Chloroprene

Excerpt from ERG Guide 131 [Flammable Liquids - Toxic; polymerization hazard]:

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

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Refer immediately for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap. Refer immediately for medical attention.

Rinse with plenty of water (remove contact lenses if easily possible). Refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately for medical attention.

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

DANGEROUS CHLOROPRENE FIRES ARE BEST EXTINGUISHED BY SHUTTING OFF THE SOURCE OF FUEL. CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICALS, AND WATER SPRAY (FOG NOZZLE) MAY BE USED AS CONTROL MEASURES.

To fight fire use alcohol foam.

/OXIDATION/...INHIBITED BY STORAGE AT LESS THAN -15 °C AND/OR BY THE ADDN OF ANTIOXIDANTS TO THE FRESH DISTILLATE.

PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Storage site should be as close as practical to lab in which carcinogens are to be used, so that only small quantities required for ... expt need to be carried. Carcinogens should be kept in only one section of cupboard, an explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer (depending on chemicophysical properties ...) that bears appropriate label. An inventory ... should be kept, showing quantity of carcinogen & date it was acquired ... Facilities for dispensing ... should be contiguous to storage area. /Chemical Carcinogens/

1. REMOVE ALL IGNITION SOURCES. 2. VENTILATE AREA OF SPILL OR LEAK. 3. FOR SMALL QUANTITIES, ABSORB ON PAPER TOWELS. EVAPORATE IN A SAFE PLACE (SUCH AS A FUME HOOD). ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR EVAPORATING VAPORS TO COMPLETELY CLEAR THE HOOD DUCTWORK. BURN THE PAPER IN A SUITABLE LOCATION AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.

PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": A high-efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) or charcoal filters can be used to minimize amt of carcinogen in exhausted air ventilated safety cabinets, lab hoods, glove boxes or animal rooms ... Filter housing that is designed so that used filters can be transferred into plastic bag without contaminating maintenance staff is avail commercially. Filters should be placed in plastic bags immediately after removal ... The plastic bag should be sealed immediately ... The sealed bag should be labelled properly ... Waste liquids ... should be placed or collected in proper containers for disposal. The lid should be secured & the bottles properly labelled. Once filled, bottles should be placed in plastic bag, so that outer surface ... is not contaminated ... The plastic bag should also be sealed & labelled. ... Broken glassware ... should be decontaminated by solvent extraction, by chemical destruction, or in specially designed incinerators. /Chemical Carcinogens/

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

Due to their high reactivity and volatility chloroprene and chloroprene containing wastes cannot be dumped. Therefore, if the chloroprene cannot be distilled, the wastes have to be destroyed in special waste incinerators. Because of the large quantities of chlorine present in exhaust gases during incineration, the flue gases have to be scrubbed. Recommendable method: Incineration. Non recommendable method: Landfill. Peer-review: Potentially polymerized and then landfilled. (Peer-review conclusions of an IRPTC expert consultation (May 1985))

Incineration, preferably after mixing with another combustible fuel. Care must be exercised to assure complete combustion to prevent the formation of phosgene. An acid scrubber is necessary to remove the halo acids produced.

LARGE QUANTITIES CAN BE COLLECTED AND ATOMIZED IN A SUITABLE COMBUSTION CHAMBER EQUIPPED WITH AN APPROPRIATE EFFLUENT GAS CLEANING DEVICE. CHLOROPRENE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER A CONFINED SPACE, SUCH AS A SEWER, BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION. SEWERS DESIGNED TO PRECLUDE THE FORMATION OF EXPLOSIVE CONCENTRATIONS OF CHLOROPRENE VAPORS ARE PERMITTED.

For more Disposal Methods (Complete) data for 2-CHLORO-1,3-BUTADIENE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Remove all ignition sources. Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: complete protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus. Ventilation. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Do NOT wash away into sewer.

Dermal

[lung & skin cancer]

PRETREATMENT WITH AROCLOR PREVENTED LIVER INJURY FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO 100 & 300 PPM OF CHLOROPRENE. LUNG NONPROTEIN SULFHYDRYL CONCN WAS NOT DECR BY CHLOROPRENE EXPOSURE OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL PRETREATED RATS.

