Acetaminophen Safety Data Sheets

Acute toxicity - Category 4, Oral

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of overexposure to this compound include nausea, vomiting, cyanosis from methemoglobinemia, injury to the liver, kidneys, central nervous system and heart, circulatory collapse, drowsiness, confusion, liver tenderness, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, jaundice, acute renal failure, death due to liver necrosis, metabolic acidosis, hepatic damage and cirrhosis. Other symptoms include changes in exocrine pancreas, diarrhea, irritability, somnolence, general anesthesia, fever and hepatitis. Diaphoresis and general malaise may occur. Exposure may lead to hematological reactions and, occasionally, skin rashes and other allergic reactions. The rash is usually erythematous or urticarial, but sometimes it is more serious and may be accompanied by drug fever and mucosal lesions. Exposure to large amounts may lead to pallor, anorexia, abdominal pain, abnormalities of glucose metabolism and hepatic encephalopathy. It may also lead to epigastric pain, sweating, paresthesias of distal extremities, muscular aching, weakness, dizziness, central nervous system depression (rare), pain in the upper right quadrant, enlarged liver, oliguria, anuria, coagulation defects and myocardiopathy characterized by ST segment abnormalities, T-wave flattening and pericarditis. This compound can cause purpura, generalized bleeding and hypoglycemia. It can also cause neutropenia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and nephrotoxicity. Other symptoms may include wheezing, general discomfort, blood changes including many anemias (aplastic anemia), central nervous system stimulation, swollen tongue, rapid pulse, skin eruptions, chills, excitement, delirium, vascular collapse and convulsions. Irritation of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract may occur. ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound may be harmful by ingestion and inhalation. It may cause irritation of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. (NTP, 1992)

Flash point data for this chemical are not available; however, it is probably combustible. (NTP, 1992)

Use powder, alcohol-resistant foam, water spray, 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. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment.

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. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment.

Personal precautions: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. 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. Discharge into the environment must be avoided. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Pick up and arrange disposal without creating dust. Sweep up and shovel. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.

NO open flames. 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.

Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Keep in a dry place.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

Slightly soluble in water.

Stable under recommended storage conditions.

Not flammable or combustible.4-HYDROXYACETANILIDE is sensitive to light. Incompatible with strong oxidizers. (NTP, 1992).

no data available

Oxidizing agents

Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions. - Carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 - mouse (female) - 338 mg/kg bw.
• Inhalation: LC50 - mouse - 33 900 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 - Pimephales promelas - 814 mg/L - 96 h.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50 - Daphnia pulex - 136 mg/L - 24 h.
• Toxicity to algae: EC50 - Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (previous names: Raphidocelis subcapitata, Selenastrum capricornutum) - 134 mg/L - 72 h.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: IGC50 - Tetrahymena pyriformis - 999 mg/L - 48 h.

AEROBIC: Acetaminophen has been categorized as readily biodegradable following acclimation(1). A half-life of 20 days has been reported for acetaminophen using an activated sludge inoculum(2). Half-lives of 40 and 17 days were observed when using activated sludge inoculums acclimated to phenol(3) and cresol(4), respectively. Acetaminophen reached 94% of its theoretical BOD in 6 days using an activated sludge inoculum and the Zahn-Wellens test(5). The rate constants for non-adapted, phenol-adapted, and cresol-adapted activated sludge (sludge concentrations of 500, 10, and 50 mg/L) were 0.141X10-2, 0.713X10-3, and 0.215X10-2 1/hr, respectively(6); half-lives are 21, 40, and 13 days, respectively(SRC). Acetaminophen, present at 100 ug/L, exhibited biodegradation rates of 0.014/hr and 0.00051/hr in 5 days using Tamlya and Tsumeta River water (Japan), respectively, and the OECD 301-A river die-away test. The corresponding half-lives are 50 and 1400 hours, respectively(7).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for acetaminophen(SRC), using a log Kow of 0.46(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 acetaminophen is estimated as 21(SRC), using a log Kow of 0.46(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that acetaminophen is expected to have very high mobility in soil. The pKa of acetaminophen is 9.38(4), indicating that this compound will exist partially in the anion form in the environment and anions generally adsorb less strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5). However, low mobilty was observed in soils with a high organic content. Kd values of 46 and 36 in clayey silt and silty sand, respectively, have been reported when the test compound was applied in standard dilution(6). Kd values of 45 and 41 in clayey silt and silty sand, respectively, have been reported when acetaminophen was applied as a test sludge; the average Kd value of 42 indicated low mobility(6). Acetaminophen, present at <0.009 ug/L, was not detected in leachate water (treated effluent from a muncipal wastewater treatment facility) following a 23-day soil column leaching experiment using Mohall-Laveen sandy loam (detection limit = 0.009 ug/L)(7).

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/