a source of ignition is
present.
• Each combustible gas has its own LEL concentration.
(Contd.)
26
 Upper Flammability Limit (UFL)
• UFL (UEL): Highest concentration (percentage)
of a gas or a vapor in air capable of producing
a flash of fire in presence of an ignition source
(arc, flame, heat).
• Concentrations higher than UEL are "too rich"
to burn.

27
 Example for flammable limits
Conc. (%v)

Temperature
28
 TDG Flammability
• TDG stands for Transport of Dangerous Goods.
• The transportation of potentially hazardous
materials is regulated under the Central Motor
Vehicles Rules, 1989 and also under the IMDG
Code and the IATA Code.
• Regulations set out criteria for the
classification of materials as dangerous goods
and state how these materials must be
packaged and shipped.
IMDG Code = International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IATA Code = International Air Transport Association Code
(Contd.)
29
 TDG Flammability Classification
• TDG flammability classifications are:
2.1 Flammable gas
3 Flammable liquid
4.1 Flammable solid
4.2 Spontaneously combustible material
4.3 Material which gives off a flammable
gas on contact with water.

30
 Solubility
• Solubility is the ability of a material to dissolve in
water or another liquid.
• Solubility may be expressed as a ratio or may be
described using words such as insoluble, very
soluble or miscible.
• Often, on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS),
the "Solubility" section describes solubility in
water, since water is the single most important
industrial solvent.
• Solubility information is useful for planning spill
clean-up and fire fighting procedures.
31
 pH
• The pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity
(basicity) of a material when dissolved in water.
• It is expressed on a scale from 0 to 14.
• pH is the symbol relating the hydrogen ion (H+)
concentration to that of a given standard solution.
• A pH of 7 is neutral.
• Numbers increasing from 7 to 14 indicate greater
alkalinity.
• Numbers decreasing from 7 to 0 indicate greater
acidity.

32
 pH
• Roughly, pH can be divided into the following
ranges:
pH 0 - 2 Strongly acidic
pH 3 - 5 Weakly acidic
pH 6 - 8 Almost neutral (pH 7 is neutral)
pH 9 - 11 Weakly basic
pH 12 - 14 Strongly basic

33
 Polymerisation
• A polymer is a natural or man-made material
formed by combining units, called monomers,
into long chains.
• Polymerization is the process of forming a
polymer by combining large numbers of
chemical units or monomers into long chains.
• Polymerization can be used to make some
useful materials.
(Contd.)
34
 Hazardous Polymerisation
• Uncontrolled polymerization can be extremely
hazardous.
• Some polymerization processes can release
considerable heat, can generate enough pressure to
burst a container or can be explosive.
• Some chemicals can polymerize on their own without
warning.
• Others can polymerize upon contact with water, air or
other common chemicals.
• Inhibitors are normally added to products to reduce or
eliminate the possibility of uncontrolled
polymerization.

35
 Oxidising Agent / Oxidising Material
• An oxidising agent or material gives up
oxygen easily or can readily oxidise
other materials.
• Examples of oxidising agents are
oxygen, chlorine and peroxide
compounds.
• These chemicals will support a fire
and are highly reactive.
• Oxidising agents are under the U.N.
Hazard Class 5.1.
36
 Autoignition Temperature
• The autoignition temperature (or kindling
point) of a substance is the lowest
temperature at which it will spontaneously
ignite in a normal atmosphere without an
external source of ignition, such as a flame or
spark.

• This temperature is required to supply the

activation energy needed for combustion.

37
 Autoignition Temperature
• The temperature at which a chemical will
ignite decreases as the pressure increases or
oxygen concentration increases.

• Autoignition temperatures of liquid chemicals

are typically measured using a 500 mL flask
placed in a temperature-controlled oven in
accordance with the procedure described in
ASTM E659.

38
 Pyrophoric Material
• Pyrophoric chemicals are defined in the U.S.
OSHA Hazcom Standard as chemicals which will
ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of
130 oF (54.4 oC) or below.
• Some examples of pyrophoric materials:
– Copper acetylide
– Iron sulphide
– Alkyl aluminium
– Alkyl zinc
– Organolithium

39
 Chemical Stability
• Stability is the ability of a material to remain
chemically unchanged under certain physical
conditions.
• The term means that the chemical in question
will not decompose in a hazardous manner
under the conditions of temperature,
pressure, and mechanical shock that are
normally encountered during storage and
transportation.
(Contd.)
40
 Chemical Stability
• An unstable material may decompose, burn,
explode or polymerize, under normal
environmental conditions.
• Any unstable material requires special
handling and storage precautions.

