Synonyms: Polyoxymethylene; metaformaldehyde; paraform; formagene
CAS No.: 30525-89-4
Molecular Weight: 600
Chemical Formula: (CH2O) n
Product Codes:
J.T. Baker: S898
Mallinckrodt: 2621
Ingredient CAS No Percent Hazardous --------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------- Paraformaldehyde 30525-89-4 100% Yes
Emergency Overview
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DANGER! MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. SENSITIZER. SUSPECT CANCER HAZARD. EMITS FORMALDEHYDE WHICH MAY CAUSE CANCER. Risk of cancer depends upon duration and level of exposure. COMBUSTIBLE SOLID.
SAF-T-DATA(tm) Ratings (Provided here for your convenience)
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Health Rating: 3 - Severe (Cancer Causing)
Flammability Rating: 3 - Severe (Flammable)
Reactivity Rating: 1 - Slight
Contact Rating: 3 - Severe
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES; CLASS B EXTINGUISHER
Storage Color Code: Red (Flammable)
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Potential Health Effects
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Inhalation:
Highly irritating to upper respiratory tract. May cause inflammation of lining of nose, throat, and lungs with bronchopneumonia and edema possible from extremely irritating exposure.
Ingestion:
Causes severe irritation and inflammation of mouth, throat, and stomach. Severe stomach pains will follow with possible loss of consciousness.
Skin Contact:
Contact with dust causes drying, cracking, and scaling.
Eye Contact:
Exposure to high vapor concentrations or contact with dust causes tearing and severe irritation. Contact with dust causes severe burns.
Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged and repeated contact may cause allergic dermatitis or asthma. May harm the kidneys.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
No information found.
Inhalation:
Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician.
Ingestion:
Induce vomiting immediately as directed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Skin Contact:
In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention immediately.
Eye Contact:
Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately.
Fire:
Flash point: 70C (158F) CC
Autoignition temperature: 300C (572F)
Flammable limits in air % by volume:
lel: 7.0; uel: 73
Combustible solid.
Explosion:
Above flash point, vapor-air mixtures are explosive within flammable limits noted above. Fine dust dispersed in air in sufficient concentrations, and in the presence of an ignition source is a potential dust explosion hazard.
Fire Extinguishing Media:
Water spray, dry chemical, alcohol foam, or carbon dioxide. Water spray may be used to keep fire exposed containers cool.
Special Information:
In the event of a fire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
Remove all sources of ignition. Ventilate area of leak or spill. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment as specified in Section 8. Spills: Clean up spills in a manner that does not disperse dust into the air. Use non-sparking tools and equipment. Reduce airborne dust and prevent scattering by moistening with water. Pick up spill for recovery or disposal and place in a closed container. US Regulations (CERCLA) require reporting spills and releases to soil, water and air in excess of reportable quantities. The toll free number for the US Coast Guard National Response Center is (800) 424-8802.
Store in a tightly closed container. Protect against physical damage. Outside or detached storage is preferred. Inside storage should be in a standard flammable liquids storage room or cabinet. Separate from oxidizing materials. Storage and use areas should be No Smoking areas. Wear special protective equipment (Sec. 8) for maintenance break-in or where exposures may exceed established exposure levels. Wash hands, face, forearms and neck when exiting restricted areas. Shower, dispose of outer clothing, change to clean garments at the end of the day. Avoid cross-contamination of street clothes. Wash hands before eating and do not eat, drink, or smoke in workplace. Avoid dust formation and control ignition sources. Employ grounding, venting and explosion relief provisions in accord with accepted engineering practices in any process capable of generating dust and/or static electricity. Empty only into inert or non-flammable atmosphere. Emptying contents into a non-inert atmosphere where flammable vapors may be present could cause a flash fire or explosion due to electrostatic discharge. Containers of this material may be hazardous when empty since they retain product residues (dust, solids); observe all warnings and precautions listed for the product.
Airborne Exposure Limits:
Toxic formaldehyde gas may be produced if paraformaldehyde decomposes.
For Formaldehyde:
- OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) -
0.5 ppm (Action Level), 0.75 ppm (TWA), 2 ppm (STEL), Cancer-Suspect Agent.
- ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) -
0.3 ppm (STEL/Ceiling), A2 - Suspected human carcinogen.
Ventilation System:
A system of local and/or general exhaust is recommended to keep employee exposures below the Airborne Exposure Limits. Local exhaust ventilation is generally preferred because it can control the emissions of the contaminant at its source, preventing dispersion of it into the general work area. Please refer to the ACGIH document, Industrial Ventilation, A Manual of Recommended Practices, most recent edition, for details.
Personal Respirators (NIOSH Approved):
If the exposure limit is exceeded and engineering controls are not feasible, a full facepiece respirator with a formaldehyde cartridge may be worn up to 50 times the exposure limit or the maximum use concentration specified by the appropriate regulatory agency or respirator supplier, whichever is lowest. For emergencies or instances where the exposure levels are not known, use a full-facepiece positive-pressure, air-supplied respirator. WARNING: Air purifying respirators do not protect workers in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Irritation also provides warning.
Skin Protection:
Wear impervious protective clothing, including boots, gloves, lab coat, apron or coveralls, as appropriate, to prevent skin contact.
Eye Protection:
Use chemical safety goggles and/or full face shield where dusting or splashing of solutions is possible. Maintain eye wash fountain and quick-drench facilities in work area.
Other Control Measures:
See OSHA Standard for more information on personal protective equipment, engineering and work practice controls, medical surveillance, record keeping, and reporting requirements. (29 CFR 1910.1048)
Appearance:
White powder.
