Heptanoic acid Safety Data Sheets

Skin corrosion, Sub-category 1B

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Extremely destructive to mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. Inhalation may be fatal as a result of spasm, inflammation and edema of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Symptoms of exposure may include burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and vomiting. (USCG, 1999)

This chemical is probably combustible. (NTP, 1992)

Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide.

Personal protection: complete protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Personal protection: complete protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus.

Collect and arrange disposal. Keep the chemical in suitable and closed containers for disposal. Remove all sources of ignition. Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment. Adhered or collected material should be promptly disposed of, in accordance with appropriate laws and regulations.

NO open flames. See Chemical Dangers. 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 bases and food and feedstuffs.Separated from bases, food and feedstuffs.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

Slightly soluble in water.

no data available

CombustibleHEPTANOIC ACID reacts exothermically with bases. Can react, particularly if moist, with active metals to form gaseous hydrogen and a metal salt. Such reactions are slow if the acid remains dry. Corrodes or dissolves iron, steel, and aluminum parts and containers under ordinary conditions. Reacts with cyanide salts to generate gaseous hydrogen cyanide, particuarly if moist. May generate flammable and/or toxic gases with diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrides, and sulfides. Reacts with sulfites, nitrites, thiosulfates (to give H2S and SO3), dithionites (SO2), to generate flammable and/or toxic gases and heat. Reacts exothermically with carbonates and bicarbonates to generate a harmless gas (carbon dioxide). Can be oxidized exothermically by strong oxidizing agents and reduced exothermically by strong reducing agents. A wide variety of products is possible. May initiate polymerization reactions; may catalyze chemical reactions.

no data available

no data available

When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - rat (male/female) - 8 370 mg/kg bw. Remarks:SD +/- 1203 mg/kg.
• Inhalation: LC50 - rat (male/female) - > 4.6 mg/L air (analytical).
• Dermal: LD50 - rabbit (male/female) - > 2 000 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 - > 92 mg/L - 96 h. Remarks:/ subjective assessments were also made on the type and incidence of sub-lethal effects compared with control fish.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50 - Daphnia magna - 859.6 mg/L - 48 h.
• Toxicity to algae: EC50 - Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (previous names: Raphidocelis subcapitata, Selenastrum capricornutum) - 61.2 mg/L - 72 h.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: EC10 - Pseudomonas putida - > 1 000 mg/L - 17 h.

AEROBIC: Heptanoic acid reached 44, 61, 54, and 58% of its theoretical BOD after 2, 5, 10, and 30 days, respectively, using a domestic sewage inoculum and a heptanoic acid concn of 3.1 ppm(1). Heptanoic acid, present at an initial concn of 500 ppm, was degraded 24.6, 36.1, and 49.2% of its theoretical BOD after 72 hours, by activated sludge obtained from three different treatment plants(2). In a Warburg test using an activated sludge inoculum acclimated to phenol, heptanoic acid, present at a concn of 500 ppm, reached 27% of its theoretical BOD after 12 hours(3). A 99% BOD reduction was observed for heptanoic acid after 16 days using an activated sludge system operated under semi-continuous conditions(4). In Warburg respirometer tests using an activated sludge seed, heptanoic acid, present at a concn of 500 ppm, reached 12.8, 25.4, and 42.6% of its theoretical oxygen demand after 6, 12, and 24 hours incubation, respectively(5). A total organic carbon removal ratio of 96% was observed for heptanoic acid using a non-acclimated activated sludge and an initial heptanoic acid concn of 100 mg total organic carbon/L(6).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for heptanoic acid(SRC), using a log Kow of 2.42(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 undissociated heptanoic acid is estimated as 490(SRC), using a log Kow of 2.42(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that undissociated heptanoic acid is expected to have moderate mobility in soil. The pKa of heptanoic acid is 4.8(4), indicating that this compound will exist almost entirely in anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5).

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

The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation are therefore essential.Isolate contaminated clothing by sealing in a bag or other container.