41
 Chemical Reactivity
• This is usually limited to hazardous reactions
with fuels and with common materials of
construction (MOC) such as metals, wood,
plastics, glass, and cement.
• The nature of hazard, such as severe corrosion
or formation of a flammable gas is described.

42
 Organic Peroxides
• Organic peroxides are organic compounds containing
the peroxide functional group (R-O–O-R'). If the R' is
hydrogen, the compound is called an organic
hydroperoxide.
• Peresters have general structure RC(O)OOR.
• The -O–O- bond easily breaks and forms free radicals of
the form RO– .
• Thus, organic peroxides are useful as initiators for
some types of polymerisation, such as the epoxy resins
used in glass-reinforced plastics (GRP).
– Benzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide (LPO) and MEKP are
commonly used for this purpose.
(Contd.)
43
 Organic Peroxides (Contd.)
• An organic peroxide is any carbon-containing
compound having two oxygen atoms joined together
(-O–O-).
– This chemical group is called a "peroxy" group.
• Organic peroxides belong to U.N. Hazard Class 5.2.
• Organic peroxides can be severe fire and explosion
hazards.
• Organic peroxides are available as solids (usually fine
powders), liquids or pastes.
(Contd.)
44
 Organic Peroxides (Contd.)
• The main hazard related to organic peroxides are
their fire and explosion hazards.
• Organic peroxides may also be toxic or corrosive.
• Depending on the material, route of exposure
(inhalation, eye or skin contact, or swallowing)
and dose or amount of exposure, they could
harm the body.
• Corrosive organic peroxides can also attack and
destroy metals.
45
 Organic Peroxides (Contd.)
• Most undiluted organic peroxides can catch fire
easily and burn very intensely and rapidly.
– This is because they combine both fuel (carbon) and
oxygen in the same compound.
• Some organic peroxides are dangerously reactive.
• They can decompose very rapidly or explosively if
they are exposed to only slight heat, friction,
mechanical shock or contamination with
incompatible materials.

46
 Organic Peroxides (Contd.)
• Organic peroxides can also be strong oxidizing
agents.
• Combustible materials contaminated with
most organic peroxides can catch fire very
easily and burn very intensely (i.e.,
deflagrate).

== == ==

47
 Chemical Incompatibility
• Incompatible chemicals are those substances
that should not be stored near each other
because any contact between them would
cause a dangerous chemical reaction leading
to a explosion, fire, or formation of hazardous
new substances.
• For example:
– Kerosene ignites spontaneously when it comes in
contact with dimethyl hydrazine,
– A contact between iron and sulphuric acid produces
highly flammable hydrogen gas.
(Contd.)
48
 Chemical Incompatibility
• Any individual chemical or mixture of chemicals
can have one or more hazards associated with it.
• There are three main pairs of hazards that must
be segregated from each other:
1. Acids must be separated from bases (alkalis);
2. Oxidizers must be separated from flammables; and
3. Water-reactives must be separated from water and
everything else containing easily extracted protons
such as alcohols, acids (organic and inorganic),
amines, etc.

(Contd.)
49
 Chemical Incompatibility
• Knowledge of chemical compatibility is
important for the selection of appropriate
materials for processing, storage, packaging,
transportation, and utilizing the chemical-
based products.
• It includes the selection of materials which are non-
contaminating toward high-purity chemicals,
including corrosive liquids, organics, and solvents.

(Contd.)
50
 Chemical Incompatibility
• Improper storage and disposal
of incompatible chemicals has
led to a number of accidents.
• Always properly identify and
segregate your chemicals and
wastes to avoid the accidental
mixing of incompatibles.
• For example, do not store acids and
bases (alkalis) near by or in the same
cabinet.
(Contd.)
51
 Chemical Incompatibility
• Even everyday domestic chemicals have
incompatibilities.
• For example, the container of household
bleach has a warning not to mix bleach and
ammonia.
– When mixed, these substances generate the toxic
gases chloramine (NH2Cl) and hydrazine (N2H4),
which could cause serious injuries or death!

52
 ppm
• The abbreviation ppm stands for parts per
million.
• It is a common unit for expressing very low
concentrations of gases or vapours in air (by
volume) or impurity in a liquid (by weight).
• For example, 1 ppm of benzene means that 1
unit (volume) of the benzene vapour is
present for every 1 million units of air.

53
 Magnitude of ppm
One ppm is the same as:
1 minute in 2 years; or
1 cm in 10 km; or
1 inch in about 16 miles; or
1 paisa in Rs. 10,000; or
1 cent in $10,000.00.

