Industrial Toxicology Assignment: Formaldehyde SDS Analysis

This assignment delves into the critical aspects of industrial toxicology, focusing on the purpose and components of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). It explains who generates SDS documents, the essential information they contain (including chemical properties, hazards, and emergency procedures), and the target audience for these documents. The assignment then analyzes the Formaldehyde SDS, describing its toxicity based on LD50 values and detailing both acute and chronic exposure effects. It also examines whether the data in the Toxicology section (Section 11) supports the hazard information presented in Section 2 of the SDS, confirming the correlation between the identified hazards and the toxicological data. The analysis covers various exposure routes, including oral ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation, and their respective health consequences, such as burns and potential carcinogenic effects, as supported by research from various agencies like the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The overall goal is to understand the role of SDS in conveying crucial safety information and assessing the toxicity of specific chemicals in an industrial setting.

Running Head: Industrial Toxicology 1
Industrial toxicology
Assignment
1. Explain the purpose of a SDS. Include in your explanation who is responsible for generating
the SDS, what information must be included in the document and who is the target audience.
Answer
The purpose of the safety data sheet gives a detailed description of the physical and
chemical properties of a given product or a chemical in details such as the product chemical
ingredients and identity, physical and health hazards among others.
The manufacturer, importer or the distributor of the product or the chemical is
responsible for preparing the document and disseminating it together with the product.
A safety data sheet has very important information about a given product which includes,
toxicity, flashpoint, measures to be taken in case of accident or emergency procedure such a
spillage and leakage, storage procedures and exposure prevention measures.
The target audience of the document are the users, handlers, and storekeepers of the
product or the chemical such as the workers. It is required by law for the employer to provide the
workers and he handlers of the chemical with the safety data sheets of the product.
2. Based on the information listed on the Formaldehyde SDS (ex: LD50 values, acute and
chronic effects, etc.), how would you describe the toxicity of this material.

Industrial Toxicology 2
Answer
Acute exposure- ability of a given chemical to result in unpleasant effects soon after
coming into contact with the animal by oral ingestion, skin contact or by inhalation. Normally
this duration is in minutes, hours or even weeks but rarely does it exceed two weeks.
On the safety data sheet acute exposure results in death of the half of the victims exposed
to the formaldehyde either in gaseous or liquid form.
Oral ingestion- when tested with subjects such as the animals (rats) by orally ingesting
them with formaldehyde with a dose between 50-300 mg, there will be occurrence of death by
half on the total number of animals tested
Dermal exposure- Similarly, there will be 50% fatalities in the number of subjects tested
or exposed to a dose of 200-100mg / kg by contact with the subjects’ skin.
Inhalation - Exposure to concentration 2-10 mg / litre by breathing or inhalation through
respiratory system will result in the 50% occurrence of death on the number of the victims.
Formaldehyde causes burns in all the above ways of exposure (inhalation, oral ingestion,
and skin contact)
Chronic exposure- These are the consequential adverse health effects that occur after a
repetitive or constant administration of formaldehyde to the subject.
According to International Agency for Research on Cancer, National Toxicity Program,
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Mexico - Occupational Exposure
Limits – Carcinogens, formaldehyde is; Carcinogenic to Humans, Known Carcinogen, Known
Human Carcinogen and Suspected Human Carcinogen respectively. Formaldehyde is therefore,

Industrial Toxicology 3
causes cancer in humans after a prolonged exposure. It also, causes gene mutations in humans,
and other adverse effects in animals such as reproductive toxicity effects, gene mutations among
others.
Reproductive Effects Experiments have shown reproductive toxicity effects on laboratory
animals.
3. In the Formaldehyde SDS, does the data included in Section 11 (Toxicology) support the
information listed in sections 2 (Hazard Identification). If not, are these hazards listed?
Answer
Yes, the data included in section 11supports the information listed in section 2.
Explanation: The listed hazards in section 2 is confirmed by the results and information
obtained from section 11 on the chemical effects on the subjects (animals) after acute and
chronic exposure. These results include, skin burns, skin reactions, the genetic defects and
carcinogenic effects of the chemical as illustrated by the information from the research centers
such as International Agency for Research on Cancer, National Toxicity Program, and American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists among others.