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Glossary of Common MSDS Terms

Page Updated October 2008

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A

ABSOLUTE:

Chemical substance that is relatively free of impurities.

ABSOLUTE PRESSURE:

The total pressure within a vessel, pipe, etc., not offset by external atmospheric pressure.

ABSORPTION:

To take in and make a part of an existing whole. The penetration of a solid substance by a liquid as by capillary, osmotic, solvent or chemical action.

ACGIH:

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. An organization of professionals in governmental agencies or educational institutions engaged in occupational safety and health programs. ACGIH develops and publishes recommended occupational exposure limits for chemical substances and physical agents.
(6500 Glenway Ave., Bldg. D-7, Cincinnati, OH. 45211;
[513] 661-7881.)

ACID:

Any chemical which undergoes dissociation in water with the formation of hydrogen ions. Acids have a sour taste and may cause severe burns. They turn litmus paper red and have ph values of 0 to 6. Acids will neutralize bases or alkaline media. Acids will react with a base to form a salt.

ACIDOSIS:

Condition of decreased alkalinity of the blood and tissues marked by sickly sweet breath, headache, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances; usually the result of excessive acid production.

ACRID:

Irritating and bitter.

ACTION LEVEL:

Exposure level at which OSHA regulations to protect employees takes effect. Exposure at or above the action level is termed occupational exposure. Exposure below this level can also be harmful.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT:

Ingredient of a product that actually does what the product is designed to do. The remaining ingredients may be inert.

ACUTE EFFECT:

Adverse effect on a human or animal body, that takes place soon after exposure.

ACUTE LETHALITY:

Death of animals immediately or within 14 days after a single dose of or exposure to a toxic substance.

ACUTE TOXICITY:

Adverse effects resulting from a single dose of or exposure to a substance.

ADSORB:

Collect gas or liquid molecules on the surface of another material.

ADENOCARCINOMA:

A tumor with glandular (secreting) elements.

ADENOSIS:

Any disease of a gland.

ADHESION:

A union of two surfaces that are normally separate.

AEROSOL:

Fine aerial suspension of liquid (mist, fog) or solid (dust, fume, smoke) particles small enough to be stable.

AGENT:

Any substance, force, radiation, organism, or influence that affects the body. Effects may be beneficial or injurious.

AIR-LINE RESPIRATOR:

A respirator that is connected to a compressed breathable air source by a hose of small diameter. The air is delivered continuously or intermittently in a sufficient volume to meet the wearer's breathing requirements.

AIR-PURIFYING RESPIRATOR:

A respirator that uses chemicals to remove specific gases and vapors from the air or that uses a mechanical filter to remove particulate matter. An air-purifying respirator must only be used when there is sufficient oxygen to sustain life and the air contaminant level is below the concentration limits of the device.

ALARA:

Acronym for "as low as reasonably achievable."

ALKALI:

Any chemical substance which forms soluble soaps with fatty acids. Alkalis are also referred to as bases. May cause severe burns to the skin. Alkalis turn litmus paper blue and have ph values from 8 to 14.

ALLERGIC REACTION:

Abnormal physiological response to a chemical stimuli by a sensitive person.

ALLERGIC RESPIRATORY REACTION:

Labored breathing, coughing, or gasping caused by inhaling a particular substance.

ALLERGIC SKIN REACTION:

Reddening, swelling and/or itching of the skin following contact with a substance to which a person has become sensitized due to previous skin contact or natural body conditions.

ALOPECIA:

Loss of hair.

AMBIENT:

Usual or surrounding conditions.

AMENORRHEA:

Absence of menstruation.

AMES TEST:

Short term test commonly used for preliminary screening of chemicals to see if they cause mutations in a special type of bacterial cell.

ANALGESIA:

Loss of sensitivity to pain.

ANESTHETIC:

Chemical that causes a total or partial loss of sensation. Overexposure to anesthetics can cause impaired judgment, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, unconsciousness, and even death.

ANHYDRIDE:

Compound derived from other compound by removing elements composing water (hydrogen and oxygen).

