EMS CATALOG NO: 19200 
EMS PRODUCT:  Paraformaldehyde Prill
DATE:   01/16/96
PAGE NUMBER:  One of 9


MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

The information contained herein is based on data considered
accurate. However, no warranty is expressed or implied
regarding the accuracy of these data or the results to be obtained
from the use thereof.

Electron Microscopy Sciences assumes no responsibility for
personal injury or property damage to vendees, users or
third parties caused by the material. Such vendees or users
assume all risks associated with the use of the material.


ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SCIENCES
321 MORRIS ROAD
P.O. BOX 251
FORT WASHINGTON, PA 19034 24 HOUR EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER
(215) 646-1566 CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300
_________________________________________________________________

FOR PRODUCT AND SALES INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________

CONTACT ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SCIENCES OFFICE ABOVE.

_________________________________________________________________

COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
_________________________________________________________________

PRODUCT NAME: Paraformaldehyde Prills, 95-97%

COMPONENT CAS NUMBER

Formaldehyde * 50-00-0 (**)

Paraformaldehyde * 30525-89-4  95 - 97%

Water 7732-18-5   5%
*OSHA hazardous according to 29 CFR 1910.1200
(**) Paraformaldehyde will off-gas formaldehyde.
______________________________________________________________________

HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
______________________________________________________________________

Paraformaldehyde is a white, free-flowing solid with a strong, pungent
formaldehyde odor.

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: CAUTION!
Combustible-Dust from this product can form an explosive organic
dust cloud.
POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
(Information is for paraformaldehyde unless otherwise noted)

ROUTES OF EXPOSURE: Skin, eyes, inhalation, ingestion.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
SKIN: Can cause severe injury, reddening and swelling. Sensitizer
(allergic reaction possible). Dust can cause drying, cracking
and scaling. Repeated or prolonged contact causes hardening
(tanning). May cause severe irritation.

EYES: Can cause chemical burn damage irreversible. Exposure to high
vapor concentrations, or to dust, causes irritation and tearing.

INHALATION:

Highly irritating to nasal passages. Can cause inflammation of
lining of nose, throat and lungs. Can cause pneumonia and pulmonary
edema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs). Signs and symptoms
of pulmonary edema can be delayed for several hours. May cause
sensitization of the respiratory system (allergic reaction possible).

INGESTION: Causes severe irritation and inflammation of mouth, throat
and stomach. Severe stomach pains follow with possible loss of
consciousness.

DELAYED/LONG TERM EFFECTS
CARCINOGENIC:
Formaldehyde is listed as an experimental animal carcinogen (IARC,
NTP), a probable human carcinogen (IARC), a potential cancer hazard
(OSHA), and a suspected human carcinogen (ACGIH).

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AGGRAVATED BY EXPOSURE:

Significant exposure to this chemical may adversely affect people
with chronic disease of the respiratory system, skin and/or eyes.
______________________________________________________________________

FIRST AID MEASURES
______________________________________________________________________

SKIN: Remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with
large amounts of soap and water. If irritation persists,
contact a physician.

EYES: Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Contact a 
physician immediately.

INHALATION:

Remove patient from contaminated area. If breathing has stopped
give artificial respiration, then oxygen if needed. Contact a
physician immediately.

INGESTION:

Induce vomiting of conscious patient immediately by giving two glasses
of water and pressing finger down throat. Contact a physician.
______________________________________________________________________

FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES 
______________________________________________________________________

NFPA (H, F, R): 2, 1, 0

FLAMMABLE PROPERTIES
FLASHPOINT CLOSED CU: 158.0oF (70.0oC)

UPPER EXPLOSIVE LMT: 73.0 % - In air by volume of formaldehyde gas
LOWER EXPLOSIVE LMT: 7.0 % - In air by volume of formaldehyde gas

HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION: Carbon monoxide; formaldehyde.

EXTINGUISHING MEDIA:
Use carbon dioxide or dry chemical for small fires; alcohol type
aqueous film-forming foam or water spray for large fires.

FIRE FIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Keep personnel removed from and upwind of fire. If potential for
exposure to vapors or products of combustion exists, wear full 
fire-fighting turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus
with full facepiece operated in pressure-demand or other positive
pressure mode. 
Oxidizing chemicals may accelerate the burning rate in a fire
situation.
Water spray should be used to cool fire-exposed structures and
vessels. Water spray can be used to reduce the intensity of flames
and to dilute spills to nonflammable mixture.

