Document 4aBLOxZoZnpOgXom3dwEEjmJx

ELEMENTS OF INDUSTRIAL TOX1COLOCY parable to ether in intensity If kept in any large quantity, it should be stored with the precautions appropriate for ether Acetaldehyde processes should be well en closed and isolated because of its intense irritant properties It affects primarily the skin and the upper respiratory passages be cause of its relatively high solubility m water A high concentration may produce sudden death from spasm of the throat Lower concentrations produce coughmg and inflammation of the nose, throat, and eyes Paraldehyde, die solid form to which acetaldehvde polymerizes has long been used in medicine as a narcotic and soporific In this form, its irritant properties are greatly reduced and the narcotic effect can be ob served. Paraldehyde can cause chrome poi soning involving fatty degeneration of the liver and cardiac muscles, psychic disturb ances, and irritation and edema of the re spiratory system See Hygienic Cutde Acetanilide is more apt to be seen as a medication, used as an analgesic and anti pyretic, than as an industrial material It is an aromatic amine and can affect the blood hemoglobin and so interfere with respiration if it is absorbed in large quantity, particu larly if the exposure is chronic Those suf fering from chronic overdoses are apt to show severe anemia, reduced white blood cell counts, progressive weakness, and se vere headaches Acetic acid can readily penetrate the skin, producing blisters, dermatitis, and ulcers Even at room temperature, the vapor is highly irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. If acetic acid is swallowed, it produces a burning taste in the mouth and esophagus, followed by pain m the stomach which may extend rapidly over the entire abdomen. The pain and other distress may last for a few days or for several weeks, depending upon the concentration and quantity of the acid taken The signs of serious cases are vomit ing, labored, noisy breathing, coughing, then collapse. Death may follow the swallowing of two tablespoonfuls of the acid by an adult and of a few drops by children However, the lethal dose is not definitely known. Acetic add is one of the few matenals which expand on freezing, so that to pre vent breakage of containers the pure acid must be stored above its freezing point, 60F(16C) See Industrial Data Sheet 410 and Hy gienic Guide Acetic anhydride is quite stable to hydrol ysis at room temperature, so it is used m preference to acetic acid in many applica tions where the highest possible concentra tion is desired Its vapor is even more irri tating than that of acetic acid See Hygienic Guide Acetone (dimethyl ketone) is a flamma ble liquid that should be handled and stored with precautions against fire and explosion. In spite of the large quantities of acetone used m industry and its high volatility, there are no reports of serious industrial poison ing. Experimental work has shown that acetone is a narcotic Overexposure will lead to moderate irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and to headache, stupor, and a general feeling of oppression The absorbed acetone is eliminated slowly, and the symp toms are persistent There have been some severe poisonings with acetone in medical practice when it has been used as a solvent in the application of synthetic resin casts The conditions under which these incidents have occurred are such that it is not possible to tell with certainty whether the poisoning was the result of in halation of the vapor or of contact of the wet cast with the skm, but they present the definite possibility that prolonged contact of acetone with a large area of skm may be dangerous systenucally as well as directly irritating to die skm See Industrial Data Sheet 398 and Hy gienic Guide Acetone cyanohydrin can be easily hy drolyzed to free hydrogen cyanide It has the very high acute toxicity which one ex pects from cyanides A case of acute poi soning should be treated in the same manner as that outlined in detail for sodium cyanide poisoning Acetonitrile (methyl cyanide) is a color less liquid with a distinctive odor detectable at about 40 ppm It presents a moderate to severe toaaty hazard for acute or subacute exposures. 40-14