Phthalic acid Safety Data Sheets

Serious eye damage, 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 respiratory passages. In high concentrations, it can cause narcosis. ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound is an irritant of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract. It is narcotic in high concentrations. When heated, it decomposes to a compound which in the form of dust is an explosion hazard. Hazardous decomposition products include carbon oxides. (NTP, 1992)

This chemical is combustible. (NTP, 1992)

Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator 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: particulate filter respirator 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.

Sweep spilled substance into containers; if appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting (extra personal protection: P1 filter respirator for inert particles).

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.

Store the container tightly closed in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place. Store apart from foodstuff containers or incompatible materials.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

The solution in water is a weak acid.

no data available

Combustible when heated.Dust explosion possible if in powder or granular form, mixed with air.PHTHALIC ACID is a carboxylic acid. This chemical is sensitive to exposure to extreme heat. This compound reacts violently with nitric acid. It is incompatible with sodium nitrite. It is also incompatible with oxidizers. (NTP, 1992).

no data available

Mixtures of sodium nitrite and phthalic acid or phthalic anhydride explode violently on heating. A nitrite ester may have been produced.

When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - mouse (male/female) - > 5 000 mg/kg bw.
• Inhalation: LC50 - rat (male/female) - > 5 058 mg/m³ air.
• 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 - Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio) - 560 mg/L - 7 d.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50 - Daphnia magna - > 640 mg/L - 48 h.
• Toxicity to algae: EC0 - Desmodesmus subspicatus (previous name: Scenedesmus subspicatus) - >= 100 mg/L - 72 h.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: EC50 - Pseudomonas putida - 213 mg/L - 16 h.

AEROBIC: After an acclimation of an activated sludge inoculum for 24 days, 95% of phthalate was consumed in a respiratory test(1). Phthalic acid completely degraded in 2 days in a screening test using a soil inoculum(2). Over 99% primary degradation was obtained in the semicontinuous activated sludge test of the Soap and Detergent Association(3). Degradation by some microorganisms is impeded when phthalic acid is adsorbed on particles such as aluminum oxide(4). Five day BOD studies have shown 78% degradation of phthalic acid(5). A biodegradation rate constant for phthalic acid of 1.56/day was measured in river water corresponding to a half life of 10.7 hrs(6). A half life of 2 days was measured in sludge amended soil(7). Phthalic acid rapidly degraded in Chalmers soil (1.96% organic carbon, pH 6.0); 100% decomposition, as determined by C02 evolution, was obtained after 53 days(8). In a river die-away test using water from the Mississippi River at St Louis, phthalic acid completely disappeared in 2.5 and 5 wks at concns of 12.5 and 50 mg/L, respectively(9). In another river die-away test using Missouri River water and carboxyl-labeled 14C-phthalic acid, 66-92% mineralization was obtained in 32 days(10). Bacteria that grew aerobically on phthalic acid were found in sediment and water from the estuary of the Mississippi River indicating the potential for phthalic acid biodegradation in the marine environment(11).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated for phthalic acid(SRC), using a log Kow of 0.73(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 values were determined for an acidic forest soil (Podzol, 4.85% organic carbon, pH 2.8), an agricultural soil (Alfisol, 1.25% organic carbon, pH 6.7) and a sublimnic soil (sediment from Lake Constance, Germany, 1.58% organic carbon, pH 7.1) as 31, 2 and 2, respectively(1). According to a classification scheme(2), these Koc values suggest that phthalic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. Phthalic acid adsorbs strongly to aluminum and iron oxides via a surface ligand exchange reaction(3). Adsorptivity is sensitive to pH; for aluminum oxide the fraction absorbed is >0.8 below pH 6 and falls below 0.1 above pH 7.5(3).

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/