Salicylic acid Safety Data Sheets

Acute toxicity - Category 4, Oral

Serious eye damage, Category 1

Reproductive toxicity, Category 2

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

Inhalation of dust irritates nose and throat. Vomiting may occur spontaneously if large amounts are swallowed. Contact with eyes causes irritation, marked pain, and corneal injury which should heal. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause marked irritation or even a mild burn. (USCG, 1999)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Irritating vapors of unburned material and phenol may form in fire. Behavior in Fire: Sublimes and forms vapor or dust that may explode (USCG, 1999)

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

Personal protection: P2 filter respirator for harmful particles. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting.

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. 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 oxidants.Salicylic acid should be stored in well-closed containers. Salicylic acid collodion should be stored in tight containers at 15-30 deg C. Because the collodion is flammable, it should not be stored near heat or an open flame. Salicylic acid plaster should be stored in well-closed containers, preferably at 15-30 deg C. The Trans-Ver-Sal plaster should be stored at a temperature less than 37.8 deg C.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

The solution in water is a weak acid. Reacts with strong oxidants.

Gradually discolors in sunlight

SLIGHT WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT OF FLAME; CAN REACT WITH OXIDIZING MATERIALSDust explosion possible if in powder or granular form, mixed with air.SALICYLIC ACID is a carboxylic acid. Carboxylic acids donate hydrogen ions if a base is present to accept them. They react in this way with all bases, both organic (for example, the amines) and inorganic. Their reactions with bases, called "neutralizations", are accompanied by the evolution of substantial amounts of heat. Neutralization between an acid and a base produces water plus a salt. Carboxylic acids with six or fewer carbon atoms are freely or moderately soluble in water; those with more than six carbons are slightly soluble in water. Soluble carboxylic acid dissociate to an extent in water to yield hydrogen ions. The pH of solutions of carboxylic acids is therefore less than 7.0. Many insoluble carboxylic acids react rapidly with aqueous solutions containing a chemical base and dissolve as the neutralization generates a soluble salt. Carboxylic acids in aqueous solution and liquid or molten carboxylic acids can react with active metals to form gaseous hydrogen and a metal salt. Such reactions occur in principle for solid carboxylic acids as well, but are slow if the solid acid remains dry. Even "insoluble" carboxylic acids may absorb enough water from the air and dissolve sufficiently in it to corrode or dissolve iron, steel, and aluminum parts and containers. Carboxylic acids, like other acids, react with cyanide salts to generate gaseous hydrogen cyanide. The reaction is slower for dry, solid carboxylic acids. Insoluble carboxylic acids react with solutions of cyanides to cause the release of gaseous hydrogen cyanide. Flammable and/or toxic gases and heat are generated by the reaction of carboxylic acids with diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrides, and sulfides. Carboxylic acids, especially in aqueous solution, also react with sulfites, nitrites, thiosulfates (to give H2S and SO3), dithionites (SO2), to generate flammable and/or toxic gases and heat. Their reaction with carbonates and bicarbonates generates a harmless gas (carbon dioxide) but still heat. Like other organic compounds, carboxylic acids can be oxidized by strong oxidizing agents and reduced by strong reducing agents. These reactions generate heat. A wide variety of products is possible. Like other acids, carboxylic acids may initiate polymerization reactions; like other acids, they often catalyze (increase the rate of) chemical reactions.

no data available

Incompatability: Iron salts, spirit nitrous ether, lead acetate, iodine.

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

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - rat (male) - 891 mg/kg bw.
• Inhalation: LCLo - rat (female) - > 700 mg/m³ air (nominal).
• Dermal: LD50 - rat (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 - 1 370 mg/L - 96 h.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50 - Daphnia magna - 870 mg/L - 48 h.
• Toxicity to algae: EC50 - Desmodesmus subspicatus (previous name: Scenedesmus subspicatus) - > 100 mg/L - 72 h.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: EC10 - Pseudomonas putida - 140 mg/L - 16 h.

AEROBIC: Salicylic acid biodegraded rapidly under differing sets of agricultural practices in Pahokee muck soil(1). In October, soil planted to grass, fallow soil, and soil with sugar cane cover at 25 deg C, 43, 17 and 21%, respectively, of the radiolabeled salicylic acid was emitted as CO2/cu cm of soil/min(1). In January, 26, 7 and 11%, respectively, of the starting material was emitted as CO2/cu cm of soil/min(1).[(1) Tate RL III; Appl Environ Microbiol 37: 1085-90 (1979)] Full text: PMC243358

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated for salicylic acid(SRC), using a log Kow of 2.26(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 salicylic acid is estimated as 404(SRC), using a log Kow of 2.26(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that salicylic acid is expected to have moderate mobility in soil. The pKa of salicylic acid is 2.98(4), indicating that this compound will primarily exist 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

Volatility becomes noticeable above 50-60°C.Anyone who has shown aspirin sensitization should never come in contact with this substance.