______________________________________________________________________

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
______________________________________________________________________

Eliminate ignition sources. Avoid eye or skin contact. Place leaking
containers in well-ventilated area with spill containment. If fire
potential exists, blanket spill with alcohol-type aqueous film-forming
foam or use water spray to disperse vapors. Contain spill to facilitate
clean-up. Clean-up methods may include absorbent materials,
vacuum truck, etc. Avoid runoff into storm sewers and ditches which
lead to natural waterways. Neutralize with ammonium hydroxide or
sodium sulfite.

Keep unnecessary people away; isolate hazard area and deny entry.
Stay upwind, keep out of low areas.

______________________________________________________________________

HANDLING AND STORAGE 
______________________________________________________________________

CAUTION: Dust from this material can form an explosive organic dust
cloud. If air is used to transfer this material, special safety design
considerations and procedures must be utilized to prevent potential
fires and explosions.

CAUTION:
Flexible intermediate bulk containers can build static electrical
charge while contents are being emptied or filled. Do not allow
contents to free fall in areas where potential flammable air-vapor
or air-dust mixtures exist. Use proper grounding procedures when
transferring. For example, use of a grounded
intermediate hopper or conveyor is recommended. Do not allow any
ungrounded conducting objects such as equipment, tools, rings, 
watches, etc. in the work area.

Store in a cool, well-ventilated area. Do not expose to temperatures
above 100oF (38oC). Keep away from heat, sparks and flame. Keep
containers closed when not in use. Use only DOT
approved containers. Use with adequate ventilation. Provide
emergency exhaust. Avoid breathing dust or vapor. Avoid contact
with eyes, skin and clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water
after handling. Decontaminate soiled clothing thoroughly.
Discard contaminated leather clothing. Do not enter storage area
unless adequately ventilated.
______________________________________________________________________

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
______________________________________________________________________

ENGINEERING CONTROLS:
General or dilution ventilation is frequently insufficient as the
sole means of controlling employee exposure. Local ventilation
is usually preferred.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT: A safety shower and eye bath should be readily
available.

SKIN: For operations where spills or splashing can occur, use chemical
protective clothing, including gloves (neoprene or
rubber) and boots.

EYES: Chemical safety goggles.

INHALATION:
Based on workplace contaminate level and working limits of the
respirator, use a respirator approved by NIOSH/MSHA. 

For formaldehyde concentrations >= 1 and <= 10 times the acceptable
level; Use air-purifying respirator with full facepiece and HEPA
particulate filters with either cartridge(s)
or canister specifically approved for protection against formaldehyde,
or a full facepiece powered air-purifying respirator fitted with
HEPA particulate filters and with either
cartridge(s) or canister specifically approved for protection 
against formaldehyde. For formaldehyde concentrations >10 and < 
100 times the acceptable level: Use Type C full facepiece supplied-air
pressure-demand or continuous-flow respirator.

For formaldehyde concentrations >= 100 times the acceptable
level or unknown concentration (such as in emergencies): Use
positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus with full
facepiece. Type C positive-pressure full face-piece supplied-air
respirator with an auxiliary positive-pressure self-contained 
breathing apparatus escape system.

For Escape: Use positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus
with full facepiece or full facepiece mask with chin 
style or front for back mounted type industrial size canister
specifically approved for protection against formaldehyde.

For total dust concentrations >= 15 mg/m3 or respirable-dust
concentrations >= 5 mg/m3: Use a respirator equipped with HEPA
or high-efficiency particulate filter.

EXPOSURE GUIDELINES:
Formaldehyde (50-00-0)

OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV HCC WEL
0.75 ppm (TWA) 0.3 ppm (CEIL) 0.75 ppm (TWA)
2 ppm (STEL) 2 ppm (STEL)

PARTICULATES:
PNOR (1) PNOC(2)
OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV
15 mg/m3 (*) 10 mg/m3
5 mg/m3 (**)

(*) Total dust PNOR = Particulates not otherwise regulated.
(**) Respirable fraction PNOC = Particulates not otherwise classified.

