HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE Safety Data Sheets

Flammable solids, Category 2

Skin sensitization, Category 1

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of exposure to this compound may include irritation of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. Exposure may cause skin rash and kidney irritation. Inhalation may cause coughing and shortness of breath. It may cause corrosion of the respiratory tract. Skin contact may cause redness, pain, rashes and burns of the skin. Eye contact may cause redness, pain and blurred vision. Ingestion of this compound may cause urinary tract irritation, digestive disturbances, and severe nephritis which may be fatal. If large amounts are ingested it can cause sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, painful and frequent urination, and blood in the urine. Large oral doses can also cause gastrointestinal irritation, albuminuria, hemorrhagic cystitis, mild azotemia, gross hematuria and dysuria, with inflammatory lesions in the renal tubules, renal pelvis, and urinary bladder. It can also cause irritation of the bladder, and nausea. Repeated use can lead to skin sensitization with urticaria or dermatitis. Prolonged contact can cause smarting and reddening of the skin. It can produce an asthma-like condition. Kidney damage has been reported. ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound may be harmful by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption. It is an irritant of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and formaldehyde. (NTP, 1992)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Formaldehyde gas and ammonia may be given off when hot. (USCG, 1999)

Use water spray, foam, powder.

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and particulates adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and particulates adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

Accidental Release Measures: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all sources of ignition. Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Avoid breathing dust; Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains; Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Sweep up and shovel. Contain spillage, and then collect with an electrically protected vacuum cleaner or by wetbrushing and place in container for disposal according to local regulations. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.

NO open flames. Closed system, dust explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting. Prevent deposition of dust. 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 strong acids and strong oxidants. Dry.Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Hygroscopic. Storage class (TRGS 510): Flammable solid hazardous materials

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 and corrosive gases including formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides. The solution in water is a weak base. Reacts with strong oxidants and strong acids. Attacks aluminium and zinc.

Stable under recommended storage conditions.

Combustible.Dust explosion possible if in powder or granular form, mixed with air.HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE is hygroscopic. It is sensitive to exposure to heat. This chemical is incompatible with oxidizing agents. It is also incompatible with acids. It reacts violently with sodium peroxide. It reacts explosively with 1-bromopentaborane(9) at temperatures above 194° F. The complex with iodine deflagrates at 280° F. The 1:1 addition complex with iodoform has exploded at 352° F. It is corrosive to some metals, such as aluminum and zinc (NTP, 1992). Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Formaldehyde gas and ammonia may be given off when hot (USCG, 1999).

no data available

Incompatible materials: Strong acids, acids, strong oxidizing agents

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of formaldehyde and /nitrogen oxides/.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: no data available
• Inhalation: no data available
• Dermal: no data available

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; Species: Pimephales promelas (Fathead Minnow) 33 days, length 18.8 mm, weight 0.096 g; Conditions: freshwater, flow through, 25.2 deg C, pH 7.8, hardness 44.9 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen 5.8 mg/L; Concentration: 49800000 ug/L for 96 hr (95% confidence interval: 44600000-55600000 ug/L) /99% purity
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: no data available
• Toxicity to algae: no data available
• Toxicity to microorganisms: no data available

AEROBIC: In a closed bottle test using a secondary activated sludge inoculum, methenamine was found to be readily biodegradable with 70% biodegraded after 28 days(1). Methenamine was categorized as a synthetic organic chemical unlikely to be removed during biological sewage treatment, even after prolonged exposure of the biota(2). In a 5-day BOD test using a sewage seed, methenamine reached 2.02% of its theoretical BOD(3). Using an activated sludge inoculum, up to 87% removal of methenamine was observed after a 28 day incubation period(4). Methenamine was not degraded in the SCAS test, but it was degraded during 28-day die-away tests(5); no rates were given(SRC). Methenamine, present at 30 mg/L, reached 22% of its theoretical BOD in 2 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 100 mg/L in the Japanese MITI test(6); degradation based on TOC and other parameters was 48% suggesting an abiotic hydrolysis component of the degradation(SRC). Methenamine was degraded in various screening tests (>70% DOC, >60% ThoD), but not in activated sludge simulation tests (<25% DOC removal)(7); it was suggested that methenamine would undergo hydrolysis or auto-oxidation in the 28-day screening tests to form biodegradable products, which are not produced in sufficient quantity in 3-hour simulation tests(7). It was observed that methenamine could inhibit degradation, by lowering microbial populations, in both sewage and activated sludge tests depending on concentration(8). Various biological screening studies have observed between 28-100% degradation of methenamine(9); part (or most) of the degradation can be explained by hydrolysis to form formaldehyde and ammonia followed by biodegradation(9); the degradation rate increases with acidity(9).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for methenamine(SRC), using a log Kow of -2.18(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(2), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc for methenamine can be estimated to be about 10(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that methenamine is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of methenamine is 4.89(3), indicating that this compound will exist partially in cation form in the environment and cations generally adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(4).

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 substance may release formaldehyde.See ICSC 0695.Anyone who has shown symptoms of asthma due to this substance should avoid all further contact.The symptoms of asthma 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.