ANHYDROUS:

No water. Substance in which no water molecules are present as hydrate or as water crystallization.

ANOREXIA:

Loss of appetite.

ANOSMIA:

Loss of the sense of smell.

ANOXIA:

Lack of oxygen from inspired air.

ANSI:

American National Standards Institute. A privately funded organization that identifies industrial/public national consensus standards and coordinates their development.

ANTIDOTE:

Remedy to relieve, prevent, or counteract the effects of a poison.

ANURIA:

Absence or defective excretion of urine.

API:

American Petroleum Institute is an organization of the petroleum industry.

APNEA:

Breathing temporarily stopped.

APPEARANCE:

Physical state of a material.

AQUATIC TOXICITY (AQTX):

Adverse effects on marine life that result from their being exposed to a toxic substance.

AQUEOUS:

Water-based solution or suspension. Frequently, a gaseous compound dissolved in water.

ARGYRIA:

Local or generalized gray/blue-colored impregnation of the body tissue with silver.

ARTICLE:

Manufactured item specifically shaped or formed with function dependent on shape or design. Does not release or result in exposure to a hazardous material in normal use. Excluded from Hazard Communication Laws unless it gives off dust or fumes.

ASBESTOSIS:

Chronic lung disease caused by inhaling airborne asbestos fibers.

ASPHYXIA:

Lack of oxygen and interference with the oxygenation of the blood. Can lead to unconsciousness.

ASPHYXIANT:

Vapor or gas which causes unconsciousness or death by suffocation. Most simple asphyxiants are harmful to the body only when they become so concentrated that they reduce oxygen in air (normally 21%) to dangerous levels (16% or lower). Asphyxiation is a potential hazard of working in confined spaces. Some examples of asphyxiants are Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Argon, etc.  They  function as asphyxiants by reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

ASPIRATION HAZARD:

Danger of drawing material into the lungs leading to an inflammatory response.

ASTHMA:

Disease characterized by recurrent attacks of dyspnea, wheezing, and perhaps coughing caused by spasmodic contraction of the bronchiole in the lungs.

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials.

ASYMPTOMATIC:

Neither causing nor exhibiting symptoms.

ATAXIA:

Loss of muscular coordination.

ATMOSPHERE (atm.):

Pressure measurement. One atmosphere (atm) = 14.7 lbs/sq in.

ATROPHY:

Wasting or diminution in the size of tissue, organs, or the entire body caused by lack of use.

AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE:

Minimum temperature which a substance must be heated without application of flame or spark to cause substance to ignite. Materials should not be heated to greater than 80% of this temperature.

B 

BAL:

British Anti-Lewisite. A name for the drug dimecaprol--a treatment for toxic inhalations.

BASE:

Substances that (usually) liberate OH anions when dissolved in water. Bases react with acids to form salts and water. Bases have a pH greater than 7, turn litmus paper blue, and may be corrosive to human tissue. A strong base is called alkaline or caustic.

BAUME:

Arbitrary scale of specific gravities; used to determine specific gravities and in graduation of hydrometers.

BCM:

Blood-clotting mechanism effects.

BENIGN:

Not recurrent or not tending to progress. Not cancerous.

BIOLOGICAL EXPOSURE INDEXES (BEI):

Numerical values based on procedures to determine the amount of a material absorbed into the human body by measuring it or its metabolic products in tissue, fluid or exhaled air.

BIODEGRADABLE:

Organic material's capacity for decomposition as a result of attack by microorganisms.

BIOLOGICAL MONITORING:

Periodic examination of body substances, such as blood or urine, to determine the extent of hazardous material absorption as opposed to mere exposure.

BIOPSY:

Removal and examination of tissue from the living body.

BOILING LIQUID EXPANDING VAPOR EXPLOSION (BLEVE):

Condition in which liquids are excessively heated, which may result in the violent rupture of a container, and the rapid vaporization of the material. The possibility of a BLEVE increases with the volatility of the material.

BODY BURDEN:

Total amount of a toxic material that a person has ingested or inhaled from all sources over time.

BOILING POINT (BP):

Temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapor state at a given pressure. Flammable materials with low boiling points generally present special fire hazards.

