ANATECH LTD. Page 1 of 8
Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
1. CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
Prefer Concentrate
Product name:
Catalog number: 411
General use: Fixative in histology and surgical pathology.
Description of product as sold: Aqueous solution of glyoxal, buffer and alcohol.
Description of product as used by consumer: Aqueous solution of glyoxal, buffer and alcohol.
Manufacturer Emergency contact information
Anatech Ltd. Health: Anatech Ltd. 800-262-8324 8 am - 5 pm ET, M-F
1020 Harts Lake Road Transportation: CHEMTREC 800-424-9300 24 hours
Battle Creek, MI 49037
USA
2. COMPOSITION AND INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
(Note: Percentage composition is withheld as a trade secret.)
Product as sold (concentrate)
Component CAS # Exposure limits
0.1 mg/m3 (ACGIH 8 hr TWA) for aerosol
Glyoxal 107-22-2
Ethanol 64-17-5 1000 ppm (OSHA, ACGIH 8 hr TWA)
Buffer Proprietary Not established; generally considered not
hazardous.
Product as used (diluted by consumer)
0.1 mg/m3 (ACGIH 8 hr TWA) for aerosol
Glyoxal 107-22-2
Ethanol 64-17-5 1000 ppm (OSHA, ACGIH 8 hr TWA)
Buffer Proprietary Not established; generally considered not
hazardous.
Note: If reagent alcohol is used, additional amounts (<3%) of methanol and isopropanol will be present.
ANATECH LTD. Page 2 of 8
Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
3. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
Emergency Overview
Clear liquid; colorless to very slightly pale yellow; mild, acidic/alcohol odor.
Irritant to eyes and skin. Prolonged or extensive unprotected skin contact may cause allergic skin
responses in sensitive individuals. Not likely to pose an inhalation threat under normal conditions of use.
Ingestion is likely to cause adverse effects on gastrointestinal tract.
Potential health effects
(Human health effects only; animal effects in Section 11: Toxicological Information.)
Primary route(s) of exposure: Eyes and skin.
Inhalation: Inhalation of vapors during normal conditions of use are not likely to present a health hazard
because glyoxal exhibits almost no vapor pressure. No respiratory irritation has been reported due to
inhalation of concentrated glyoxal in an industrial setting.
Eye: Contact of liquid with eyes may cause irritation.
Skin: Contact of liquid with skin may cause irritation.
Ingestion: Ingestion of liquid is likely to produce adverse effects on the gastrointestinal system.
Chronic effects: No chronic effects reported. Glyoxal is not considered to be a carcinogen or potential
carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or
OSHA (USA).
Signs and symptoms: Affected skin will appear dry, tough and perhaps cracked. Affected corneas may
appear cloudy; eyes may water and become reddened. Effects on the gastrointestinal tract are unknown,
but presumably may include nausea and/or vomiting. Effects on the respiratory system are unknown, but
presumably may include coughing and difficulty in breathing. There are no pre-existing medical conditions
known to be aggravated by exposure to this solution.
4. FIRST AID MEASURES
Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air if coughing or difficulty in breathing is experienced. Consult a physician if
symptoms persist or worsen. Administer oxygen or artificial respiration as needed.
Eye: Flush eyes for at least 15 minutes in an eyewash station. If symptoms persist after washing, consult a
physician.
Skin: Remove contaminated clothing, including footwear; wash before reuse or discard. For minor exposure,
wash affected area with water and mild soap, rinsing thoroughly; apply a good quality skin lotion. In cases of
prolonged, repeated or extensive exposure, rinse affected area or entire body for at least 15 minutes. For severe
conditions, consult a physician.
Ingestion: Call a poison control center immediately. If victim is conscious, have him/her drink several glasses of
water to dilute the solution. Induce vomiting only upon the advice of a physician or poison control authority.
Note to physician: Prefer is a histological fixative. If ingested, it will fix lining cells of the gastrointestinal tract.
The solution loses its efficacy as a fixative if the pH is raised to neutrality. In cases of accidental ingestion,
neutralization could reduce the risk of damage to the lining; furthermore, neutralization might reduce the risk of
damage to the respiratory tract if aspiration occurs during vomiting.
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Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES
Flammable properties
Flash point: For concentrate: 155癋 (68.3癈), closed-cup.
For diluted solution: 102癋 (38.9癈), closed-cup.
Flammable limit: Not determined.
Autoignition temperature: Not determined.
Flammability classification: For concentrate: Combustible liquid (OSHA).
For diluted solution: Combustible liquid (OSHA).
Flame propagation: None.
Hazardous products of combustion: Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Extinguishing media: ABC rated portable fire extinguishers should be used. Professional fire fighters
may use water spray, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Fire fighting instructions: Sealed chemical suits and self contained breathing apparatus are
necessary for fighting fires involving substantial volumes of this product.
