Common Name: Nitrogen Mustard CAS Number: 51-75-2 DOT Number: NONE Date: August 1988 ------------------------------------------ HAZARD SUMMARY * There are several chemicals included in the group known as Nitrogen Mustard. Find out which of these you are exposed to and request the appropriate factsheet(s). * Exposure to Nitrogen Mustard chemicals damages the bone marrow, reducing its ability to make white blood cells (reducing resistance to infections), blood platelets (increasing bleeding tendency) and even red blood cells (causing anemia). Higher exposure can cause nausea and vomiting. * Exposure to some chemicals in this group can cause liver damage, or skin rash. High exposure may cause shakes or even seizures ("fits"). IDENTIFICATION Nitrogen Mustard is a liquid with a faint odor of herring. It is used as a base for gas warfare agents. REASON FOR CITATION * Nitrogen Mustard is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by IARC, CAG and other authorities. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is a CARCINOGEN, MUTAGEN, and a TERATOGEN. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.20. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Nitrogen Mustard is a PROBABLE CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Nitrogen Mustard to potentially exposed workers. This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential and most severe health hazards that may result form exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. ------------------------------------------ HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Nitrogen Mustard: * Nitrogen Mustard is the name of a group of chemicals. Find out which specific ones) you are exposed to and request the appropriate factsheet(s). * Nitrogen Mustard chemicals attack the bone marrow, greatly reducing its ability to make white blood cells (reducing the body's resistance to infection), blood platelets (causing easier bleeding tendency both internal bleeding as well as with cuts, etc.) and even red blood cells (causing anemia and tiredness). * Higher exposure can cause nausea and vomiting, and may cause skin rash. * High exposure may cause muscle twitching, jerky movements and even seizures ("fits" like in epilepsy). Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Nitrogen Mustard and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * Nitrogen Mustard is a PROBABLY CARCINOGEN in humans. there is some evidence that it causes leukemia cancer in humans and it has been shown to cause lung, liver uterus, large intestine and leukemia cancer in animals. * Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen. Such substances may also have the potential for causing reproductive damage in humans. Reproductive Hazard * Nitrogen Mustard may be a TERATOGEN in humans since it has been shown to be a teratogen in animals. * Nitrogen Mustard may damage the testes (male reproductive glands). * Nitrogen Mustard may decrease fertility in males and females. Other Long-Term Effects * High or repeated exposure of some Nitrogen Mustard chemicals can damage the liver. MEDICAL Medical Testing Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, the following is (are) recommended: * Complete blood count, at least monthly for persons with frequent exposure. * periodic liver function tests. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.20. Mixed Exposures * Persons also exposure to other chemicals which damage the bone marrow's ability to make blood cells can have added effect from each such chemical. Conditions Made Worse By Exposure * Persons planning to have a surgical procedure or who have had an injury should immediately inform their doctor of their exposure to Nitrogen Mustard. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is sometimes necessary. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practice are recommended: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace controls are being installed), personal protective equipment may be appropriate. The following recommendations are only guidelines any may not apply to every situation. Respiratory Protection IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a written program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. ------------------------------------------ Hazard rating NJDOH NFPA FLAMMABILITY - - REACTIVITY - - ------------------------------------------ Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1-slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Nitrogen Mustard as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. ============================================ FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire department. ============================================ HANDLING AND STORAGE * PRIOR TO WORKING WITH NITROGEN MUSTARD YOU SHOULD BE TRAINED ON ITS PROPER HANDLING AND STORAGE. FIRST AID Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention [immediately]. Skin Contact * Remove contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated skin with (soap and) water. OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES Chemical Name: Ethanamine, 2-Chloro-N-(2-Chloroethel)- Other Names and Formulations: Mechlorethamine; Caryolysin; MBA; HN2; Mustine Note; Nitrogen Mustard Hydrochloride-Ethanamine; 2-Chloro-N-(2-Chloroethyl)-N- Methyl-; Hydrochloride. ------------------------------------------ Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes. ------------------------------------------ New Jersey Department of Health Right to Know Program CN 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION Nitrogen Mustard is a liquid with a faint odor of herring. It is dangerous to be near unless wearing a gas mask. It is used as a base for gas warfare agents. Nitrogen Mustard may enter the environment from industrial discharges or spills. ACUTE (SHORT-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Acute effects are seen two to four days after animals or plants come in contact with a toxic chemical substance. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the acute, short-term effects of Nitrogen Mustard to plants or aquatic life. Its use as base for gas warfare agents indicates that birds or land animals exposed to it could suffer severe acute effects, including death. CHRONIC (LONG-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Chronic toxic effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behavior. Chronic effects can be seen long after first exposure(s) to a toxic chemical. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the chronic, long-term effects of Nitrogen Mustard to aquatic life, plants, birds, or land animals. WATER SOLUBILITY Nitrogen Mustard is moderately soluble in water. Concentrations of between 1 to 1,000 milligrams will mix with a liter of water. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Nitrogen Mustard is moderately persistent in water, with a half- life of between 20 to 200 days. The half-life of a pollutant is the amount of time it takes for one-half of the chemical to be degraded. About 79% of Nitrogen Mustard will eventually end up in water; the rest will end up in the air. BIOACCUMULATION IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS Some substances increase in concentration, or bioaccumulate, in living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. These chemicals can become concentrated in the tissues and internal organs of animals and humans. The concentration of Nitrogen Mustard found in fish tissues is expected to be about the same as the average concentration of Nitrogen Mustard in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.