4-Nitrotoluene Safety Data Sheets

Acute toxicity - Category 3, Oral

Acute toxicity - Category 3, Dermal

Acute toxicity - Category 3, Inhalation

Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure, Category 2

Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term (Chronic) - Category Chronic 2

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

INHALATION, INGESTION, OR SKIN: Headache, flushed face, dizziness, dyspnea (difficult breathing), cyanosis, nausea, vomiting, muscular weakness, rapid pulse and respiration, irritability, and convulsions. (USCG, 1999)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Yields toxic oxides of nitrogen when burning. (USCG, 1999)

Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Ventilate area of spill or leak. For small quantities of liq nitrotoluene, absorb on paper towels. For small quantities of solid nitrotoluene, sweep onto paper or other suitable material. Remove to safe place (such as fume hood) & burn. Large quantities of liq nitrotoluene can be collected & atomized in suitable combustion chamber equipped with appropriate effluent gas cleaning device. Large quantities of solid nitrotoluene can be reclaimed; ... If not practical, dissolve in flammable solvent (such as alcohol) & atomize in suitable combustion chamber equipped with appropriate effluent gas cleaning device. Nitrotoluene

NO open flames. NO contact with oxidizing agents. Handling in a well ventilated place. Wear suitable protective clothing. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid formation of dust and aerosols. Use non-sparking tools. Prevent fire caused by electrostatic discharge steam.

Separated from food and feedstuffs. See Chemical Dangers. Well closed.Store in a cool. dry, well-ventilated location. Separate from acids, alkalies, oxidizing materials, and reducing agents.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

Decomposes on heating. This produces toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides. Reacts violently with strong oxidants and sulfuric acid. This generates fire and explosion hazard. Attacks some forms of plastic, rubber and coatings.

Heat contributes/ ... to instability. Nitrotoluene

Combustible when exposed to heat or flame.P-NITROTOLUENE may react violently with sodium, tetranitromethane, strong oxidizing agents , sulfuric acid and other acids. (NTP, 1992)

no data available

Decomposes on contact with strong oxidzers; strong acids; reducing agents; strong bases; ammonia, amines producing toxic fumes, causing fire and explosion hazard. Heat above 190 deg C may cause explosive decomposition. Attacks some plastics, rubbers, and coatings.

The substance decomposes on heating producing toxic fumes /of/ (nitrogen oxides).

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - rat (male/female) - > 2 250 mg/kg bw.
• Inhalation: LC50 - rat (male/female) - > 851 mg/m³ air.
• Dermal: LD50 - rat (male/female) - > 750 mg/kg bw.

Skin corrosion/irritation

Serious eye damage/irritation

Respiratory or skin sensitization

Germ cell mutagenicity

Carcinogenicity

Reproductive toxicity

STOT-single exposure

STOT-repeated exposure

Aspiration hazard

• Toxicity to fish: LC50 - Pimephales promelas - 49.7 mg/L - 96 h.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50 - Daphnia magna - ca. 4.2 mg/L - 48 h.
• Toxicity to algae: EC50 - Chlorella pyrenoidosa - 22 mg/L - 96 h.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: EC50 - other fungi: Phytium ultimum Trow. - ca. 30 mg/L - 88 h.

AEROBIC: 4-Nitrotoluene, present at 100 mg/L, reached 0.8% of its theoretical BOD in 2 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/L in the Japanese MITI test(1) which indicates the compound is not readily biodegradable(1). Two studies demonstrated that 4-nitrotoluene could be completely degraded by unacclimated sludge withing two weeks when lower concentrations of 4-nitrotoluene (10 ppm) were used(2,3). When nitrotoluene-adapted activated sludges were used as an inoculum, however, 4-nitrotoluene was almost completely degraded (~98%) within 5 days, even when higher concentrations (200 mg/L) of 4-nitrotoluene were used(4). 2-Amino-4-methylphenol has been identified as a microbial degradation product of 4-nitrotoluene(5). Using a mixed culture isolated from a contaminated soil (near an ammunition plant), 4-nitrotoluene (at initial concentrations of 5 mg/L) degraded completely in 1 to 3 days in aerobic batch and continuous reactor tests(6).

An estimated BCF of 13 was calculated for 4-nitrotoluene(SRC), using a log Kow of 2.37(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). The BCF for 4-nitrotoluene has been measured to be low in an unidentified fish and in carp (Carprinus carpio)(4,5).

A log Koc value of 2.14 (Koc = 138) was experimentally determined for 4-nitrotoluene in a single lake sediment from China(1). Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(2), the Koc of 4-nitrotoluene can be estimated to be 363(SRC). According to a classification scheme(3), the estimated and experimental Koc values suggest that 4-nitrotoluene is expected to have high to moderate mobility in soil.

no data available

Product

Contaminated packaging

no data available

no data available

Information on revision

Abbreviations and acronyms

• CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service
• ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• RID: Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail
• IMDG: International Maritime Dangerous Goods
• IATA: International Air Transportation Association
• TWA: Time Weighted Average
• STEL: Short term exposure limit
• LC50: Lethal Concentration 50%
• LD50: Lethal Dose 50%
• EC50: Effective Concentration 50%

References

• IPCS - The International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC), website: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.home
• HSDB - Hazardous Substances Data Bank, website: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/hsdb.htm
• IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer, website: http://www.iarc.fr/
• eChemPortal - The Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substances by OECD, website: http://www.echemportal.org/echemportal/index?pageID=0&request_locale=en
• CAMEO Chemicals, website: http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/search/simple
• ChemIDplus, website: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp
• ERG - Emergency Response Guidebook by U.S. Department of Transportation, website: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/library/erg
• Germany GESTIS-database on hazard substance, website: http://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gestis-stoffdatenbank/index-2.jsp
• ECHA - European Chemicals Agency, website: https://echa.europa.eu/

Other Information

Specific treatment is necessary in case of poisoning with this substance; the appropriate means with instructions must be available.Depending on the degree of exposure, periodic medical examination is suggested.