High Hazard Chemical Information

SELECT CARCINOGENS

Select carcinogens are substances that meet any of the following criteria:

1. Regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen. These chemicals, with their unique Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) numbers in parentheses, are:

• Acrylonitirle (107-13-1)
• Arsenic (7440-38-2) and inorganic arsenic compounds
• Asbestos (1332-21-4), including Amosite (12172-73-5),
• Chrysotile (12001-29-5), and Crocidolite (12001-28-4)
• Benzene (71-43-2)
• Cadmium (7440-43-9) and cadmium compounds
• Coal tar pitch volatiles (8007-4-2)
• Coke oven emissions
• 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (96-12-8)
• Ethylene dibromide (106-93-4)
• Ethylene oxide (75-21-8)
• Formaldehyde (50-00-0) (including paraformaldehyde [30525-89-41])
• 4,4'-Methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (101-14-4)
• 4,4'-Methylenedianiline (107-77-9)
• Vinyl chloride (75-01-4)
• Carcinogens with specific laboratory activity regulations:
  • 2-Acetylaminofluorene (53-96-3)
  • 2-Aminodiphenyl (92-67-1)
  • Benzidine (92-87-2) (and its salts)
  • bis-Chloromethyl ether (542-88-1)
  • 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine (91-94-1) (and its salts)
  • 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene (60-11-7)
  • Ethyeneimine (151-56-4)
  • Methyl chloromethyl ether (107-30-2)
  • alpha-Naphthylamine (134-32-7)
  • beta-Naphthylamine (91-59-8)
  • 4-Nitrobiphenyl (92-93-3)
  • N-Nitrosodimethylamine (62-75-9)
  • beta-Propiolactone (57-57-8)

2. Listed under the category "known to be carcinogens" in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicological Program (NTP) (latest edition); or

1. Listed under Group 1 ("Carcinogenic to humans") by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs (latest editions); or

1. Listed in either Group 2A or 2B by IARC or under the category "reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens" by the NTP, and cause statistically significant tumor incidence in experimental animals in accordance with any of the following criteria:

• Inhalation exposure of 6-7 hr/day, 5 days/wk, for significant portion of a lifetime to airborne concentrations of less than 10 milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m³); or
• Repeated skin application of less than 300 mg/kg body weight per week; or
• Oral doses less than 50 mg/kg body weight per day.

REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS

Reproductive toxins are chemicals that adversely affect the reproductive process. These toxins include mutagens that can cause chromosomal damage and teratogens, the effects of which include retarded fetal growth, birth defects, fetal malformations, and fetal death.

Knowledge of how chemicals affect reproductive health is in its preliminary stage. It has been only since 1973 that manufacturers were required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to test chemicals other than drugs for their effects on reproductive health.

Although a few well-controlled studies have been conducted, the evidence for most chemicals is limited to case reports or to studies done on a small group of exposed people after a problem emerged. Of approximately 55,000 chemical substances and mixtures in commercial production (not including drugs, pesticides, and food additives), only a limited number have been tested thoroughly on animals for reproductive effects.

Sources of information about chemicals that pose a risk to human reproduction include:

• The chemical list generated pursuant to the State of California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). This list includes chemicals known to the State of California to cause reproductive toxicity.
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for those chemicals.
• The Environmental Health and Safety Department.

ACUTELY TOXIC SUBSTANCES

Acutely toxic substances produce adverse effects when exposed individuals receive only small doses of that substance for a short period of time. (Hydrogen fluoride, for example) Substances with a high degree of acute toxicity include, but are not limited to:

• Toxic and highly toxic gases; or
• All substances with a median oral lethal dose (LD₅₀) in rats of less than 50 mg/kg body weight.

Information concerning lethal doses and other measures of acute toxicity for particular substances is available on the MSDS for a particular substance, from the manufacturer or the Environmental Health and Safety Department.