6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
The size of a spill is defined in part by the local situation, especially regarding ventilation. At room temperature in
a well ventilated room, a few hundred milliliters might be considered a small spill. Vapors are generated during a
spill and may exceed OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits. Wear protective gloves, rubber boots, impermeable
aprons and full-face respirators. Use a damp sponge or mop to remove spilled liquid. Wash contaminated area
with water. Spills left to dry will become sticky. Liquid waste may be discarded down the drain with approval by
wastewater authorities, or may be removed by a licensed waste hauler.
With large spills, evacuate the area and have an emergency response team perform the cleanup. Have a licensed
waste hauler remove contaminated solids and recovered liquid.
Comply with all applicable governmental regulations on spill reporting and on the handling and disposal of
hazardous waste.
7. HANDLING AND STORAGE
Handling: Wear a plastic or rubber apron, protective gloves and splash-proof goggles. Avoid all contact with skin
and eyes. Do not continue to wear contaminated clothing after a spill.
Storage: Store at room temperature.
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Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS AND PERSONAL PROTECTION
Engineering controls: Good general room ventilation is essential. Product should be used with local
ventilation (fume hood).
Personal protective equipment
Respiratory protection: A NIOSH-approved respirator suitable for organic vapors must be used if
vapor levels exceed the exposure limits.
Skin protection: Anatech Ltd. recommends nitrile gloves. Do not use latex surgical gloves for protection
against any hazardous liquid. An eyewash station and safety shower must be nearby, preferably in the
same room, no more than 10 seconds away.
Eye protection: Use splash-proof goggles. Do not use safety glasses. If a face shield is worn as
protection against biohazards, splash-proof goggles also must be used. An eyewash station and safety
shower must be nearby, preferably in the same room, no more than 10 seconds away.
9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Appearance: Clear; colorless to very slightly pale yellow liquid.
Odor: Mild, acidic/alcohol odor.
Physical state: Liquid.
pH: 3.70 - 3.85 (concentrate); 3.75 - 4.25 (diluted).
Vapor pressure: Not determined. The vapor pressure due to glyoxal is negligible.
Vapor density: Not determined.
Boiling point: 185癋 - 220癋 (85癈 - 104癈).
Freezing point: Not determined (concentrate); not determined (diluted).
Solubility in water: Complete.
Specific gravity: 1.134 at 20癈 (concentrate); 1.003 at 20癈 (diluted).
10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
Chemical stability: Stable.
Conditions to avoid: None.
Incompatibility with other materials: Strong oxidants (will convert glyoxal to formic acid).
Hazardous decomposition products: None.
Hazardous polymerization: None.
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Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Acute eye effects: 20 mg of concentrated glyoxal administered into rabbit eyes in the standard Draize test
produced severe irritation.
Acute skin effects: Contact dermatitis and eczema have been reported in hospital workers who used
strong antiseptics containing glyoxal. Symptoms abated when use of these products were discontinued. Workers
handling a glyoxal-based resin reported eczema on their hands; fiberglass in the resin could not be ruled out as a
contributing factor.
Acute and subchronic oral effects: OSHA considers chemicals to be toxic if their LD50 is at or below 500
mg/kg. LD50 is the dose killing 50% of the test animals in a given time (usually 4 hours). Glyoxal is not considered
to be toxic by OSHA. Using concentrated glyoxal, the LD50 was 760 mg/kg in guinea pigs, and ranged from
1.1 - 4.3 g/kg in rats. In another study the LD50 in rats was 3.08 ml/kg. A 90 day feeding study with rats and dogs
found no effects on food consumption, mortality, and gross or microscopic pathology. The no-observed-effect
level for glyoxal in the diet of these animals was 0.12 g/kg/day.
Acute and subchronic inhalation effects: Inhalation of air saturated with glyoxal vapor for 8 hours was not
lethal to rats. Inhalation of aerosols containing glyoxal is harmful but not likely to be encountered in laboratory
use. ACGIH has established a TLV-TWA of 0.1 mg/m3 based upon unpublished findings of squamous cell
metaplasia in the larynx of rats exposed to 2 mg/m3 to 10 mg/m3 for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 29 days.
Other chronic effects/carcinogenicity: There is no evidence of cancer or target organ effects deriving from
workplace exposures or from reasonably relevant toxicological studies except for contact skin rashes.
Teratology: None known.
Reproductive effects: None known.
Mutagenicity: Mutagen tests involving microorganisms and mammalian tissue cultures have dubious relevance
to workplace exposures. Glyoxal was found to be mutagenic with and without metabolic activation in the Ames
bacterial point mutation assay, was genotoxic in the CHO/SCE and primary hepatocyte DNA repair tests. Two
whole-animal genotoxic studies have been conducted: the mouse micronucleus test showed no activity at 400
mg/kg; the Drosophila sex-linked recessive lethal assay was also negative.
12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Ecotoxicity: Prefer Concentrate and properly diluted Prefer Concentrate exhibit a low order of environmental
toxicity and a low potential to bioaccumulate. There is no inhibition of bacteria in wastewater effluent when glyoxal
is properly introduced into an acclimated biological treatment facility.
