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Explanation of the Material Safety Data Sheet
The information in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is usually organized into distinct sections which may include:
- Product Identification
- Component Data
- Precautions for Safe Handing and Storage
- Physical Data
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Fire and Explosion Hazard Information
- Reactivity Information
- First Aid
- Toxicology and Health Information
- Transportation Information
- Spill and Leak Procedures
- Waste Disposal
- Additional Regulatory Status Information
- Additional Information
- Major References
Section I - Product Identification
The product name and product code are used to identify the product. The file number and revision number identify the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) itself. The chemical family or name and synonyms are given with formula when applicable. A brief use description of the product is presented along with the OSHA Hazard Classifications.
Section II -- Component Data
Most materials are evaluated to determine if they are hazardous. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a hazardous chemical refers to any chemical that presents a physical hazard if it is combustible, flammable, pyrophoric, chemically unstable, water reactive or explosive, a compressed gas, an organic peroxide or other oxidizer.
A chemical may present a health hazard if exposure could result in acute or chronic adverse health effects. This definition of a hazardous material has been adapted from the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). The reader should refer to the Standard for further details. If it has been determined that a product is not hazardous, then this is stated. If it has been determined that the product is a health hazard then all components that present a health hazard and that comprise 1% or more of the material are listed in this section. Also, any component that is a carcinogen is listed if it comprises 0.1% or more of the product. If it has been determined that the product is a physical hazard, then any component that presents a physical hazard is listed. Components in a product that the manufacturer believes are not hazardous are often referred to as inert ingredients.
Normally, the chemical name and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number are used to identify a component. CAS numbers are assigned to chemicals and mixtures by the Chemical Abstracts Service (published by the American Chemical Society) as a specific identification. Where the identity of a component is a trade secret, a descriptive name is used instead of the chemical name and a trade secret access number is given to that component. Disclosure of the identity of the trade secret component will be made to health professional upon request, subject to the conditions specified in the Standard.
Exposure limits are given for each component where these have been established. Definitions of these exposure limits follow:
The value quoted is the TWA unless another category is stated.
ACGIG TLV (Threshold Limit Value): A term used by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists to express the airborne concentration of a material to which nearly all persons can be exposed day after day without adverse effects. ACGIH expresses TLVs in three ways:
TLV-TWA: The allowable Time-Weighted Average concentration for a normal 8-hour workday of a 40-hour workweek.
TLV-STEL: The Short-Term Exposure Limit, or maximum concentration for a continuous 15-minute exposure period. A maximum of four such periods per day, with at least 60 minutes between exposure periods are allowed, provided that the daily TLV is not exceeded.
TLV-C The Ceiling exposure limit; the concentration that should not be exceeded even instantaneously.
Skin: A notation used to indicate that the stated substance may be absorbed by the skin, mucous membranes and eyes, either by air or direct contact, and that this additional exposure must be considered part of the total exposure to avoid exceeding the TLV for that substance.
OSHA PEL (Permissible Exposure limits): An exposure limit established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. May be a time-weighted average (TWA), short-term (STEL) or ceiling (C) exposure limit. A skin notation has the same meaning as for the TLV.
The Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk - Occupational Safety & Health Unit conducts or coordinates exposure monitoring for the University of Maryland. If you suspect significant exposure to chemical substances, contact (301) 405-3960 for further assistance.
Section III -- Precautions for Safe Handling and Storage
This section provides vital information for handling and storing a product. It is important that all recommendations be followed.
Section IV -- Physical Data
Knowledge of the physical properties of a substance is necessary for all safety and industrial hygiene decisions. Definitions of terms that apply to the physical data presented in this section are given below:
Freezing Point/ Melting Point: The temperature at which a substance changes state from liquid to solid or solid to liquid. For mixtures, a range may be given.
Boiling Point: The temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapor state at a given pressure. (Usually 760 mmHg, or one atmosphere.) For mixtures, the initial boiling point or the boiling range may be given. Flammable materials with low boiling points generally present special fire hazards.
Decomposition Temp: The temperature at which a substance will break down, or decompose, into smaller fragments.
