Benzonitrile Safety Data Sheets

Acute toxicity - Category 4, Oral

Acute toxicity - Category 4, Dermal

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

Benzonitrile may enter the human body by ingestion, absorption through the skin, or inhalation. The earliest symptoms of cyano compound intoxication may be weakness, headaches, confusion, and occasionally nausea and vomiting. The respiratory rate and depth will usually be increased at the beginning and at later stages become slow and gasping. Blood pressure is usually normal, especially in the mild or moderately severe cases, although the pulse rate is usually more rapid than normal. (USCG, 1999)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic hydrogen cyanide and oxides of nitrogen may form in fire. (USCG, 1999)

Use powder, AFFF, 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. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. 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. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Remove all ignition sources. Ventilate area of spill or leak. Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material adn deposit in sealed containers. it maybe nessary to contain and dispose of this chemical as a hazardous waste.

NO open flames. Above 75°C use a closed system and ventilation. 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. Well closed. Keep in a well-ventilated room.Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities: Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Hygroscopic: Handle and store under inert gas.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

Decomposes on heating and on burning. This produces toxic fumes including hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides. Reacts violently with strong acids. This produces highly toxic hydrogen cyanide. Attacks some plastics.

Stable under recommended storage conditions.

Combustible but burns with difficulty.The cyano group can be readily hydrolyzed in the presence of mineral acids to produce stable, moderately toxic benzoic acid . When heated to decomposition, it emits highly toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides and hydrogen cyanide [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 353].

no data available

Strong acids which can liberate hydrogen cyanide. Forms explosive mixture with air.

When heated to decomp it emits toxic fumes of /cyanides and nitrogen oxides/.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - rat (male/female) - 1 000.
• Inhalation: LC0 - rat (male/female) - 0.8 mg/L air.
• Dermal: LD50 - rabbit (male/female) - 1 400 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: TLm - Pimephales promelas - 116 mg/L - 24 h.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water Flea) age < or =24 hr; Conditions: freshwater, static, 20-22 deg C, pH 7.6-7.7; Concentration: 200000 ug/L for 24 hr; Effect: intoxication, immobilization /formulation
• Toxicity to algae: Scenedesmus quadricauda - 75 mg/L.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: no data available

AEROBIC: Benzonitrile , present at 100 mg/L, reached 63.4% of its theoretical BOD in 2 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/L in the Japanese MITI test(1). Other screening studies give similar results (63.4-80.8%) and benzonitrile is confirmed to be biodegradable according to the standard test of the Japanese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MITI) that employs a mixed inoculum obtained from freshwater, soil, and sludge(2-4). The theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD) for benzonitrile in Ohio River Water from Cincinnati and/or aged sewage sludge were 0, 60, 90% and/or 0, 40, 80% after 2, 5, and 12 days, respectively(5). The BOD for benzonitrile in a bench-scale activated sludge unit was measured to be 93-98%(6). The BOD for benzonitrile in river water, present at 50 ppm, was 7%(7). Benzonitrile achieved 100% degradation after 280 minutes in a phosphate buffer solution in the soil and after 500 minutes in a soil slurry(8). Benzonitrile also achieved 20% and 44% in ash and ash-amended soil slurries at 2000 minutes, respectively(8). Benzonitrile achieved 88% degradation after 8, 10, and 12.5 hours in char-amended soil, soil and washed-char-amended soil slurries(9).

An estimated BCF of 5 was calculated in fish for benzonitrile(SRC), using a measured log Kow of 1.56(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 Koc of benzonitrile is estimated as 150(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.56(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that benzonitrile is expected to have moderate mobility in soil(SRC).

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.