Common Name: Saccharin CAS Number: 81-07-2 DOT Number: None Date: July, 1986 ----------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Saccharin can affect you when breathed in. * Saccharin is a CARCINOGEN--HANDLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. * Exposure to high levels can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. * Saccharin can cause a general allergic reaction with rash and itching. IDENTIFICATION Saccharin is a white crystalline powder or solid. It is used as a dietetic sweetener in soft drinks, juices and chewing gum. REASON FOR CITATION * Saccharin is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by NTP and CAG. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is a CANCER-CAUSING AGENT. 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 * No exposure limits have been established for this suspected carcinogen. * Saccharin 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. * A regulated, marked area should be established where Saccharin is handled, used, or stored. * Wear protective work clothing. * Wash thoroughly at the end of the work-shift. * 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 Saccharin to potentially exposed workers. This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all potential and most severe health hazards that may result from 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 Saccharin: * Exposure to high levels can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Saccharin and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard * Saccharin is a PROBABLE CARCINOGEN in humans. There is some evidence that it causes urinary tract cancer in humans and it has been shown to cause bladder 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 * There is no evidence that Saccharin affects reproduction. This is based on test results presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health from published studies. Other Long-Term Effects * Exposure to Saccharin can cause a general allergic reaction with rash and itching. Medical Testing Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, for those with frequent or potentially high exposures, the following is recommended: * Urine cytology (a special test for abnormal cells in the urine). 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. 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. In addition, the following control is recommended: * Where possible, automatically transfer Saccharin from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Saccharin should change into clean clothing promptly. * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Saccharin. * Wash any areas of the body that may have contacted Saccharin at the end of each workday, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Saccharin is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating or smoking. * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean-up. Do not dry sweep. * When vacuuming, a high efficiency particulate absolute (HEPA) filter should be used, not a standard shop vacuum. 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 and may not apply to every situation. Clothing * Avoid skin contact with Saccharin. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work. * Clothes and equipment should be vacuumed prior to removal. Eye Protection * Eye protection is included in the recommended respiratory protection. 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. * At any exposure level, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in the positive pressure mode or with a full facepiece, hood, or helmet in the continuous flow mode, or use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in pressure demand or other positive pressure mode. Common Name: Saccharin DOT Number: None DOT Emergency Guide code: CAS Number: 81-07-2 --------------------------------------- Hazard rating NJ DOH NFPA FLAMMABILITY - Not Rated REACTIVITY - Not Rated --------------------------------------- CANCER CAUSING AGENT POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE --------------------------------------- Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe FIRE HAZARDS * Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, including Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES If Saccharin is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: * Restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. * Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Saccharin 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 Saccharin you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. * A regulated, marked area should be established where Saccharin is handled, used, or stored. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool well-ventilated area. FIRST AID Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Skin Contact * Remove contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated skin with soap and water. PHYSICAL DATA Water Solubility: Slightly soluble CHEMICAL NAME 1,1-Dioxide-1,2-Benzoisothiazol-3(2H)-one ------------------------------------------ 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 Saccharin is an artificial non-caloric sweetner which has been used as a substitute for sucrose. It may enter the environment from industrial discharges, municipal waste treatment plant 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. Based on tests with the sodium salt hydrate, saccharin has slight acute toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short-term effects of saccharin to plants, birds, or land animals. 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. Based on tests with the sodium salt hydrate, saccharin has slight chronic toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long-term effects of saccharin to plants, birds, or land animals. WATER SOLUBILITY Saccharin is highly acidic and highly soluble in water. Its solubility is increased in the form of either the sodium or calcium salt. Concentrations of 1,000 milligrams and more will mix with a liter of water. DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Saccharin 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 99.9% of saccharin will eventually end up in water; the rest will end up in terrestrial soils and aquatic sediments. 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 saccharin found in fish tissues is expected to be about the same as the average concentration of saccharin in the water from which the fish was taken. SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA.