Chemical Safety Part 1 : What you don What you don’t know can hurt you
Chemical Safety Part 2. What is a physical hazard ? 
Chemical Safety Part 3. What is an MSDS?
Chemical Safety Part 4. Hazardous Chemical Protection : Implementation of Hazard Controls

Defer to UNL Virtual Manual Defer to UNL Virtual Manual Contact your Contact your Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department !

Because of the large number of chemicals in use on a campus, it is impractical to state how to properly store each
one or what potential adverse health effects each chemical may have if mishandled.
For information on a specific chemical, you should consult the container label, MSDS, your supervisor or EHS.
Contact EHS Dept. if further assistance or information is needed.

Flammable Liquids Solvents!
Flammable Liquid, Class 1A
flashpoint < 73 F, boiling point < 100 F
Ethyl Ether, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, t-Butyl methyl ether
Flammable Liquid, Class 1B
flashpoint < 73 F, boiling point > /= to 100 F
Acetone, Acetonitrile, Alcohols, Ethyl Acetate, Hexane,
Petroleum Ether, Tetrahydrofuran
Flammable Liquid, Class 1C
flashpoint > 73 F, < 100 F, no bp limits
Amyl Acetate, Xylen

Combustible Liquids Solvents!
Combustible Liquid Class II
flashpoint >/= 100 F, < 140 F, no bp limits
Dimethyl Formamide
Combustible Liquid Class IIIA
flashpoint >/= 140 F, < 200 F, no bp limits
Dimethylsulfoxide
Combustible Liquid Class IIIB
flashpoint >/= to 200 F, no bp limits
Chloroform, Methylene Chloride,
Propylene Glycol, Pump Oil

Corrosives
“A chemical that causes visible destruction of, or irreversible
alterations in, living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. “

Acids
Hydrochloric, Sulfuric,       Aqua Regia (HCl/HNO3)
Nitric, Perchloric             Acid Pirahna (H2SO4/H2O2)
Hydrofluoric              Acetic.

Bases
Sodium Hydroxide             Base Pirahana (NH4OH/H202)
Potassium Hydroxide         Ammonia

Highly Toxic Chemicals
1) LD(50) </= 50 mg/kg (oral) albino rats.
Sodium Cyanide 6.4 mg/kg
2,4 – dinitrophenol 30 mg/kg
2) LD(50)) </= 200 mg/kg (contact) albino rabbits.
Nicotine 50 mg/kg
3) LC(50) in air </= 200 ppm (gas/vapor) or
LC(50) in air </= 2 mg/l (mist/ fume/dust) inhalation albino rats.
Phosgene 3ppm

Toxic Chemicals
1) LD(50) >50 mg/kg </= 500 mg/kg (oral) rats.
Acrylamide 124 mg/kg
Formaldehyde 100 mg/kg
2) LD(50)) >200 mg/kg </= 1,000 mg/kg (contact) rabbits.
Phenol 630 mg/kg
3) LC(50) in air >200 ppm </= 2,000 ppm (gas/vapor) or
LC(50) in air >2 mg/l </= 20 mg/l (mist/ fume/dust) inhalation rats.
Hydrazine 570 ppm Hydrogen Sulfide 444 ppm
Methanethiol 675 ppm

Carcinogens
OSHA Carcinogens
4-Nitrobiphenyl,                                                     alpha-Naphthylamine,
methyl chloromethyl ether,                                3,3′-Dichlorobenzidine (and its salts)
bis-Chloromethyl ether,                                     beta-Naphthylamine,
Benzidine,                                                             4-Aminodiphenyl,
Ethyleneimine,                                                       beta-Propiolactone,
2-Acetylaminofluorene,                                     4-Dimethylaminoazo-benzene,
N-Nitrosodimethylamine,
IARC List (102 Known, 68 probable, 245 possibles)
NTP List (58 Known, 188 reasonably anticipated)

Teratogens & Mutagens

Teratogens – can cause malformations of an embryo or fetus.
Acetaldehyde, Acetonitrile, Adriamycin, Heavy Metals, Cannabis, Dimethyl
sulfoxide, Ethylene oxide, Formaldehyde, Ketamine,
d-Limonene, Methylene chloride, Naphthalene, Nicotine, Phenol, PCBs, Tinactin,
Tropacaine hydrochloride, Zinc oxide, etc.
Mutagens can cause an increase in the rate of change in genes (subsections of
the DNA of the body’s cells). These mutations (changes) can be passed along as
the cell reproduces, sometimes leading to defective cells or cancer.
Sodium azide, Ethidium bromide, Nitrous acid,
UV Radiation, Gamma and Alpha Radiation,
Transposons, Bromine and some of its compounds,
Bromouracil, Vinca Alkaloids,

Irritants & Sensitizers
“Irritant:” A chemical, which is not corrosive, but which causes a
reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical action at the
site of contact.
“Sensitizer:” A chemical that causes a substantial proportion of
exposed people or animals to develop an allergic reaction in normal
tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical