Acute toxicity - Category 3, Oral
Acute toxicity - Category 3, Dermal
Skin corrosion, Sub-category 1B
Acute toxicity - Category 3, Inhalation
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, short-term (Acute) - Category Acute 1
H301 Toxic if swallowed
H311 Toxic in contact with skin
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H331 Toxic if inhaled
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
P264 Wash ... thoroughly after handling.
P270 Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/...
P260 Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P261 Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
P273 Avoid release to the environment.
P301+P316 IF SWALLOWED: Get emergency medical help immediately.
P321 Specific treatment (see ... on this label).
P330 Rinse mouth.
P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water/...
P316 Get emergency medical help immediately.
P361+P364 Take off immediately all contaminated clothing and wash it before reuse.
P301+P330+P331 IF SWALLOWED: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting.
P363 Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P391 Collect spillage.
P405 Store locked up.
P403+P233 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
P501 Dispose of contents/container to an appropriate treatment and disposal facility in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and product characteristics at time of disposal.
no data available
Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer immediately for medical attention.
Wear protective gloves when administering first aid. First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. See Notes. Refer immediately for medical attention.
Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible). Refer immediately for medical attention.
Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately for medical attention. See Notes.
Inhalation causes mucous membrane irritation. Contact with liquid causes severe irritation and burns of the eyes and irritation and burns of skin. Ingestion causes burns of mouth and stomach. (USCG, 1999)
This material is very toxic. The probable lethal oral dose is 50-500 mg/kg of body weight, between one teaspoon and one ounce, for a 150 lb. person. Chloroacetic acid is irritating to the skin, cornea, and respiratory tract and causes burns. It may severely damage skin and mucous membranes. Ingestion may interfere with essential enzyme systems and cause perforation and peritonitis. Burns to skin result in marked fluid and electrolyte loss. Death may follow if more than 3% of the skin is exposed to this material. Other health hazards include central nervous system depression, and respiratory system depression. Persons with lung diseases are at greater risk. (EPA, 1998)
Immediate first aid: Ensure that adequate decontamination has been carried out. If patient is not breathing, start artificial respiration, preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve-mask device, or pocket mask, as trained. Perform CPR as necessary. Immediately flush contaminated eyes with gently flowing water. Do not induce vomiting. If vomiting occurs, lean patient forward or place on left side (head-down position, if possible) to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration. Keep patient quiet and maintain normal body temperature. Obtain medical attention. Organic acids and related compounds
This material is extremely hazardous to health, but fire fighters may enter areas with extreme care. Full protective clothing incuding a self-contained breathing apparatus, coat, pants, gloves, boots and bands around legs, arms and waist should be provided. No skin surface should be exposed. Move container from fire area if you can do so without risk. Spray cooling water on containers that are exposed to flame until well after fire is out. This chemical may burn but does not readily ignite. Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or alcohol or foam extinguishers. Poisonous gases including chlorine and phosgene. /SRP: are produced during thermal breakdown/. If materials or contaminated runoff enter waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Notify local health and fire officials and pollution control agencies. From a secure, explosion-proof location, use water spray to cool exposed containers. If cooling streams are ineffective (venting sound increases in volume and pitch, tank discolors, or shows any signs of deforming), withdraw immediately to a secure position. If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped.
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic gases, such as hydrogen chloride, phosgene and carbon monoxide, may be generated. (USCG, 1999)
When heated to decomposition, it emits highly toxic fumes of phosgene and chlorides. Water may cause frothing if it gets below surface of the liquid and turns to steam. Flammable/poisonous gases may accumulate in tanks and hopper cars. Some of these materials may ignite combustibles, e.g., wood, paper, oil. It is corrosive to metals. Avoid heating. (EPA, 1998)
Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.
Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.
Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.
Stay upwind; keep out of low areas. Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete. Neutralize spilled materials with crushed limestone, soad ash, or lime. Waste water containing chloroacetic acid can be treated with ammonia, ammonium salts, or amines followed by separation of suspended solids. Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. Dike large spills far ahead of spill for later disposal. Ventilate area of spill or leak after clean-up is complete. It may be necessary to contain and dispose of this chemical as a hazardous waste. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection or your regional office of the federal EPA for specific recommendations. If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped.
NO open flames. NO contact with incompatible substances. See Chemical Dangers. Handling in a well ventilated place. Wear suitable protective clothing. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid formation of dust and aerosols. Use non-sparking tools. Prevent fire caused by electrostatic discharge steam.
Separated from incompatible materials and food and feedstuffs. See Chemical Dangers. Dry. Store only in original container. Well closed. Ventilation along the floor. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.Prior to working with chloroacetic acid you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from metals, combustibles, strong oxidizers, strong bases, and reducing agents. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Drums must be equipped with self-closing valves, pressure vacuum bungs, and flame arresters. Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closing containers of this chemical. Sources of ignition such as smoking and open flames are prohibited where this chemical is handled, used, or stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or explosion hazard.
TLV: 0.5 ppm as TWA; (skin); A4 (not classifiable as a human carcinogen).MAK: 2.0 mg/m3, 0.5 ppm; peak limitation category: I(2); pregnancy risk group: C
no data available
Ensure adequate ventilation. Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Set up emergency exits and the risk-elimination area.
Wear face shield or eye protection in combination with breathing protection if powder.
Protective gloves. Protective clothing.
Use local exhaust or breathing protection.
no data available
Chloroacetic acid, solution is a colorless solution of the white crystalline solid. The acid concentration can be up to 80%. It is toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. It is corrosive to metals and tissue. It is used as an herbicide, preservative and bacteriostat.
Monoclinic prisms
Characteristic penetrating odor similar to vinegar
197°C(lit.)
189°C(lit.)
Combustible. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire.
Lower flammable limit: 8.0% by volume
113°C(lit.)
Greater than 932 deg F (greater than 500 deg C).
no data available
no data available
2.16 millipascal-sec at 70 deg C, 1.32 millipascal-sec at 100 deg C, 1.30 millipascal-sec at 130 deg C
greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 68° F (NTP, 1992)
log Kow = 0.22
0.75 mm Hg ( 20 °C)
1.58
3.26 (vs air)
no data available
Decomposes on burning. This produces toxic fumes including hydrogen chloride and phosgene. The solution in water is a medium strong acid. Attacks metals. This produces a combustible/explosive gas (hydrogen - see ICSC 0001). Reacts with bases, oxidizing substances and reducing agents. This produces toxic and flammable gases. This generates toxic, fire and explosion hazard. Attacks some forms of plastic, some forms of rubber and coatings.
no data available
Combustible liquid when exposed to heat or flame.The vapour is heavier than air.These organic compounds donate hydrogen ions if a base is present to accept them. They react in this way with all bases, both organic (for example, the amines) and inorganic. Their reactions with bases, called "neutralizations", are accompanied by the evolution of substantial amounts of heat. Neutralization between an acid and a base produces water plus a salt. Soluble carboxylic acid dissociate to an extent in water to yield hydrogen ions. The pH of solutions of carboxylic acids is therefore less than 7.0. Carboxylic acids in aqueous solution and liquid or molten carboxylic acids can react with active metals to form gaseous hydrogen and a metal salt. Such reactions occur in principle for solid carboxylic acids as well, but are slow if the solid acid remains dry. Even "insoluble" carboxylic acids may absorb enough water from the air and dissolve sufficiently in it to corrode or dissolve iron, steel, and aluminum parts and containers. Carboxylic acids, like other acids, react with cyanide salts to generate gaseous hydrogen cyanide. The reaction is slower for dry, solid carboxylic acids. Flammable and/or toxic gases and heat are generated by the reaction of carboxylic acids with diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, isocyanates, mercaptans, nitrides, and sulfides. Carboxylic acids, especially in aqueous solution, also react with sulfites, nitrites, thiosulfates (to give H2S and SO3), dithionites (SO2), to generate flammable and/or toxic gases and heat. Their reaction with carbonates and bicarbonates generates a harmless gas (carbon dioxide) but still heat. Like other organic compounds, carboxylic acids can be oxidized by strong oxidizing agents and reduced by strong reducing agents. These reactions generate heat. A wide variety of products is possible. Like other acids, carboxylic acids may initiate polymerization reactions; like other acids, they often catalyze (increase the rate of) chemical reactions.
no data available
The solution in water is a strong acid. Contact with strong oxidizers, strong bases, and strong reducing agents can cause violent reactions.