Specific Gravity: The weight of a material compared to the weight of an equal volume of water; an expression of the density (or heaviness) of the material. Example: if a volume of material weighs 8 pounds, and an equal volume of water weighs 10 pounds, the material has a specific gravity of 0.8:
8 lbs/ 10 lbs = 0.8
Insoluble materials with a specific gravity of less than 1.0 may float in (or on) water. Insoluble materials with a specific gravity greater than 1.0 may sink in water. Most insoluble flammable liquids having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 will float on water, an important consideration for fire suppression.
Bulk Density: Weight of material per unit volume.
pH: A value presenting the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution.
1 ------------------------- 7 -------------------------14 Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Vapor Pressure: The pressure (usually expressed in millimeters of mercury) characteristic at any given temperature of a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid form.
Solubility in Water: 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.
Evaporation Rate: The rate at which a particular material will vaporize (evaporate) when compared to the rate of vaporization of a known material. The evaporation rate can be useful in evaluating the health and fire hazards of a material. The known material is usually either normal butyl acetate or water, with a vaporization rate designated as 1.0.
Odor Threshold: The odor threshold is the lowest concentration of a chemical in air that is detectable by smell. The ability to detect the odor of a chemical varies from person to person and depends on conditions such as the presence of other odorous materials. Odor 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.
Vapor Density (Air=1): A relative comparison of the density of the vapor compared to the density of air (Air = 1). If the vapor density is greater than 1, then the vapor is heavier than air.
Molecular Weight: The molecular weight of a chemical is the sum of the atomic weights of the atoms making up one molecule of the chemical.
Coefficient of Oil/Water Distribution: If a substance which is soluble both in oil and in water is added to a two-phase oil/water system, then the ratio of the concentration of that substance in oil to its concentration in water is called the Coefficient of Oil/Water distribution.
Section V -- Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
The proper use of personal protective equipment is of the utmost importance, and the guidelines presented in this section must be closely followed. Descriptions of specific equipment (goggles, gloves, respirators, etc.) Required for routine use are given. Use of additional protective equipment, as required for fire-fighting and for spill and leak cleanup, is outlined in Section XI.
Use of some products may require specific ventilation requirements. The following definitions apply to ventilation systems:
General Exhaust: A system for exhausting air containing contaminants from a general work area. General exhaust may be referred to as dilution ventilation.
Local Exhaust: A system for capturing and exhausting contaminants from the air at the point where the contaminants are produced (welding, grinding, sanding, other processes or operations). Typical local exhausts include the fume hood, canopy hood, slot bench, dust collector and other devices engineered to remove contaminants from workers' breathing zones.
Section VI -- Fire and Explosion Hazard Information
Most of the terms that follow are defined in 29 CFR1910.1200(c) which should be consulted for the complete text. Note that some of these same terms have different definitions for transportation information. A shortened form of the definitions follow:
Explosive: A chemical that causes an almost instantaneous release of gas and heat when subjected to certain conditions.
Incompatible Materials: Materials that react with the product or with components of the product and may destroy the structure or function of a product; cause a fire, explosion or violent reaction; or cause the release of hazardous chemicals.
Extinguishing Media: Agents which can put out fires involving the material. Common extinguishing agents are water, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, "alcohol" foam, and halogenated gases (Halons). It is important to know which extinguishers can be used so they can be made available at the worksite. Use of fire extinguishers at the University of Maryland is limited to trained employees.
Oxidizer: A material that gives up oxygen easily or can readily oxidize other materials. Examples of oxidizing agents are oxygen, chlorine and peroxide compounds. These chemicals will support a fire and are highly reactive
Pyrophoric: A substance that burns spontaneously in air at a temperature of 130°F or below.
Flammable: There are four classes of flammable chemicals as follows:
- An aerosol flammable is an aerosol which yields a flame projection exceeding 18 inches or a flashback under certain test conditions.
- A flammable gas is a gas which can ignite readily and burn rapidly or explosively.
- A flammable liquid is any liquid having a flash point below 100°F (37.8°C), with the exception of mixtures in which 99% of the components have flash points of 100°F or higher.
- A flammable solid is a solid (with certain exceptions ) that is liable to cause fire through friction, absorption of water or other reasons, or which can be ignited readily, and when ignited burns in such a manner as to create a serious hazard.
Combustible: A combustible liquid is any liquid having a flash point at or above 100°F (37.8°C), but below 200°F (93.3°C), with the exception of mixtures in which 99% of the components have flash points of 200°F or higher.
Flash Point: The temperature at which a liquid will give off enough flammable vapor to ignite in the presence of an ignition source.