BOM, or BuMINES:

Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Interior.

BONDING:

Safety practice where two objects are interconnected with clamps and bare wire. This equalizes electrical potential between the objects and helps prevent static sparks that could ignite flammable materials.

BRADYCARDIA:

A slow heartbeat with pulse rate below 60/minute.

BRONCHITIS:

Inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs.

BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (BTU):

Quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree F at 39.2F, its temperature of maximum density.

BUFFER:

Substance that reduces the change in hydrogen ion concentration (pH) that otherwise would be produced by adding acids or bases to a solution.

BULK DENSITY:

The mass (weight) per unit volume of a solid particulate material as it is normally packed, with voids between particulates containing air. Usually expressed as lb/ft3 or g/cm3.

BUNA:

Trademark for synthetic rubber and rubberlike materials such as Buna-N (Nitrile) or Buna-S (Styrene).

C 

C:

Centigrade, a unit of temperature.

CALORIE:

Standard unit of heat. A calorie is the amount of heat required to raise 1 gram of water 1 degree C.

CARBON DIOXIDE:

(CO2) heavy, colorless gas produced by combustion and decomposition of organic substances and as by-product of chemical processes. Will not burn, relatively non-toxic, and unreactive. Can cause oxygen deficient environments in large concentrations. Is useful as fire-extinguishing agent to block oxygen and smother fire.

CARBON MONOXIDE:

(CO) colorless, odorless, flammable, and very toxic gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon compounds and as a by-product of many chemical processes. A chemical asphyxiant, it reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

CARCINOGEN:

Substance or agent capable of causing or producing cancer in mammals.

CARCINOMA:

Malignant tumor or cancer; a new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to grow rapidly, infiltrate other cells, and give rise to metastasis (spreading).

(CAS) CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS SERVICE NUMBER:

An assigned number used to identify a chemical. CAS stands for Chemical Abstracts Service, an organization that indexes information published in Chemical Abstracts by the American Chemical Society and that provides index guides by which information about particular substances may be located in the abstracts. Sequentially assigned CAS numbers identify specific chemicals, except when followed by an asterisk(*) which signifies a compound (often naturally occurring) of variable composition. the numbers have no chemical significance. The CAS number is a concise, unique means of material identification.

CATALYST:

Substance that modifies a chemical reaction (makes it faster or slower) without being consumed.

CATARACT:

Loss of transparency of the crystalline lens of the eye or its capsule.

CAUSTIC:

See Alkali.

CC:

Closed cup. Identifies one of the methods used to measure flash points of flammable liquids.

cc, cm3

Cubic centimeter.

CEILING:

Maximum allowable human exposure limit for airborne substances; not to be exceeded even momentarily.

CENTIPOISE:

cgs unit of the measure of viscosity equal to 1/100 poise. Viscosity of water at 20C is approximately 1 centipose.

CENTIMETER, cm:

1/100 meter. A cm = approximately 0.4 in.

CERCLA:

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Superfund Law, Public Law PL 96-510, found at 40 CFR 300. The EPA has jurisdiction.

CFC:

Chlorofluorocarbon. Associated with damage to the Earth's ozone layer.

CFR:

Code of Federal Regulations. A collection of the regulations established by law.

cgs:

Metric units of measure based upon centimeter, gram, and second.

CHELATIING AGENT:

Chemical compound capable of forming multiple chemical bonds to a metal ion. Used to treat metal poisoning.

CHEMICAL:

Any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements and/or compounds.

CHEMICAL CARTRIDGE RESPIRATOR:

Respirator using various chemical substances to purify inhaled air of certain contaminative gases or vapors. Typically effective for concentrations no more than 10 times the TLV of the contaminant if it has warning properties (odor or irritation) below the TLV.

CHEMICAL FAMILY:

Group of single elements or compounds with a common general name.

CHEMICAL FORMULA:

Gives the number and kinds of atoms that comprise a molecule of a material.

CHEMICAL NAME:

Scientific designation of name that clearly identifies chemical for hazard evaluation purposes.

