Common Name: tert-BUTYL ACETATE

CAS Number: 540-88-5 RTK Substance number: 1786

DOT Number: UN 1123 Date: September 1987 Revision: December 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAZARD SUMMARY
* tert-Butyl Acetate can affect you when breathed in. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health
* Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Repeated or problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational
prolonged exposure can cause drying and cracking of the diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you.
skin. * ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.31 ppm.
* Breathing tert-Butyl Acetate can irritate the nose, throat * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite
and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of broad. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as
breath. a warning of potentially hazardous exposures.
* Overexposure can cause headache, dizziness, lightheaded-
ness, and even cause you to pass out. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
* tert-Butyl Acetate may cause a skin allergy. If allergy OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit
develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a (PEL) is 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour
skin rash. workshift.
* tert-Butyl Acetate is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a
FIRE HAZARD. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is
200 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift.
IDENTIFICATION
tert-Butyl Acetate is a colorless liquid with a fruity odor. It ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is
is used as a solvent and gasoline additive. 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift.
REASON FOR CITATION WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
* tert-Butyl Acetate is on the Hazardous Substance List * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust
DOT, NIOSH, NFPA and EPA. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be
* This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance worn.
List because it is FLAMMABLE. * Wear protective work clothing.
* Definitions are provided on page 5. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to tert-Butyl
Acetate and at the end of the workshift.
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
EXPOSED addition, as part of an ongoing education and training
The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers effort, communicate all information on the health and
to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public safety hazards of tert-Butyl Acetate to potentially
employers to provide their employees with information and exposed workers.
training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The
federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200,
requires private employers to provide similar training and
information to their employees.

* 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 1910.1020.
 tert-BUTYL ACETATE page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal
potential and most severe health hazards that may result from right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020.
exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the
substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
any of the potential effects described below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at
the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also
Acute Health Effects reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is
immediately or shortly after exposure to tert-Butyl Acetate: sometimes necessary.

* Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider:
* Breathing tert-Butyl Acetate can irritate the nose, throat (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the
and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether
breath. harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls
* Overexposure can cause headache, dizziness, lightheaded- should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when
ness, and even cause you to pass out. significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible.

Chronic Health Effects In addition, the following controls are recommended:

The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at
some time after exposure to tert-Butyl Acetate and can last * Where possible, automatically pump liquid tert-Butyl
for months or years: Acetate from drums or other storage containers to process
containers.
Cancer Hazard * Before entering a confined space where tert-Butyl
* According to the information presently available to the Acetate may be present, check to make sure that an
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, explosive concentration does not exist.
tert-Butyl Acetate has not been tested for its ability to
cause cancer in animals. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous
exposures. The following work practices are recommended:
Reproductive Hazard
* According to the information presently available to the * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by tert-
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Butyl Acetate should change into clean clothing promptly.
tert-Butyl Acetate has not been tested for its ability to * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by
affect reproduction. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of
exposure to tert-Butyl Acetate.
Other Long-Term Effects * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate
* Repeated or prolonged exposure can cause drying and work area for emergency use.
cracking of the skin. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency
* tert-Butyl Acetate may cause a skin allergy. If allergy shower facilities should be provided.
develops, very low future exposure can cause itching and a * On skin contact with tert-Butyl Acetate, immediately
skin rash. wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the
workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have
MEDICAL contacted tert-Butyl Acetate, whether or not known skin
contact has occurred.
Medical Testing * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where tert-Butyl Acetate is
If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be
following is recommended: swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking,
smoking, or using the toilet.
* Evaluation by a qualified allergist, including careful
exposure history and special testing, may help diagnose PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
skin allergy.
WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN
Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for
present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs
damage already done are not a substitute for controlling done only once in a while, or jobs done while
exposure. workplace
 tert-BUTYL ACETATE page 3 of 6