There are several flash point test methods. Because flash points may vary for the same material depending on the method used, the method is indicated when the flash point is given. The methods most frequently quoted are:
- PMCC: Pensky-Martens Closed Cup -- ASTM D93
- SETA; Setaflash Closed Cup -- ASTM D3278
- TCC: Tag (Tagliabue) Closed Cup -- ASTM D56
Autoignition Temperature: The lowest temperature at which a liquid will give off enough flammable vapors and heat energy to ignite spontaneously and maintain combustion.
UEL and LEL: Upper Explosive Limit and Lower Explosive Limit (sometimes referred to as Upper and Lower Flammable Limits) are the highest concentration and lowest concentration respectively that will produce a flash of fire when an ignition source is present. At higher concentrations than the UEL, the mixture is too "rich" to burn. At concentrations lower than the LEL, the mixture is too "lean" to burn.
NFPA Rating: The National Fire Protection Association Standard System for the Identification of the Fire Hazards of Materials (NFPA 704M). The NFPA ratings provide a general idea both of the hazards and of the degree of the hazards associated with a material relative to fire protection and control. The Standard addresses the hazards under the three categories of "Health", "Flammability" and "Reactivity" and assigns numeric ratings using a scale of 0 to 4 with 0 indicating no particular hazard, and 4 the most hazardous. It should be noted that health hazard ratings refer specifically to short-term exposure under fire conditions. The Standard also includes provisions for special hazard warnings, such as water reactivity. For further details see 'Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials' -- National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.
HMIS Ratings: The Hazard Materials Identification System of the National Paint and Coatings Association. The system is similar to the NFPA Standard in utilizing a 0-4 scale, rating the degree of hazard under the same three categories of health, flammability and reactivity, with 0 being the least hazardous and 4 the most. It should be noted that unlike NFPA ratings, HMIS ratings are not intended for emergency situations. The flammability and reactivity ratings will, however, usually be the same as the NFPA ratings. The health hazard rating is based on the acute toxicity of the chemical. For further information on these ratings, see 'HMIS Rating Manual' -- National Paint and Coatings Association, Washington, DC.
Section VII -- Reactivity Information
A substance is said to be reactive if it readily enters into chemical reactions and undergoes chemical change. For SDS purposes the reactions can be grouped into three broad categories:
Decomposition - Stable/ Unstable. A substance is stable if it is resistant to decomposition or possesses the ability to remain unchanged. For SDS purposes, a material is stable if it remains in the same form under expected and reasonable conditions of use. A substance is considered unstable if it tends to suffer decomposition under these conditions. Some materials may become unstable at higher temperatures. Whenever relevant, the temperature at which a material can be said to be unstable is stated. Other conditions that may cause instability, such as shock from dropping or static electricity, are noted when applicable.
Polymerization - Hazardous Polymerization. A polymerization reaction is hazardous when it takes place at a rate that releases large amounts of energy. If hazardous polymerization can occur with a given material, the SDS usually will list conditions that could start the reaction. In addition, since the material usually contains a polymerization inhibitor, the expected time period before the inhibitor is used up is also given.
Reactions with Other Chemicals - Incompatible Materials. Materials that could cause dangerous reactions from direct contact with one another are described as incompatible. Common chemicals that react with the product are usually listed in the SDS. Hazardous products of decomposition, including combustion products, are listed.
Section VIII - First Aid
First aid procedures are described for each of the normal routes of exposure. It is important that first aid be administered as soon as possible after exposure has occurred. If in any doubt regarding the victim's condition, a physician should be called. In case of emergency, call 911 for medical assistance. Non-emergency information may be obtained from the University Health Center's Occupational Health Unit ((301) 314-8172) or Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk ((301) 405-3960).
Section IX - Toxicology and Health Information
The consequences of exposure, if any, by inhalation, skin or eye contact, or ingestion are outlined in this section. The signs, symptoms and effects that the exposure could produce are described so that any exposure would be recognized as quickly as possible and the appropriate action taken. The organs that are more susceptible to attack are referred to as target organs. The effects and damage that exposure could produce on these organs are given together with the symptoms. Some of the terms used that may be less familiar or which may have a specific inference in SDS are defined below:
Acute Effect: An adverse effect on a human or animal resulting from a single exposure with symptoms developing almost immediately after exposure. The effect is often of short duration.
