MSDS

FIRST AID:
SKIN: Remove dusty or contaminated clothing and shoes. For skin contact, wash affected area with soap
and water. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop or persist. In case of contact with molten
product, cool rapidly with water and seek immediate medical attention. Do not attempt to remove
molten product, or molten product that has cooled, from skin without medical assistance.
EYES: Remove contact lenses, if it can be done safely. Immediately flush eyes with water for at least 15
minutes, while holding eyelids open. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop of persist.
INHALATION: Move affected individual to non-contaminated air. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar,
tie, belt or waistband to facilitate breathing. Seek immediate medical attention if the individual is not
breathing, is unconscious or if any other symptoms persist. Inhalation of smoke following a fire may
result in delayed pulmonary edema; seek immediate medical attention.
INGESTION: Material is not expected to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. DO NOT INDUCE
VOMITING. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, or waistband. Seek immediate medical attention.
IN CASE OF A SPILL: Stop leak, isolate and contain spill. Prevent entry into sewers, drains, underground
or confined spaces, water intakes and waterways. Spilled product may create a dangerous slipping
hazard. Use appropriate tools to put the spilled solid in an appropriate disposal or recovery container.
Reuse or recycle where possible.
References
Available on request.
Special Considerations
Exposure to the Hazardous Combustion and Decomposition Products as described in MSDS
Sections 5 and 10 may be linked with various acute and chronic health effects. These effects
include irritation of eyes and upper respiratory tract primarily from the aldehydes, breathing
difficulties, systemic toxicity such as liver, kidney, and central nervous system effects.
NOVA Chemicals has monitored worker exposures to emissions during commercial-scale
processing of polyethylene. Concentrations of hazardous decomposition products were
determined to be well below established exposure limits in the workplace. “Quantitation of
Employee Exposure to Emission products Generated By commercial-Scale Processing of
Polyethylene” is available in the Am. Ind. Assoc. J. 56:809-814 (1995).
For information on ventilation considerations for the control of volatile air contaminants from
polyethylene, please request a copy of NOVA Chemical’s publication, “Ventilation Guidelines of
Heat Processing Polyethylene Resins”.
For additional information on unloading hopper cars containing plastic resins, refer to NOVA
Chemical’s publication, “Hopper Car Unloading Guide”.
For information on processing properties, selection of SCLAIR resin grades, refer to the SCLAIR
Product Data Sheets available on our website, under PRODUCTS & SERVICES:
http://www.novachem.com.
For additional information on preventing pellet loss, refer to published plastic industry
publications and resources under ‘Operation Clean Sweep’; now downloadable from the web at
http://www.opcleansweep.org/.
Polyethylene fines and dust particles are listed as a Class I combustible dust by the National Fire
Protection Association (see NFPA-68, Table F.1(e)). For additional information on control of