The brain ATP levels in rats were decreased at 7-30 days after the ip injection of chloroprene (600 umol/100 g body weight). However, the simultaneous administration of alpha-tocopherol acetate (0.1 mg/100 g body weight) counteracted this effect of chloroprene. The toxicity of chloroprene depletes the endogenous alpha-tocopherol supply. Administration of exogenous alpha-tocopherol can then counteract this toxic effect of chloroprene.

Immune

Eyes, skin, respiratory system, reproductive system

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 68(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.056 atm-cu m/mole (SRC), using a fragment constant estimation method(3). The potential for volatilization of 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene from dry soil surfaces may exist(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 215 mm Hg(4). 2-Chloro-1,3-butadiene will not be susceptible to chemical hydrolysis(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 68(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 0.056 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 3 hours and 4 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 18(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of 2.53(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. 2-Chloro-1,3-butadiene is not expected to undergo chemical hydrolysis(SRC) because of the lack of hydrolyzable functional groups(3).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, which has a vapor pressure of 2.15X10+2 mm Hg at 25 °C, is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals, ozone molecules and nitrate radicals(SRC). The half-life for the reaction in air with hydroxyl radicals is estimated to be 18 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 22X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC), determined using a structure estimation method(2). The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene with ozone has been estimated as 0.12X10-17 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(2). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 10 days(SRC) at an atmospheric concentration of 7X10+11 ozone molecules per cu cm(3). The gas phase reaction of 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene with nitrate radicals may be an important atmospheric removal process in urban areas at night(4), but the rate of this reaction is not known.

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour, through the skin and by ingestion.

inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Sore throat. Headache. Dizziness. Drowsiness. Laboured breathing. Heart palpitations. Unconsciousness.

MAY BE ABSORBED! Redness. Pain. Burning sensation. See Inhalation.

Redness. Pain. Corneal damage.

See Inhalation.

irritation eyes, skin, respiratory system; anxiety, irritability; dermatitis; alopecia; reproductive effects; [potential occupational carcinogen]

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Agent Search Results page, which tabulates all of the "Standard Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies", "Developmental Studies", and "Genetic Toxicity Studies" performed with this chemical. Clicking on the "Testing Status" link will take the user to the status (i.e., in review, in progress, in preparation, on test, completed, etc.) and results of all the studies that the NTP has done on this chemical. [http://ntp-apps.niehs.nih.gov/ntp_tox/index.cfm?fuseaction=ntpsearch.searchresults&searchterm=126-99-8]

Chloroprene

Dermal

Immune

2 x 10 ^-2 mg/m^3

PERIODIC EXAMINATION. RENAL AND HEPATIC FUNCTION.

PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Whenever medical surveillance is indicated, in particular when exposure to a carcinogen has occurred, ad hoc decisions should be taken concerning ... /cytogenetic and/or other/ tests that might become useful or mandatory. /Chemical Carcinogens/

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc for 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene can be estimated to be 68(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene is expected to have high mobility in soil.

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Chloroprene is included on this list.

Section 8(a) of TSCA requires manufacturers of this chemical substance to report preliminary assessment information concerned with production, use, and exposure to EPA as cited in the preamble of the 51 FR 41329.

This action promulgates standards of performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Chloroprene is produced, as an intermediate or a final product, by process units covered under this subpart.

Listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) generally known or suspected to cause serious health problems. The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, directs EPA to set standards requiring major sources to sharply reduce routine emissions of toxic pollutants. EPA is required to establish and phase in specific performance based standards for all air emission sources that emit one or more of the listed pollutants. 2-Chloro-1,3-butadiene is included on this list.

... Substances for which a Federal Register notice has been published that included consideration of the serious health effects, including cancer, from ambient air exposure to the substance. Chloroprene is included on this list.

Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 100 lb or 45.4 kg. The toll free number of the NRC is (800) 424-8802; In the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (202) 426-2675. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40 CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b).