CHEMICAL PNEUMONITIS:

Inflammation of the lungs caused by accumulation of fluids due to chemical irritation.

CHEMICAL REACTIVITY:

Ability of a material to chemically change. Undesirable and dangerous effects such as heat, explosions, or the production of noxious substances can result.

CHEMTREC:

24-hour toll free telephone number (800-424-9300), intended primarily for use by those who respond to chemical transportation emergencies. Established by the Chemical Manufacturer's Association.

CHEMILUMINESCENCE:

Emission of light during a non-combustible chemical reaction.

CHLORACNE:

Acne-like eruption caused by excessive contact with certain compounds.

CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN (CHP):

Per 29 CFR 1910.1450, OSHA standard; "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories." Effective 5/1/90. A written plan that includes specific work practices, standard operating procedures, equipment, engineering controls, and policies to ensure that employees are protected from hazardous exposure levels to all potentially hazardous chemicals in use in their work areas. The OSHA standard provides for training, employee access to information, medical consultations, examinations, hazard identification procedures, respirator use, and record keeping practices.

CHRONIC EFFECT:

Adverse effect on a human or animal body with symptoms that develop slowly over a long period of time or that recur frequently.

CHRONIC EXPOSURE:

Long-term contact with a substance.

CHRONIC TOXICITY:

Adverse effects resulting from repeated doses of or exposures to a material over a relatively prolonged period of time. Ordinarily used to denote effects noted in experimental animals.

CNS:

Central Nervous System, the brain and spinal cord.

COEFFICIENT OF WATER/OIL DISTRIBUTION:

Also called the partition coefficient, it is the ratio of the solubility of a chemical in water to its solubility in oil. Used to indicate how easily human or other organisms can absorb or store a material. Sometimes abbreviated Ko/w; may also be expressed as its logarithm, log Ko/w.

COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS:

Term used by NFPA and DOT to classify certain liquids that will burn, on the basis of flash points. NFPA and DOT generally define "combustible liquids" as having a flash point of 100F or higher. They do not ignite as easily as flammable liquids; however, they can be ignited under certain conditions, and must be handled with caution.

COMMON NAME:

Designation for material other than chemical name, such as code, trade, brand, or generic name.

COMPRESSED GAS:

Material contained under pressure (dissolved gas, liquefied by compression or refrigeration).

CONCENTRATION:

Relative amount of a substance when combined or mixed with other substances.

CONDITIONS TO AVOID:

Conditions encountered during handling or storage that could cause a substance to become unstable.

CONFINED SPACE:

Any area that has limited openings for entry and exit that would make escape difficult in an emergency, has a lack of ventilation, contains known and potential hazards, and is not intended nor designated for continuous human occupancy.

CONJUNCTIVITIS:

Inflammation of conjunctiva, the delicate membrane that lines eyelid and covers the eyeball.

CONTAINER:

Any bag, barrel, bottle, box, can, cylinder, drum, reaction vessel, storage tank, or the like that contains a hazardous chemical. Under the Hazard Communication Standard pipes or piping systems, and engines, fuel tanks, or other operating systems in a vehicle are not considered to be containers.

CORNEA:

Transparent structure of the external layer of the eyeball.

CORROSION RATE:

Expressed in inches per year; accompanied by temperature.

CORROSIVE:

Liquid or solid that causes visible destruction or irreversible alterations in skin tissue at site of contact, or, in the case of leakage from its packaging, liquid that has severe corrosion rate on steel.

CRITICAL PRESSURE/TEMPERATURE:

Temperature above which a gas cannot be liquefied by pressure. The critical pressure is that pressure required to liquefy a gas at its critical temperature.

CRYOGENIC:

Relating to extremely low temperature as for refrigerated gases.

cu ft, ft3:

Cubic foot. Cu ft is more usual.

cu m, m3:

Cubic meter. m3 is preferred.

CURETTAGE:

Cleansing of a diseased surface.

CUTANEOUS:

Pertaining to the skin.

CYANOSIS:

Dark purplish coloration of skin and mucous membrane caused by deficient oxygenation of the blood.