54
 Toxicology
• Toxicology Is the study of the effects of
poisons.

• Environmental toxicologists study the

effects of pollutants on organisms,
populations, ecosystems, and the
biosphere.

55
 Toxicology
Poisonous substances are produced by plants,
animals, or bacteria.

Phytotoxins
Zootoxins
Bacteriotoxins

Toxicant: The specific poisonous chemical.

Xenobiotic: Man-made substance and/or produced by but not
normally found in the body.
 Toxicology Terms
• Toxicity: The adverse effects
that a chemical may produce.
• Dose: The amount of a
chemical that gains access to
the body.
• Exposure: Contact providing
opportunity of obtaining a
poisonous dose.
• Hazard: The likelihood that
the toxicity will be expressed.
Hazard and Exposure
57
 Hazard and Risk

Risk = Exposure to a hazard

58
 Threshold Effects for Dose
Dose-Response
Relationships

Agent A
Response

Agent B

“NOEL”
(No Observable Effect Level)

Dose
 Fundamental Rules of Toxicology
• Exposure must first occur for the chemical to
present a risk.

• Magnitude of risk is proportional to both the

potency of the chemical and the extent of
exposure.

• “The dose makes the poison” – Amount of

chemical at the target site determines toxicity.

60
 Exposure Concepts
• Different toxic responses may arise from
different:

– Routes of exposure.

– Frequencies of exposure.

– Duration of exposure (acute vs. chronic).

61
Routes of Environmental Exposure
1

1. Inhalation (air)
2. Ingestion (water and food)
3. Absorption (through skin/eyes) 2

4. Injection (bite, puncture, or cut)

3
4

62
Duration & Frequency of Exposure
•Duration and frequency are also important
components of exposure and contribute to
dose.
•Acute exposure: Less than 24 hours;
usually entails a single exposure
•Repeated exposures are classified as:
– Sub-acute – repeated for up to 30 days
– Sub-chronic – repeated for 30-90 days
– Chronic – repeated for over 90 days

63
 Exposure Concepts
Exposure to chemicals may come from
many sources:
– Environmental
– Occupational
– Therapeutic
– Dietary
– Accidental
– Deliberate

64
 Types of Toxic Effects
Death – arsenic, cyanide

Carcinogenesis – benzene, asbestos

Organ Damage – ozone, lead

Benzene
Mutagenesis – UV light

Teratogenesis – Thalidomide
 PEL
• PEL stands for Permissible Exposure Limit.
• PELs are legal limits in the United States set by
the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).

66
 TLV
• TLV stands for Threshold Limit Value.
• It is the occupational exposure limit
established by the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
• TLV is a registered trademark of ACGIH.
• TLVs are adopted by some governments as
their legal limits.

(Contd.)
67
 TLV-TWA
[Threshold Limit Value – Time-Weighted Average]
• It is the time-weighted average concentration
of an air-borne contaminant for normal 8-
hour workday and a 40-hour work-week, to
which workers may be repeatedly exposed,
day after day, without any adverse effect on
health
• TLV-TWA values are published by ACGIH every
year.
• Unit: ppm (by vol.) or mg/m3
(Contd.)
68
 Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL)
• It is a 15-minute time-weighted average
exposure which should not be exceeded at
any time during a workday even if the 8-hour
TWA is within the threshold limit value.
• Certain conditions apply:
– Exposure at STEL not to exceed 15 minutes
– Not repeated more than 4 times in a day
– At least 1-hour interval between two successive
exposures at STEL.
(Contd.)
69
 STEL (Contd.)
• STEL = Short-Term Exposure Limit

• STELs are recommended only where toxic

effects have been reported from high short-
term exposures in either humans or animals.

(Contd.)
70
 TLV – Ceiling
• TLV-C is the concentration that should not be
exceeded during any part of the working
exposure.
• Example:
TLV-C for MEG [107-21-1] aerosol = C 100 mg/m3
(It is expressed as C 100 mg/m3.)
TLV-C for hydrogen cyanide [74-90-8] = C 4.7 ppm
TLV-C for hydrogen fluoride [7664-39-3] = C 3 ppm

(Contd.)
71
 Skin Notation
• Exposure by cutaneous route, including
mucous membrane and eyes.
• Skin notation is expressed as shown in the
following example:
Cyanides as CN = 5mg/ m3 (skin)
Hydrazine = 0.01 ppm (skin)

(Contd.)
72
 TLV-TWA for Mixtures
• When two or more air-borne hazardous
substances act upon the same organ system,
the combined effect is usually additive.
C1 C2 C3 Cn
T1 + T2 + T3 + … … + T3
< 1
Where, C1 is concentration of the substance 1, C2 that of
substance 2 and so on, whereas T1, T2, etc. represent the
corresponding TLV-TWA.
[The value of the sum should not exceed 1.]