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) level:
Paraformaldehyde - No value established.
Formaldehyde - 20 ppm
______________________________________________________________________

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 
______________________________________________________________________

APPEARANCE: White free-flowing solid prill.
ODOR: Strong, pungent formaldehyde odor.
VAPOR PRESSURE: 1.45 MMHG @ 25oC.
VAPOR DENSITY: 1.03 - Air=1 @ 20oC. (calculated)
BOILING POINT: Does not boil. Gives off formaldehyde gas when
heated. (760 mm Hg)
MELTING POINT: 120.0oC (248.0oF) TO 170.0oC (338.0oF)
SOLUBILITY: Soluble in water at 20oC.
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 600.0 (average)
______________________________________________________________________

STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
______________________________________________________________________

CHEMICAL STABILITY: Stable.

CONDITIONS TO AVOID: Temperatures above 100oF (38oC; sparks; flame.

INCOMPATIBILITY: Caustic soda, ash and other alkalis; acids;
amines; oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and other strong
oxidizing agents.

HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: Carbon monoxide; formaldehyde vapor.

HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: Will not occur.
______________________________________________________________________

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
______________________________________________________________________

ACUTE EXPOSURE: PARAFORMALDEHYDE

Oral LD50: 680mg/kg (rats); slightly toxic to animals.

Inhalation LC50: 1070mg/M3 (rats, 4 hrs., dust); slightly toxic to
animals.

Skin: Severely irritating with necrosis to rabbit skin with a 24
hr. exposure period; slightly toxic to animals (LD50, rabbits: >2000mg/kg);
see skin sensitization information on formaldehyde.

Eye: Severely irritating with ulceration/necrosis in rabbit eyes.

REPEATED EXPOSURE:

An inhalation exposure study was conducted in rats (6hrs./day; 5 days/week;
2 weeks) with paraformaldehyde as a respirable dust at concentrations
of 23, 55 or 150 mg/M3. Formaldehyde was also present at concentrations
of 3.5, 4.7 and 18 mg/M3, respectively. Exposure was
stopped during the first week for the middle and high dose groups
due 
to high mortality. Inflammation of upper respiratory tract tissue
was noted in these groups. No treatment-related effects were observed
at
the low dose. A 6-week oral exposure study was conducted in rats
with
paraformaldehyde in drinking water at concentrations equivalent to
5, 25 or 125mg/kg/day. Other than decreases in growth and food &
water 
intake in the high dose, no significant effects were noted.

MUTAGENICITY:
Positive in the in vitro mouse lymphoma forward gene mutation 
system. Produced sister chromatid exchanges, but not chromosomal
aberrations in the mouse lymphoma in vitro system. No in invo
information.

PARAFORMALDEHYDE BREAKS DOWN IN WATER TO FORMALDEHYDE.

ACUTE EXPOSURE: FORMALDEHYDE

Oral LD50: 800mg/kg (rats; slightly toxic to animals.

Inhalation LC50: 474ppm (rats,4 hrs.); moderately toxic to animals.

Skin: Severely irritating/corrosive to rabbit skin depending on
exposure duration and concentration; moderately toxic to 
animals (LD50, rabbits: 270mg/kg); causes skin sensitization
in humans and guinea pigs.

Eye: Severely irritating to rabbit eyes. 

REPEATED EXPOSURE:
Inhalation exposure (6hrs./day;5 days/week;13 weeks) of rats resulted
in nasal tissue irritation at 10 or 20ppm, but not at 2ppm. Monkeys
exposed for 26 weeks (22hrs./day;7 days/week had
nasal irritation at 3ppm but not at 1ppm. Oral exposure of rats
to formaldehyde in the drinking water at a dose equivalent to 
82-109 mg/kg/day over a lifetime resulted in stomach tissue irritation
while a dose of 15-21 mg/kg/day was without effect.

MUTAGENICITY:
Genotoxic potential was noted in a variety of in vitro systems.
Results in vivo have been mixed probably due to the presence of
metabolic processes for detoxifying formaldehyde.

CARCINOGENICITY:

Oral-Formaldehyde was not carcinogenic in a well-conducted lifetime
drinking water study in rats at concentrations equivalent to 82-109
mg/kg/day. Dermal-Topical application on mice has not indicated carcinogenic
potential. Inhalation-Rats and mice were exposed to 2.0,to 5.6 or
14.3ppm formaldehyde for 6hrs./day, 5 days/week for 24 months. In
rats no treatment-related tumors were seen at 2ppm while at 5.6ppm
1% had nasal tumors and at 14.3ppm 43% had nasal tumors.
In mice no treatment-related tumors were seen at 2ppm or 5.6ppm while
1% had tumors at 14.3ppm. IARC: 2A, Probably carcinogenic to humans
based on limited human data and sufficient animal data).

