Document o90bQ8359852yRJeXKjoagJYE

38--Industrial Toxicology fining of metals Its presence and effects m this instance are overshadowed by the arsine also produced Relabvely little is known about the toxicity of stibine, but from the information available it seems to be qualitatively very like arsine Stoddard solvent is a registered commercial standard of the U S Department of Commerce for a dry cleaning solvent of specifications such that it has a flash point of 100 F, evaporates without residue, and consists of aliphatic, saturated materials and, m some formulations, 15 to 20 percent aromatics The fire hazard is about that of kerosene, but it is a more satisfactory cleaning solvent It is available under a number of trade names For discus sion of toxicity, see Heptane and Hexane. Styrene monomer (phenylethylene, vinylbenzene) is a colorless organic liquid with a characteristic disagreeable odor As either liquid or vapor, it is irritating to the eves, respiratory tract, and produces an extremely severe dermatitis The odor serves as a fairly good warning of excessive concentrations In animal experiments, both rats and guinea pigs survived exposures of 2000 ppm for seven hours without fatalities The highest concentration which can be obtained at or dinary temperatures, approximately 10,000 ppm, may be fatal in 30 to 60 minutes Styrene is flammable and also polymerizes rapidly at slightly elevated temperature and slowly at ordinary room temperature Poly merization produces heat, which in turn in creases the rate of polymerization Un checked, the reaction may become so violent as to produce a fire or explosion Commercial grades contain an inhibitor to prevent polymerization In storage, styrene should be checked occasionally to assure the presence of the proper amount of inhibitor and the absence of polymers Aside from this polymerization reaction, styrene can be handled with the precautions for a flammable organic solvent which is also a skin irritant Protective clothing should be worn to prevent skin contact Sulfur is virtually nontoxic, there is no evidence that systemic poisoning results from the mhalabon of sulfur dust Although sulfur 1170 is capable of irritating the inner surfaces of the eyelids, the dust may rarely irritate the slan Molten sulfur may contain hydrogen sulfide which is toxic m low concentrabons Solid sulfur containing hydrocarbon will, when held in the molten condibon, generate hydrogen sulfide The primary hazard m handling solid sulfur is that sulfur dust suspended in air ignites easily Sulfur chlorides. Sulfur monochlonde and sulfur dichlonde can be dealt with as idenbeal compounds insofar as their health hazards Fuming, corrosive liquids with a strong odor, they are highly irritating even in low vapor concentration Because of this odor and irri tation, they have good warning properties On contact with the skin, sulfur chlorides can cause untabon and if not removed can lead to serious untabon and bums Contact with the eyes of either liquid or vapor will produce severe damage, which may cause scars Inhalabon of the vapors may be in jurious to the lungs Exposure to the vapor can cause coughing, tears, and burning of the eyes After severe vapor exposure, pulmo nary edema may occur There are few re ported accidents because of the effecbve warn ing afforded by the irritating effect Sulfur dioxide is a pungent, lmtabng gas produced in large quanbty by the combusbon of sulfur or compounds containing sulfur Since it is water-soluble, its action is likely to be limited to untabon of mucous membranes of the upper respiratory system Endurable concentrabons can be tolerated for long periods of time without appreciable danger to health In a concentrahon range of 1 to 10 ppm, respiratory and pulse rates in crease and depth of respirahon in unacclimatized individuals decreases Acclimabzed in dividuals, working daily in concentrations in excess of 10 ppm, do not show these changes on exposure to 5 ppm Severe exposures to sulfur dioxide may re sult from loading and unloading of tank cars, rupture of cylinders, leaking lines or cylinders m a confined space, following fumigation pro cedures aboard ships, and other similar type operabons Employees who may be subject to such exposures should be provided with proper eye, respiratory, skin, and mucous