Hazardous decomposition products include oxides of carbon as well as ionic or oxidized chlorine.
no data available
no data available
no data available
no data available
A4: Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of chloroacetic acid in humans or animals.
The substance is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause lung oedema, but only after initial corrosive effects on the eyes and the upper respiratory tract have become manifest. See Notes. The substance may cause effects on the metabolism. This may result in metabolic acidosis and multiple organ failure. Exposure could cause death. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.
Repeated or prolonged inhalation may cause effects on the lungs.
A harmful contamination of the air will be reached slowly on evaporation of this substance at 20°C.
AEROBIC: Chloroacetic acid, present at 100 mg/L, reached 65.0% of its theoretical BOD in 3 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/L in the Japanese MITI test(1). The test was repeated under the assumption that the test substance inhibited the sludge because only 1 replicate of 2 showed biodegradation tendency(1). After 4 weeks, 2 out of 5 replicates had degraded more than 90%, while the remaining 3 replicates had degraded more than 60%(1). CO2 evolution was 14-24% and 73% of the theoretical amount possible at a chloroacetic acid concentration of 4.5 and 9.0 mg carbon/L, respectively, after a 7 day incubation with an activated sludge inoculum(2). Chloroacetic acid was completely degraded in the closed bottle test (at 5 mg/l), the Modified OECD Screening Test (at 5 mg C/L), and the Zahn-Wellens Test (at 1000 mg/L)(3). Chloroacetic acid is degraded in laboratory biodegradation tests using sewage or acclimated sludge inocula with greater than 70-90% degradation being reported in 5-10 days(4-7,9). Degradation is increased by acclimation(7,9) and involves dechlorination(7). Mineralization occurs in river water with 73% of the chemical being converted to carbon dioxide in 8-10 days at 29 deg C(8). The biodegradability of chloroacetic acid, at 10 ppm, was measured in both river water and seawater using the cultivation method; no biodegradation was reported for both samples after a 3 day incubation(10). Based on these results, this compound was determined to be difficult to degrade(10).
An estimated BCF of 3.2 was calculated for chloroacetic acid(SRC), using a log Kow of 0.22(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).
The Koc of chloroacetic acid is estimated as 31(SRC), using a log Kow of 0.22(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that chloroacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. The pKa of chloroacetic acid is 2.87(4), indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5).
no data available
The material can be disposed of by removal to a licensed chemical destruction plant or by controlled incineration with flue gas scrubbing. Do not contaminate water, foodstuffs, feed or seed by storage or disposal. Do not discharge to sewer systems.
Containers can be triply rinsed (or equivalent) and offered for recycling or reconditioning. Alternatively, the packaging can be punctured to make it unusable for other purposes and then be disposed of in a sanitary landfill. Controlled incineration with flue gas scrubbing is possible for combustible packaging materials.
ADR/RID: UN1750 (For reference only, please check.)
IMDG: UN1750 (For reference only, please check.)
IATA: UN1750 (For reference only, please check.)
ADR/RID: CHLOROACETIC ACID SOLUTION (For reference only, please check.)
IMDG: CHLOROACETIC ACID SOLUTION (For reference only, please check.)
IATA: CHLOROACETIC ACID SOLUTION (For reference only, please check.)
ADR/RID: 6.1 (For reference only, please check.)
IMDG: 6.1 (For reference only, please check.)
IATA: 6.1 (For reference only, please check.)
ADR/RID: II (For reference only, please check.)
IMDG: II (For reference only, please check.)
IATA: II (For reference only, please check.)
ADR/RID: Yes
IMDG: Yes
IATA: Yes
no data available
no data available
After skin contact, immediately rinsing with plenty of water is needed. Alternatively, emergency baths with 3 - 5 % sodium bicarbonate can be used to submerge the exposed skin.When > 5 % of the skin surface is affected a severe and even a life-threatening intoxication may occur.Specific treatment is necessary in case of poisoning with this substance; the appropriate means with instructions must be available.Consult a poison information centre or an expert for further information.The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation are therefore essential.Immediate administration of an appropriate inhalation therapy by a doctor, or by an authorized person, should be considered.Other melting points: 63°C (alpha form), 56.2°C (beta form), 52.5°C (gamma form).Other UN numbers: 1750 Chloroacetic acid, solution; 3250 Chloroacetic acid, molten.