REPRODUCTIVE/DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS:

In a developmental toxicity study with mice dosed orally by gavage
at 74, 148 or 185 mg/kg/day, no fetotoxic or teratogenic effects were
seen. In a developmental toxicity study with rats exposed via inhalation
to 2, 5 or 10ppm formaldehyde, treatment related developmental effects
were not observed. In a reproduction study, dogs received the equivalent
of 9.4 mg/kg/day of formaldehyde in feed during days 4-56 after mating
without adverse reproductive effects.

______________________________________________________________________

ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
______________________________________________________________________

ECOTOXICITY:

Aquatic toxicity studies with paraformaldehyde in fish indicate slight
acute toxicity: rainbow trout 96-hr. LC50 = 60ppm; catfish 24-hr.TLm
= 32ppm; flounder 48-hr. TLm = 100-300ppm.

Paraformaldehyde breaks down in water to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde
exhibits slight acute toxicity to various fish species. The 24-,
48-
and 96-hr.LC50 values (bluegill sunfish, trout, bass, salmon, catfish,
carp, golden orfe) are in the range 10-1000ppm. Algae and some invertebrates
appear more susceptible; e.g., acute toxicity occurs in
green algae at 0.3-0.5ppm and in the water flea (daphnids) at 2-52ppm
(24/48-hr. EC50). Formaldehyde has bactericidal properties at low
levels. (EC50, E. coli=1ppm).

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE/INFORMATION:
FORMALDEHYDE: 
The short atmospheric half-life, the low n-octanol/water partition
coefficient and the ability of animals & microorganisms to
rapidly biodegrade formaldehyde are expected to lead to its ready
removal if released into the environment.

DEGRADATION:
Formaldehyde in aqueous effluent is degraded by activated sludge
and sewage in 48-72 hrs. In a die-away test with lake water, degradation
was complete in 30 hrs. under aerobic conditions and 48 
hrs. under anaerobic conditions. Atmospheric photochemical degradation
is rapid with estimated half-lives of 19hrs. or less.

BIOACCUMULATION:
The log n-octanol/water partition coefficient is 0.35. This suggests
that formaldehyde has relatively low potential to
bioaccumulate.
______________________________________________________________________

DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
______________________________________________________________________

All notification, clean-up and disposal should be carried out in
accordance with Federal, State and local regulations. Preferred 
methods of waste disposal are incineration or biological treatment
in
Federal/State approved facility.

HAZARDOUS WASTE (40 CFR 261: No.
______________________________________________________________________

TRANSPORT INFORMATION
______________________________________________________________________

SHIPPING NAME: Paraformaldehyde
HAZARD CLASS: 4.1, Flammable Solid (9.2, Canada)
UNITED NATIONS NO.: UN2213
PACKING GROUP: III
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
GUIDE NO.: 32
DOT REPORTABLE
QUANTITY (RQ): 1000 lb/454 kg
______________________________________________________________________

REGULATORY INFORMATION
______________________________________________________________________

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65:
"Formaldehyde is known by the state of California to cause cancer."

U.S. FEDERAL REGULATIONS
TSCA: We certify that all components are either on the TSCA inventory
or qualify for an exemption.

OSHA FORMALDEHYDE STANDARD: This product is capable of emitting free
formaldehyde and is covered by the OSHA Formaldehyde Standard, 29
CFR
1910.1048.

ENVIRONMENTAL:
CERCLA: Formaldehyde (50-00-0)
Paraformaldehyde 97% (30525-89-4)
SARA 302: Formaldehyde (50-00-0)
SARA 304: Formaldehyde (50-00-0)
Paraformaldehyde 97% (30525-89-4)
SARA 311: Acute health----------------Yes
Chronic health--------------No
Fire------------------------Yes
Sudden release of pressure--No
Reactive--------------------No

WHMIS INGREDIENT DISCLOSURE LISTED COMPONENTS:
WHMIS CLASSIFICATION: Class B, Division 4; Class D, Division
1, Subdivision B.

HAZARD RATINGS
HEALTH FLAMM REACT OTHER
NFPA  2  1   0
HMIS  3  1   0   X
This information is intended solely for the use of individuals
trained in the NFPA AND HMIS systems.