controls are being installed), personal protective equipment * tert-Butyl Acetate is not compatible with OXIDIZING
may be appropriate. AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES,
PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES,
OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG
appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and
to train employees on how and when to use protective NITRIC); and STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM
equipment. HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE).
* Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may area.
not apply to every situation. * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are
prohibited where tert-Butyl Acetate is used, handled, or
Clothing stored.
* Avoid skin contact with tert-Butyl Acetate. Wear * Metal containers involving the transfer of tert-Butyl
solvent-resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment Acetate should be grounded and bonded.
suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially
the most protective glove/clothing material for your when opening and closing containers of tert-Butyl
operation. Acetate.
* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear)
should be clean, available each day, and put on before QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
work.
* ACGIH recommends Polyvinyl Alcohol and Silver Shield Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic
as protective materials. health effects?
A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result
Eye Protection from repeated exposures to a chemical.
* Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles
when working with liquids. Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short-
* Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with term effects?
corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated
exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to
Respiratory Protection make you immediately sick.
IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS.
Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been
written program that takes into account workplace conditions, exposed to chemicals?
requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is
medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is
determined by the length of time and the amount of
* Where the potential exists for exposure over 200 ppm, use material to which someone is exposed.
a MSHA/NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with
an organic vapor cartridge. Increased protection is Q: When are higher exposures more likely?
obtained from full facepiece powered-air purifying A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include
respirators. physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring,
* Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas
MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full such as open containers), and "confined space"
facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small
pressure mode. For increased protection use in rooms, etc.).
combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing
apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for
pressure mode. community residents?
* Exposure to 1,500 ppm is immediately dangerous to life A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in
and health. If the possibility of exposure above 1,500 cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those
ppm exists, use a MSHA/NIOSH approved self-contained found in the workplace. However, people in the
breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a community may be exposed to contaminated water as
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This
may be a problem for children or people who are already
ill.
HANDLING AND STORAGE

* Prior to working with tert-Butyl Acetate you should be

trained on its proper handling and storage.
tert-BUTYL ACETATE page 4 of 6

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
The following information is available from:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

Occupational Health Service
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
(609) 984-1863
(609) 292-5677 (fax)

Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/

Industrial Hygiene Information

Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions
regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust
ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good
hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment
including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret
the results of industrial hygiene survey data.

Medical Evaluation
If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to
chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the
Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational
Health Service, who can help you find the information you
need.

Public Presentations
Presentations and educational programs on occupational
health or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor
unions, trade associations and other groups.

Right to Know Information Resources

The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer
questions about the identity and potential health effects of
chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health,
references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the
Right to Know survey, education and training programs,
labeling requirements, and general information regarding the
Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported
to (609) 984-2202.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
 tert-BUTYL ACETATE page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response
Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada,
TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. the United States Department of Transportation and the
Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico.
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. It is a guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific
or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation
The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public
Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.

A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that
burn. determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals.

A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It
irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. classifies substances according to their fire and explosion
hazard.
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators,
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes
that regulates the transportation of chemicals. standards to OSHA.

EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.

A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
which adopts and enforces health and safety standards.
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that
will ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEOSHA is the Public Employees Occupational Safety and
Health Act, a state law which sets PELs for New Jersey public
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid employees.
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.
PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison
HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal Inhalation Hazards.
EPA.
ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a measure of concentration by volume in air.
scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their
cancer-causing potential. A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
energy under certain conditions.
A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly
dissolve in another. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
damaging the fetus.
mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of
air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure
limit recommended by ACGIH.
MSHA is the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the
federal agency that regulates mining. It also evaluates and The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a
approves respirators. solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure
indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations
can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.
 page 6 of 6
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Common Name: tert-BUTYL ACETATE ==============================================

DOT Number: UN 1123 FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire
NAERG Code: 129 department. You can request emergency information from the
CAS Number: 540-88-5 following:

CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300

Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP
FLAMMABILITY - 3 ==============================================
REACTIVITY - 0
FLAMMABLE
HANDLING AND STORAGE (See page 3)
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE
CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE FIRST AID

Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; In NJ, for POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-764-7661
3=serious; 4=severe
Eye Contact
FIRE HAZARDS * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids.
* tert-Butyl Acetate is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID.
* Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray, alcohol or polymer Skin Contact
foam extinguishers as water may not be effective in fighting * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash
fires. contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water.
* POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE.
* CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Breathing
* Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. * Remove the person from exposure.
* Vapors may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if
* Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance to cause breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped.
a fire or explosion far from the source. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained
and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.
PHYSICAL DATA
SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES
Flash Point: 72oF (22oC)
If tert-Butyl Acetate is spilled or leaked, take the following Water Solubility: Insoluble
steps:
OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES
* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from
area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. Chemical Name:
* Remove all ignition sources. Acetic Acid, 1,1-Dimethylethyl Ester
* Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar Other Names:
material and deposit in sealed containers. TLA; t-Butyl Acetate
* Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete.
* Keep tert-Butyl Acetate out of a confined space, such as a -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
sewer, because of the possibility of an explosion, unless the
sewer is designed to prevent the build-up of explosive
Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial
concentrations. purposes.
* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of tert-Butyl -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acetate as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your SENIOR SERVICES
regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Right to Know Program
Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
* If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be (609) 984-2202
properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
applicable.