The following data are from studies using concentrated glyoxal:
Cyprinodont fish: 48 hr LC50 = 2800 ppm; zero mortality at 1000 ppm
Golden orfe: 96 hr LC50 = 460 - 680 mg/l
Daphnia magna: 48 hr EC50 = 404 mg/l
Green algae: 72 hr EC50 > 100 mg/l
Bacteria: 16 hr EC50 = 102 mg/l
DOC reduction: 28 day: 90 - 100% (easily eliminated from water)
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Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION (continued)
Modified OECD Confirmatory Test: Elimination > 70% (good potential for elimination)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) = 350 mg/g
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), 5 day = 175 mg/g
Environmental fate: All ingredients in Prefer consist solely of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Prefer is readily
biodegradable to carbon dioxide and water.
13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
Glyoxal itself is not an EPA-listed hazardous waste. In the concentration present in this product, it does not
possess any characteristics that qualify it as a hazardous waste by the EPA. Properly diluted Prefer Concentrate is
ignitable.
Drain disposal is the recommended method of disposal, based on ecotoxicity and biodegradation information
given in Section 12, provided approval is granted by local wastewater treatment authorities.
Anatech Ltd. suggests that waste Prefer Concentrate and properly diluted Prefer Concentrate be introduced into the
sanitary sewer system slowly, at the rate of 1-5 gallons per hour. To do this, trickle the waste into the sink from a
5 gallon carboy or drum equipped with a spigot which is barely turned on. The normal flow of wastewater through
the generator's facility will dilute the waste. Under this regimen, the waste solution will have no effect on biological
or chemical processes at wastewater treatment plants. Neutralization of the pH should not be necessary in most
sewer districts, but in the event that it is, use magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide (neither one will make
the solution too alkaline). Alternatively, dibasic sodium phosphate may be used in areas where phosphates are
not restricted in wastewater. Sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are also effective but may cause
foaming. Sodium hydroxide is more hazardous to work with and may make the waste too alkaline.
As an alternative to drain disposal, use a licensed hazardous waste hauler.
This product is not recyclable.
Canadian disposal regulations generally parallel those in the United States.
Regardless of the method chosen for disposal, be sure to follow federal, state (provincial) and local regulations.
Proper waste disposal is the generator's responsibility.
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Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
14. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Packaging for hazardous shipments must meet the specifications as required by the current editions of
International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations and the United States
Department of Transportation 49 CFR.
For product as sold (concentrate)
DOT (ground): Not regulated.
DOT (air) and IATA: Not regulated.
For diluted solution
DOT (ground): Not regulated.
DOT (air) and IATA: Proper Shipping Name: Flammable liquid, n.o.s. (ethanol)
UN #: 1993
Hazard Class: 3
Packing Group: III
15. REGULATORY INFORMATION
OSHA (USA): Under the Hazard Communication Standard and the Laboratory Standard, the product as sold and
properly diluted is a hazardous material: it is an irritant and it is combustible.
The OSHA Standards cited above mandate that exposed workers receive proper training in the properties of this
product, work practices involved with its handling and disposal, and interpretation of its MSDS. Customers who in
turn send this product on to their clients or satellite facilities must supply an MSDS at least with the initial
shipment. This MSDS is suitable for either the product as sold or the properly diluted solution.
FDA (USA): Prefer Concentrate is for in vitro diagnostic use as a fixative in histology.
EPA (USA): Prefer Concentrate is reportable under SARA Title III. Properly diluted Prefer Concentrate is
ignitable and is also reportable under SARA Title III.
16. OTHER INFORMATION
Label warnings: Irritant. Avoid prolonged, repeated contact with skin. Avoid all contact with eyes. Ingestion can
cause damage to the gastrointestinal system.
Product logo:
Prefer
Concentrate
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Prefer Concentrate Date prepared: March 2005
16. OTHER INFORMATION (continued)
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Rating:
General note: This rating is applicable only to safeguard the lives of individuals who may be
concerned with fires occurring in an industrial plant or storage location. The ratings provide information
to emergency personnel on whether to evacuate the area or how to perform control procedures. It is not
descriptive of hazards under normal conditions of occupational use, and is even less applicable to
anticipated laboratory-scale use.
For product as sold (concentrate) and the diluted solution:
Health 2: Materials that, under emergency conditions, can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury.
Flammability 2: Materials that must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures
before ignition can occur.
Instability 0: Materials that are normally stable even under fire conditions.
This Material Safety Data Sheet has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard. It conforms to the provisions of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard
Z400.1 (Standard for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets). Information contained herein was obtained from
sources which Anatech Ltd. believes are reliable. It is the user's responsibility to determine suitability of the product for
his/her own use, and to assure proper use and disposal of it to protect the safety and health of employees and the
protection of the environment.
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