| hazard classes and categories | Flam. Liq. 2 (99.92%)Acute Tox. 4 (99.83%)Acute Tox. 4 (94.24%)Eye Irrit. 2 (99.83%)Acute Tox. 4 (95%)Acute toxicity (ingestion) - category 4Acute toxicity (dermal) - category 4Acute toxicity (inhalation) - category 4Eye damage - category 1Flammable liquid - category 2Flammable liquids - Category 2Acute toxicity (Dermal) - Category 3Acute toxicity (Inhalation: Vapours) - Category 4Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure - Category 1 (central nervous system, respiratory organs)Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure - Category 2 (haemal system, central nervous system, respiratory organs, liver, kidney)Acute toxicity (Oral) - Category 5Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2A-2BGerm cell mutagenicity - Category 2Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure - Category 1 (central nervous system, respiratory system)Specific target organ toxicity - Repeated exposure - Category 2 (central nervous system, respiratory system, kidney, blood system, liver)Flammable - 3rd degreeFlam. Liq. 2Acute Tox. 4 *Eye Irrit. 2 |
| precautionary statement codes | P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P317, P321, P330, P337+P317, P362+P364, P370+P378, P403+P235, and P501 |
| hazards summary | Acetonitrile has many uses, including as a solvent, for spinning fibers, and in lithium batteries. It is primarily found in air from automobile exhaust and manufacturing facilities. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure results in irritation of mucous membranes. Chronic (long-term) exposure results in central nervous system effects, such as headaches, numbness, and tremors. No data are available on its carcinogenic effects in humans. EPA has classified it as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.In subchronic animal studies, histopathological liver effects occur. In a human inhalation study, all five subjects detected the odor at 40 ppm, the initial concentration of the experiment. After two or three hours, some olfactory fatigue was observed. A fatality was reported in a worker who painted for 2 days in a confined space with a resin containing 30-40% acetonitrile. Cases have been reported of children developing symptoms of cyanide poisoning within hours of drinking acetonitrile-based artificial nail remover. In reproductive studies of experimental animals, acetonitrile causes fetal skeletal abnormalities. See NITRILES. |