CRYOTECHNIQUES - SAFETY DATA
ABSOLUTE ETHANOL
: is a flammable liquid and should never be handled close to heat or naked flame. The vapour is heavier than air and can travel for a considerable distance along the ground to a source of ignition and flash back. Ethanol is regarded as one of the safest industrial solvents because although it possesses narcotic properties, vapour concentrations sufficient to produce narcosis are rarely, if ever, reached in a medical laboratory. Ethanol is rapidly oxidised in the body to carbon dioxide and water and does not produce permanent damage to the central nervous system.ACETIC ACID: is a corrosive substance and will cause severe damage to exposed skin. Ingestion will cause dental erosion, bronchitis and respiratory difficulties. It is an eye and mucous membrane irritant.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 20
ACETONE: is a highly flammable substance. The vapour is heavier than air and can travel along the ground for a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. Handle beneath a spark proofed fume hood. Acetone is a mild eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant and a central nervous system depressant. Persons with chronic respiratory or skin diseases are at an increased risk. Alcohol consumption will enhance the toxic effects of acetone.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 12; INHALED - Code 15; INGESTED - Code 23
AZURE B: is a thiazin dye. Little is known about the hazards associated with its use but other thiazin dyes are highly toxic, mutagens and skin and eye irritants (methylene blue, thionin and toluidine blue). Handle with care.The dye should not be handled during pregnancy.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 13; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 24
BORAX: is toxic and an eye irritant. It causes desquamation, vomiting and diarrhoea with depression of the circulatory system and resultant shock.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 30
CITRIC ACID: is a skin, eye and respiratory tract irritant and a corrosive substance. It is a combustible solid and should never be handled close to heat or a naked flame.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 4; INHALED - Code 15; INGESTED - CODE 21
COPPER SULPHATE: is an eye and skin irritant and moderately toxic when inhaled or ingested. Kidney and liver damage may result. Damage to the central nervous system has been recorded.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 15; INGESTED - Code 27
DISODIUM HYDROGEN ORTHOPHOSPHATE: is a toxic substance and can be absorbed into the body by inhalation or ingestion. It is an eye and skin irritant. Inhalation or ingestion may cause sore throat, coughing and abdominal pain. Eye and skin contact may cause redness and pain.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 21
EOSIN Y: has been reported as being carcinogenic. This has not been confirmed but eosin Y is a bromofluorescein dye and other dyes in this group (phloxine and methyl eosin) are highly toxic. Eosin Y is a skin and eye irritant.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 28
GLYCEROL: is an eye irritant, otherwise it is regarded as being safe. It is hygroscopic and prolonged skin contact can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 11; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 19.
HAEMATOXYLIN: is a natural dye and a flammable powder and should not be handled close to heat or naked flame. It is a mild irritant to eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Its toxicity has not been quantified. Handle with care.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 11; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 19
ISO PENTANE: is a flammable liquid and should never be handled close to heat or naked flame. The vapour is heavier than air and can travel along the ground for a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. It is an eye and respiratory tract irritant and a central nervous system depressant.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 12; INHALED - Code 15; INGESTED - Code 23
LIQUID NITROGEN: can cause severe burns to exposed parts of the body. A splash to the eye can cause blindness. When handling liquid nitrogen always wear full protection especially to the face. Wear thick, protective gloves, a laboratory coat or gown with long sleeves and elasticised wrist bands. Wear foot and leg protection.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 5: INHALED - Code 14: INGESTED - Code 18
METHANOL: is a flammable liquid and should never be handled close to heat or naked flame. The vapour is heavier than air and can travel for a considerable distance along the ground to a source of ignition and flash back. It has a mutagenic effect upon animals and should never be handled during pregnancy. The vapour and liquid are eye, skin and mucous membrane irritants and central nervous system depressants. They are narcotics and can cause death. The liquid defats skin and can cause dermatitis and can be absorbed through the skin in doses large enough to cause narcosis. Inhalation of 800 to 1000 ppm of vapour is sufficient to cause blindness. Exposure to 50,000 ppm for 1 to 2 hours will result in death.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 13; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 28
METHYL VIOLET: is an aminotriarylmethane dye. It is an eye irritant. This compound has not been thoroughly investigated for toxicity. Inhalation or ingestion of the powder may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 12: INHALED - Code 16: INGESTED - Code 20
METHYLENE BLUE: is a quinone-imine dye of the thiazin sub group. It is highly toxic and an eye irritant. It is also a combustible powder and should never be handled close to heat or a naked flame.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 12; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 21
OCT: is reported to be safe by the manufacturer.
EYES - Code 1: SKIN - Code 11: INHALED - Code 14: INGESTED - Code 18
PARAFORMALDEHYDE: the dust is a strong eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant and skin sensitiser. Eye contact will cause burns to the cornea. It is highly toxic when inhaled or ingested.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 12; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 24
PHENOL: is highly toxic to the central nervous system. It is rapidly absorbed through the skin and can prove fatal if treatment is not immediate. It is a strong eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant. There is a moderate fire danger when exposed to heat.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 6; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Codes 22+23
PHLOXINE: is a xanthene dye. It is highly toxic and an eye and skin irritant.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 12; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 24
PICRIC ACID: is a strong oxidising agent which reacts violently with combustible materials and reducing agents. It is toxic and can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of the vapour or ingestion of the liquid. It is an eye, skin and respiratory tract irritant, a neurotoxin and can cause convulsions. The powder is explosive when dry and should therefore always be stored under water in a container with a cork stopper.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 6; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 21
PINACYANOLE: Toxicity data for this compound is not yet available. Handle with care.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 12: INHALED - Code 15: INGESTED - Code 17
POTASSIUM CARBONATE: is an eye, skin and respiratory tract irritant. It is toxic by inhalation or ingestion causing nasal ulceration, vomiting, diarrhoea, circulatory collapse and possible death.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 12: INHALED - Code 16: INGESTED - Code 21
SODIUM CHROMATE: is a mutagen and suspected carcinogen. It should not be handled during pregnancy. It is a severe eye and respiratory tract irritant and may cause corneal and lung damage. It can be absorbed through skin in concentrations sufficient to cause toxicity, including liver and kidney damage. It is very toxic by ingestion with doses as low as 300 mg being fatal. Symptoms of toxicity include intestinal bleeding, jaundice, blood coagulation and renal failure.
EYES - Code 3: SKIN - Code 13: INHALED - Code 16: INGESTED - Code 24
SODIUM DIHYDROGEN ORTHOPHOSPHATE: is an eye and respiratory tract irritant. There is only slight toxicity if ingested, however, large amounts may cause metabolic disturbances.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 11; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 20
SODIUM THIOSULPHATE: is regarded as having a low toxicity. It is a mild irritant.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 14; INGESTED - Code 26
SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE (DRY ICE): can cause severe burns to exposed parts of the body. When handling always wear full protection especially to the face. Wear thick, protective gloves, a laboratory coat or gown with long sleeves and elasticised wrist bands.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 5: INHALED - Code 14: INGESTED - Code 18
STANNOUS CHLORIDE: is an eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant. It is moderately toxic by ingestion.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 12: INHALED - Code 15: INGESTED - Code 17
SUCROSE: No specific hazard is known.
EYES - Code 1: SKIN - Code 11: INHALED - Code 14: INGESTED - Code 18
THIONIN: is a thiazin dye. Little is known about the hazards associated with its use but other thiazin dyes are highly toxic, mutagens and skin and eye irritants (methylene blue, thionin and toluidine blue).It is an eye and respiratory tract irritant. The dye should not be handled during pregnancy. Handle with care.
EYES - Code 3; SKIN - Code 13; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 24
THYMOL: Eye contact will cause burning and possible permanent eye damage. Thymol is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin in doses large enough to cause toxicity. Inhalation and ingestion also cause toxic effects. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, feelings of suffocation, shortness of breath, circulatory collapse possibly leading to convulsions, delirium, collapse and death.
EYES - Code 2: SKIN - Code 12: INHALED - Code 16: INGESTED -
TOLUIDINE BLUE: is a quinone-imine dye which is a combustible powder and should never be handled close to heat or naked flame. It is an animal mutagen and should not be handled during pregnancy. The powder is an eye and respiratory tract irritant. Its toxicity in humans has not been quantified but it has proven to be highly toxic to laboratory animals.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 5; INHALED - Code 16; INGESTED - Code 17
XYLENE: is a moderately flammable liquid which is a mild eye and mucous membrane irritant. It is a primary skin irritant and a central nervous system depressant. It will defat skin and may cause dermatitis. Death has been caused from over exposure due to respiratory failure.
EYES - Code 2; SKIN - Code 12; INHALED - Code 15; INGESTED - Code 27