Chronic Effect: An adverse effect on a human or animal body resulting from repeated low level exposure, with symptoms that develop slowly over a long period of time or that recur frequently.
Corrosive: A liquid or solid that causes visible destruction or irreversible alterations in human or animal tissue.
Irritation: An inflammatory response or reaction of the eye, skin or respiratory system.
Allergic Sensitization: A process whereby on first exposure a substance causes little or no reaction in humans or test animals, but which on repeated exposure may cause a marked response not necessarily limited to the contact site. Skin sensitization is the most common form of sensitization in the industrial setting, although respiratory sensitization is also known to occur.
Teratogen: A substance or agent to which exposure of a pregnant female can result in malformations (birth defects) to the skeleton and or soft tissue of the fetus.
Mutagen: A substance or agent capable of altering the genetic material in a living organism.
Carcinogen: A substance or agent capable of causing or producing cancer in humans or animals. Authorities/organizations that have evaluated whether or not a substance is a carcinogen are the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the U. S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) and OSHA.
Target Organ Effects: Chemically-caused effects upon organs and systems such as the liver, kidneys, nervous system, lungs, skin, and eyes from exposure to a material.
To evaluate the potential human effects from exposure to hazardous chemicals, studies in laboratory animals are performed. The terms most commonly used to define the results of the studies are as follows:
- LD50 (Lethal Dose Fifty) - The dose of a substance expected to cause the death of 50% of an experimental animal population. This dose may be from oral, dermal or other routes of exposure. The units given for the LD50 are usually milligrams per kilogram body weight of the tested animal (mg/kg).
- LC50 (Lethal Concentration Fifty) - A calculated concentration of a substance in air, exposure to which for specified length of time is expected to cause the death of 50% of a laboratory animal population. This concentration is usually in nits of milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) or milligrams per liter of air (mg/1) and is given for some time period (usually one or four hors).
Other terms occasionally used are:
- LDLO(Lethal Dose Low) - The lowest dose of substance introduced by any route other than inhalation reported to have caused death in humans or animals.
- LCLO(Lethal Concentration Low) - The lowest concentration of a substance in air that has been reported to have caused death in humans or animals.
- TDLO(Toxic Dose Low) - The lowest dose of a substance to which humans or animals have been exposed and reported to produce a toxic effect other than cancer.
Section X - Transportation Information
In the event the material is regulated as hazardous by the Dept of Transportation (DOT), the Hazardous Materials Regulations as described in the Code of Federal Regulations, 49 Chapter 1 subchapter C are outlined in the LAND portion of Section X. The IMO and IATA/ICAO regulations are also given for water and air modes respectively.
Section XI - Spill and Leak Procedures
Procedural recommendations relative to air, land and water are described.
Report all emergency campus spills/leaks by phone to 911.
The Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk - Environmental Affairs Unit is available to provide consultation and assistance for non-emergency spills and leaks. Contact (301) 405-3990 during normal working hours, or through the University Police ((301) 405-3555) during weekend or evening hours.
CHEMTREC is a national center established by the Chemical Manufacturer Association (CMA) in Washington, DC, to relay pertinent emergency information concerning specific chemicals on request. CHEMTREC has a 24-hour toll-free telephone number (800) 424-9300, intended primarily for use by those who respond to chemical transportation emergencies.
During cleanup of sills or leaks, it may be necessary to use extra personal protective equipment as compared to normal operations. Recommendations for equipment use additional to what is described in Section B are given.
Section XII - Waste Disposal
This section gives guidelines for disposing of a product if it becomes a waste. Recommendations are based upon the physical state and hazardous properties of the material. If the material is designated as hazardous by 40 CFR Part 261, it must be disposed of in a permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. If the material is non-hazardous, recommendations for disposal are made depending on the physical state and known characteristics of the material.
All University of Maryland hazardous wastes are disposed through the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk - Environmental Affairs Unit (304-405-3990).
Section XIII - Additional Regulatory Information
This section contains information relevant to compliance with other Federal and/or state laws such as TSCA, FIFRA and FDA.
Section XIV - Additional Information
Any relevant additional information is given in this section.
Section XV - Major References
This section lists some of the major references that have been consulted in preparing the Material Safety Data Sheet.
For additional information including Internet access to Safety Data Sheets, visit the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk Home Page at:
or call (301) 405-3960 for environmental, health and safety consultation services.