73
 Sensitization
• Sensitization is the development, over time, of
an allergic reaction to a chemical.
• The chemical may cause a mild response on
the first few exposures but, as the allergy
develops, the response becomes worse with
subsequent exposures.
• Eventually, even short exposures to low
concentrations can cause a very severe
reaction.
(Contd.)
74
 Sensitization (Contd.)
• There are two different types of
occupational sensitization: skin and
respiratory.
• Typical symptoms of skin sensitivity
are swelling, redness, itching, pain,
and blistering.
• Sensitization of the respiratory system
may result in symptoms similar to a
severe asthmatic attack.
– These symptoms include wheezing,
difficulty in breathing, chest tightness,
coughing and shortness of breath.

75
 Odour Threshold
• The odour threshold is the lowest concentration
of a substance in air that is detectable by smell by
an average healthy person.
• Odour threshold of perception: It is the lowest
airborne concentration of a substance, which
humans can just detect, but cannot identify it
distinctly.
• Odour threshold of recognition: It is the
minimum concentration of an air-borne
substance which an average healthy person can
distinctly identify the substance form its odour.
(Contd.)
76
 Odour Threshold
• The odour threshold should only be regarded as
an estimate.
– This is because odour thresholds are commonly
determined under controlled laboratory conditions
using people trained in odour recognition.
– Odour thresholds cannot yet be accurately
determined.
• In the workplace, the ability to detect the odour
of a chemical varies from person to person and
depends on conditions such as the presence of
other odorous materials.

77
 Odour Threshold
• Odour cannot be used as a warning of unsafe
conditions since:
– workers may become used to the smell
(adaptation), or
– the chemical may numb the sense of smell (a
process called olfactory fatigue).
– However, if the odour threshold for a chemical is
well below its exposure limit, odour can be used
to warn of a problem with your respirator.

78
 Odour Threshold
• Odour threshold limit value is not very reliable
as human sensitivity varies.
• Some chemicals cannot be smelled at toxic
concentrations.
• An odour can be masked by other odours.
• Olfactory fatigue can occur and person may
not be able to detect the odour.

79
 TLV-TWA – Odour TLV – IDLH
Substance TLV-TWA Odour TLV IDLH
(ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
Ammonia 25 5 500

Toluene 50 50 2,000

EO 1 50 800

Benzene 0.5 100 2,000

VCM 5 260 DNA

Chlorine 0.5 0.1 – 3.5 25

80
 LD50
[Lethal Dose – Fifty]

• LD50 (orl, rat): That oral dose which will kill 50%
of the experimental adult animals of the same
species, both male and female, within 14 days.

• LD50 (skn, rat): That dose, which on continuous

contact for 24 hours with bare skin of the
experimental adult animals, both male and
female, will kill 50% of them within 14 days.
(Contd.)
81
 LD50 of Formulations
• The LD50 values for formulations can be
calculated as follows:
LD50 of A.I.
Formulation LD50 =
Conc. of A.I. (%w)

• Unit: mg/kg (of body-weight)

82
 LC50 (Inhalation, Acute)
• LC50 (ihl, rat): That concentration of vapour, mist
or dust in air, which on continuous inhalation by
experimental adult healthy animals, both male
and female, for one hour will kill 50% of them
within 14 days.

Note: In case of mist or dust, more than 90% of

respirable particles must be less than or equal to
10 microns.
[1 micron = 1/1000 mm]
83
 LCLo
[Lethal Concentration – Low]

• LCLo: The lowest concentration of a

substance in air (other than LC50), which
is reported to have killed humans or
animals in a given duration of time.
24 hours: Acute
>24 hours: Sub-acute / Chronic

84
 LDLo
[Lethal Dose – Low]

• LDLo: The lowest oral dose of a

substance which is reported to have
killed experimental adult animals, both
male and female, in a given duration of
time.
24 hours: Acute
>24 hours: Sub-acute / Chronic

85
 Median Tolerance Limit (TLm)
• It is a measure of aquatic toxicity.
• It is also termed as EC50 (“Effective
Concentration – Fifty”)
• It is the concentration of a toxic substance in
water which will cause abnormal behaviour,
including death in approx. 50% of the fish of a
given species, in a given time duration, in a
given type of water (fresh water/sea water).
• Unit: ppm (by wt.) or mg/l.
(Contd.)
86
 Median Tolerance Limit (TLm)
• The value of TLm (or EC50) is expressed as:

