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FILE NAME: Hercules Chemical (HERC) DATE: 1939 July 18 DOC#: HERC041 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Confidential Report on Toxic Materials from the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association ^faiimtal ijfnhii, Jlnniisl| ;uib 'JCarqucr Vssoeiatimi orneat u iM K r-iim ifT t. tim . in u m i INCORPORATED 2201 NE W YORK A V t N.W., WASHINGTON. D C I Ct - MUI DI Kt -- U tO U S tM M . Cm* ntAiu!--. . HATuet. niiu>n#u u:n*r--mi ilto * . u i n i t H ' C lt M lI L -- M. 6 6 6 0 * 1 1 # . u . i u . n I o r r iC I O r THE RRESICENT July 18, 1939 CONFIDENTIAL Not for Publication TO CLASS A VIPERS: H tnraiM.mitt,nu,*;v Ul TI I I * -- i . L iT fd , * 1 * ; t MVrVKIB--<.tCCU.9eetfitviut CCDtAL<--<ATRft?;*(,(Vl^Skt n l f l H - l . f MIRTH life M l i f l i t oivmoN*u vit.k*:r;;sT o.tsatg i.tmu ietTf Tcxic r.itjrials with their ever-present problens require our conscienticis ccr.iceretion of the fundanantal principles involved. The National Faint, Varnish also Lacquer Association is keenly interested in providing Class A rsnberc with .ia raucn information on this subject as is practicable at this tire. This in formation being confidential is not intended for general publication, - it is being sent only to the Class A group. Please respect this confidence. The vital factor concerning toxic ..aterlals is 1;o intelligently safeguard the public. People nay feel safer in buying materials whose danger they know rath.-r than r.cterials unknown to them. We trust the several phases presented herein will ba of some benefit to members in applying every precautionary erasure in .-inuficturing, in selling end in use- htre toxic: materials are likely to or oo enter a product. Toxics cna their effects is a subject very broad in scope und can* only briefly be trented in this mesoege. Children's toys, equipment, furniture, etc. are not the only consideration. Toxics - ..i.Miy compounds used in'paints or lacquers may have harmful effects if carelessly handled. Toxic materials nay enter the body through the lungs in the foru of dust, mist, vapors, or geses, through the skin, or through the mouth and stomach, material inhaled into the nose and mouth can dissolve in the saliva and be swallowed. Irritant materials way also hove & direct action upon tno skin and the mucous nuabranes of the. eyes,nose, mouth, and threat. It must be remembered that ell people do not reset in the same way when exposed to chemicals. Some may be quite seriously affected by quantities which are harmless to others. Hcnca, it follows that any one using print and allied prod ucts should provide adequate ventilation and should observe ordinary sanitary measures such as the washing of the hands and face before anting and toping the clothes clean. Dirty work clothes, including sho^s, can be on important source of skin absorption. Some of the ingredients of paints end allied products eight receive opocinl mention because of thoir specific effects, rather than because they nerely displace pari of the air or causa slight discomfort if taken into the stomach or system. The following pigments may be considered r.s toxic if thy find their vay into ^ .'.'.Ui stoavich. The imount tol.rated by the body varies with the pigment. n.ft'-*AmyrW- Ar.tiucny. Antimony cxido, Naples ycilow, or'other (intimouy " (Antimony is supposed to be considerably lois toxic than leadi N C A D 02901 N 68 / - 2- thare is much evidence tv indicate that it it a toxic octarial.) -asea of suspected antimony poisoning have been traced to the ftcconpanyinu- lc/.d, Arsenic .Ccrapounds. Paris groan or other compounds eont.-iiring arsenic. C:vVJL-a.. C-dcduc; sulfidas uii saleniJcs ore toxic, but belong to tr.a --TM **-few pi^zcnts. C h r . Chro-ctas of nil typos arc anclerstood tc be rc-l-ti.-cly texic. Cl.rordua oxides are relatively nor.-toxic. U-.c Co.-",ounag. ffnit* lerd, red lead, iitnerge, load chrorxtos (chroac ycilcw, chrooc green), or other lend piguents. f*er:urv. Red ur.d yellow oxides of tsreury or other products containing r.er*ury> - Liquids - Alcohols. The toxicity of nethyl alcohol is very veil roan. as used in lacquers, the other alcohols are relatively harmless. dsr.aol.-- This is probably tar. uiost dangerous cf all commercial solvents, but its use ir. our industry is prohably restricted to curtain paint end varnish rc.novers. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons. Carbon tetrachloride, tricolor ethylene, tutrr.chlcrothnne, uthylene uicliloride, and similar chlorinated rliph .tic hydrocarbons are said to be very d oi^erouc toxics. Chiorieu-tod rox_tic hyu.-oc rbor.a ;ra- c-id to be *ucr. terxe tinu tua corror.l.onux..g -yurocarbon itself, but some chlorinated r.rca tics are frequently tne sour of rkin troubles. Lacquer Solvents. There is scae evidence that the acetates-- -ethyl, butyl and cmyl-- arc more cr less toxic. Acotone ar.d tim ctiter ketones are relatively hrrmloss, Mc^t other solvents used to a lossr extnt are either nt-rmless in them selves, are used in such relatively smell aoounts, or arc sc slowly evaporating that they present no hazard. Methyl Alcohol. The us* of this product should be avoided. It is definitely poisonous. Solvent Naphtha. This is elso relatively non-toxic as compared to benzol, end probably less toxic than tcluvl end xylol. Tuluc1 end Xylol. In equal concentration!!, those ore said tv be more tcxic than benzol, but because they are less volatile tho actual hazard is usually less. ' N C A 0 02902 tfanufacturing Chemists* Association Legal Principles 1. A manufacturer who puts out a dangerous article or substance without occonpanying-it with u warning at> to its dangerous properties is crcir.srily liable for any damage which results from such failure tc warn. 2. A manufacturer or dealer who erroneously libels a dangerous drug with the name of a harmless substance is liable for any injury -.\i-.ich zuy te caused thereby. 3. Fail-are to comply with c statute, e.g., with respect tc labeling poisons, is usually held tc be negligence per sc or ct least eviijr.ce of negligence. . The name of the product alone nay be sufficient warning, if its na ture is very widely known or its sale is restricted to those who arc . p?45'szea tc know its nature, but even in such cases the cdvisooility of a specific warning is indicated. 5. Technical cecuracy may not be sufficient protection for the nnnufacVir-sr if he uss wcrcs which say give the purchaser the impression that his product is not -.Let it actually is. 6. A nonwnrrcnty of results is not a warning against possible dangerous results._ 7. The consumer is entitled to ruly on positive ropresentations or di rections appearing on the label unless ha knows then to oe incorrect. 8. The manufacturer is ordinarily not liable if his product is put tc a use for which it is not intended and an injury results which cculd net reasonably have been foreseen. It is often difficult, however, to know whether n particular result should have been foreseen, and the courts are apt to differ on this pcint. 9. The manufacturer or one who holds himself out tc be the manufacturer must know the qualities of his product and he cannot escape liability on the ground that he did not know it to be dangerous. 10. The general rule that a manufacturer is not liable to these not in privity of Contract with him does not apply when his product is immi nently or'inherently aangwrous. Conclusion - Ue grant that this is a very broad subject, and doubt if a concis? .wet cf roles can be established. Nevertheless, it may be aaia that our members can meet their individual problem* in safeguarding the public, including of course our own factory employees, by their sincere effort in taking advantage of every possible prcceution in the use of toxic materials in manufacturing, selling and in use. 0 Q22Q4