Odor:
Pungent formaldehyde odor.
Solubility:
Slightly soluble in cold water.
Density:
1.45 g/ml @ 15C (59F)
pH:
5% in water is neutral to litmus.
% Volatiles by volume @ 21C (70F):
No information found.
Boiling Point:
Slowly sublimes to formaldehyde gas.
Melting Point:
120 - 170C (248 - 338F)
Vapor Density (Air=1):
1.03
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg):
1.4 @ 25C (77F)
Evaporation Rate (BuAc=1):
No information found.
Stability:
Stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. Releases formaldehyde gas slowly as it sublimes at room temperatures.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:
May form carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde when heated to decomposition.
Hazardous Polymerization:
Will not occur.
Incompatibilities:
Caustics, strong alkalis, isocyanates, anhydrides, oxides and inorganic acids.
Conditions to Avoid:
Heat, flame, ignition sources, dusting and incompatibles.
Toxicological Data:
Paraformaldehyde: Oral rat LD50: 800 mg/kg; Inhal.rat LC50: > 170 mg/m3/1H; irritation skin rabbit: 500 mg, severe; investigated as a mutagen. Formaldehyde: Oral rat LD50: 100 mg/kg; skin rabbit LD50: 270 mg/kg; inhalation rat LC50: 203 mg/m3; investigated as a tumorigen, mutagen, reproductive effector.
Carcinogenicity:
Formaldehyde cancer status: NTP Anticipated Carcinogen; IARC Category 2A; EPA/IRIS Group B1; OSHA Cancer-Suspect Agent.
--------\Cancer Lists\------------------------------------------------------
---NTP Carcinogen---
Ingredient Known Anticipated IARC Category
------------------------------------ ----- ----------- -------------
Paraformaldehyde (30525-89-4) No No None
Environmental Fate:
No information found.
Environmental Toxicity:
No information found.
Whatever cannot be saved for recovery or recycling should be managed in an appropriate and approved waste disposal facility. Processing, use or contamination of this product may change the waste management options. State and local disposal regulations may differ from federal disposal regulations. Dispose of container and unused contents in accordance with federal, state and local requirements.
Domestic (Land, D.O.T.)
-----------------------
Proper Shipping Name: PARAFORMALDEHYDE
Hazard Class: 4.1
UN/NA: UN2213
Packing Group: III
Information reported for product/size: 3KG
International (Water, I.M.O.)
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Proper Shipping Name: PARAFORMALDEHYDE
Hazard Class: 4.1
UN/NA: UN2213
Packing Group: III
Information reported for product/size: 3KG
International (Air, I.C.A.O.)
-----------------------------
Proper Shipping Name: PARAFORMALDEHYDE
Hazard Class: 4.1
UN/NA: UN2213
Packing Group: III
Information reported for product/size: 3KG
--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 1\---------------------------------
Ingredient TSCA EC Japan Australia
----------------------------------------------- ---- --- ----- ---------
Paraformaldehyde (30525-89-4) Yes No Yes Yes
--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 2\---------------------------------
--Canada--
Ingredient Korea DSL NDSL Phil.
----------------------------------------------- ----- --- ---- -----
Paraformaldehyde (30525-89-4) Yes Yes No Yes
--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 1\----------------
-SARA 302- ------SARA 313------
Ingredient RQ TPQ List Chemical Catg.
----------------------------------------- --- ----- ---- --------------
Paraformaldehyde (30525-89-4) No No No No
--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 2\----------------
-RCRA- -TSCA-
Ingredient CERCLA 261.33 8(d)
----------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------
Paraformaldehyde (30525-89-4) 1000 No No
Chemical Weapons Convention: No TSCA 12(b): No CDTA: No
SARA 311/312: Acute: Yes Chronic: Yes Fire: Yes Pressure: No
Reactivity: No (Pure / Solid)
WARNING:
THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A CHEMICAL(S) KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER.
Australian Hazchem Code: 1[Z]
Poison Schedule: S5
WHMIS:
This MSDS has been prepared according to the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products Regulations (CPR) and the MSDS contains all of the information required by the CPR.
NFPA Ratings: Health: 3 Flammability: 1 Reactivity: 0
Label Hazard Warning:
DANGER! MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. SENSITIZER. SUSPECT CANCER HAZARD. EMITS FORMALDEHYDE WHICH MAY CAUSE CANCER. Risk of cancer depends upon duration and level of exposure. COMBUSTIBLE SOLID.
Label Precautions:
Do not breathe dust or vapor.
Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing.
Keep container closed.
Use only with adequate ventilation.
Wash thoroughly after handling.
Keep away from heat, sparks and flame.
Label First Aid:
If swallowed, induce vomiting immediately as directed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes or skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. In all cases call a physician.
Product Use:
Laboratory Reagent.
Revision Information:
No Changes.
Disclaimer:
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Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc. provides the information contained herein in good faith but makes no representation as to its comprehensiveness or accuracy. This document is intended only as a guide to the appropriate precautionary handling of the material by a properly trained person using this product. Individuals receiving the information must exercise their independent judgment in determining its appropriateness for a particular purpose. MALLINCKRODT BAKER, INC. MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN OR THE PRODUCT TO WHICH THE INFORMATION REFERS. ACCORDINGLY, MALLINCKRODT BAKER, INC. WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM USE OF OR RELIANCE UPON THIS INFORMATION.
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Prepared by: Environmental Health & Safety
Phone Number: (314) 654-1600 (U.S.A.)