MIBC: 370ppm/24h/brain shrimp/TLm/fresh water

Toluene: 1,180 mg/l/96h/sunfish/TLm/fresh water

Sunfish
87
 IDLH
• IDLH stands for Immediately Dangerous to Life
or Health
• It is the maximum air-borne concentration of
an acutely toxic substance to which a healthy
male worker can be exposed for 30 minutes
and escape without suffering any irreversible
health-effects or escape-impairing symptoms.
• Examples: IDLH value for Chlorine = 25 ppm
IDLH value for Ammonia = 500 ppm
(Contd.)
88
 IDLH
• IDLH is defined by the US National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
as exposure to airborne contaminants that is
"likely to cause death or immediate or delayed
permanent adverse health effects or prevent
escape from such an environment."
• Examples include smoke or other poisonous
gases at sufficiently high concentrations.
(Contd.)
89
 IDLH
• In USA, the OSHA regulation
[1910.134(b)] defines IDLH
as "an atmosphere that
poses an immediate threat
to life, would cause
irreversible adverse health
effects, or would impair an
individual's ability to escape
from a dangerous
atmosphere."
(Contd.)
90
 IDLH
• IDLH values are often used to guide
the selection of breathing apparatus
that are made available to workers
or firefighters in specific situations.
• The NIOSH definition does not
include oxygen deficiency (below
19.5%v), although air-supplying
breathing apparatus is required in
that situation.
– Examples include high altitudes and
unventilated confined spaces.
(Contd.)
91
 IDLH
• The OSHA definition is broad enough to include
oxygen-deficient circumstances in the absence of
"air-borne contaminants," as well as many other
chemical, thermal, or pneumatic hazards to life or
health (e.g., pure helium, super-cooled or super-
heated air, etc.).
• OSHA also uses the broader term "impair", rather
than "prevent", with respect to the ability to
escape.
== == ==
92
 NFPA “Hazard Diamond”
• NFPA 704 is a standard maintained by the U.S.-
based National Fire protection Association
(NFPA).
• It has developed the “hazard diamond" for
hazardous chemicals and is used by emergency
personnel to quickly and easily identify the risks
posed by nearby hazardous materials.
• This is necessary to help determine what, if any,
speciality equipment should be used, procedures
followed, or precautions taken during the first
moments of an emergency response.
(Contd.)
93
 NFPA “Hazard Diamond”
• The NFPA diamond is designed to give general
hazard information for chemicals.
• Red : Fire Hazard
– 0 – Will not burn
– 1 – Must be preheated for ignition; flashpoint above 200°F
(93°C)
– 2 – Must be moderately heated for ignition, flashpoint
above 100°F (38°C)
– 3 – Ignition may occur under most ambient conditions,
flashpoint below 100°F (38°C)
– 4 – Extremely flammable and will readily disperse through
air under standard conditions, flashpoint below 73°F (23°C)
(Contd.)
94
 NFPA “Hazard Diamond”
• Blue: Health Hazard
– 0 – Hazard no greater than ordinary material
– 1 – May cause irritation; minimal residual injury
– 2 – Intense or prolonged exposure may cause
incapacitation; residual injury may occur if not
treated
– 3 – Exposure could cause serious injury even if
treated
– 4 – Exposure may cause death
(Contd.)
95
 NFPA “Hazard Diamond”
• Yellow: Reactivity Hazard
– 0 – Stable
– 1 – May become unstable at elevated
temperatures and pressures, may be mildly
water reactive
– 2 – Unstable; may undergo violent
decomposition, but will not detonate. May
form explosive mixtures with water
– 3 – Detonates with strong ignition source
– 4 – Readily detonates
(Contd.)
96
 NFPA “Hazard Diamond”
• White: Special Hazard

– OX Strong Oxidizer

– W Water Reactive

(Contd.)
97
NFPA “Hazard Diamond”

98
 Ecotoxicity
• Ecotoxicity is the
subject of study in the
field of ecotoxicology.
• Ecotoxicology is the
study of how
chemicals affect the
environment and the
organisms living in it.
(Contd.)
99
 Ecotoxicity
• Scientists who study the environment tell us
that all organisms are connected in the web of
life. Therefore, if a chemical affects some of
the organisms, other organisms in the
ecosystem may suffer since all organisms
depend on one another.

100
 Ecotoxicity
• The goal of ecotoxicity is
to understand the
concentration of
chemicals at which
organisms in the
environment will be
affected.
– This concentration should
be avoided in order to
protect the environment.
* * * * * 101
Thank you for
your attention

102