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Product Name: Ethidium Bromide
Chemical Formula: C21H20BrN3
Synonyms: 3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide
CAS Number: 1239-45-8
Recommended Use: Staining agent for nucleic acids in research laboratories
Supplier/Manufacturer: Refer to laboratory or local provider's contact information for emergencies or product queries
Emergency Phone: Utilize institutional or regional emergency numbers associated with chemical exposure or poisoning
Classification: Acute toxicity (oral, inhalation, dermal), mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity
Label Elements: Skull and crossbones symbol, exclamation mark, health hazard pictogram
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Suspected of causing genetic defects. May cause cancer. May damage fertility or the unborn child.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust or vapors. Use only outdoors or in well-ventilated areas. Wear protective gloves, clothing, eye protection, and face protection. Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Store locked up.
Chemical Name: Ethidium Bromide
Chemical Formula: C21H20BrN3
Concentration: 100% (or as supplied in powder or solution)
Impurities: Negligible or not specified for standard laboratory grade
Molecular Weight: 394.32 g/mol
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen from a protected source.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash affected area thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention for skin irritation.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing and get medical advice.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water, if person is conscious. Never attempt to induce vomiting. Get immediate medical attention.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder, alcohol-resistant foam
Specific Hazards: May emit toxic fumes, including nitrogen oxides and hydrogen bromide, when heated.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Use self-contained breathing apparatus, full protective gear, and operate from a safe distance.
Special Precautions: Prevent water runoff from contacting drains or water sources. Contaminated firefighting water should be collected separately to prevent environmental contamination.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area of unprotected personnel. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment: gloves, lab coat, goggles, NIOSH-approved respirator.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent uncontrolled release into drains, surface or groundwater. Avoid environmental contamination at all costs.
Methods for Containment and Clean Up: Sweep up material carefully to avoid generating dust. Use damp towels or absorbent materials for small spills. Place collected debris in clearly labelled, sealed, appropriate waste containers. Clean trace residues with the proper deactivating solution, such as sodium hypochlorite (bleach), ensuring thorough, safe neutralization.
Safe Handling: Avoid ingestion, inhalation, and skin or eye contact. Use only in areas with appropriate chemical fume hoods or properly ventilated spaces. Always keep containers tightly closed when not in use. Do not generate dust.
Safe Storage: Store in tightly sealed containers, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from incompatible substances such as strong oxidizers and acids. Label storage area clearly with all required hazard information and restrict access to authorized personnel.
Incompatibilities: Store away from oxidizing agents and acids to minimize risk of hazardous reactions.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation or chemical fume hood to minimize airborne exposure. Emergency eyewash and shower facilities should remain available at all times in immediate work area.
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or latex gloves, lab coat, approved safety goggles, face shield for splash risk, and suitable respiratory protection if working outside a fume hood.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Change contaminated clothing promptly.
Exposure Limits: No occupational exposure limit established by OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH for Ethidium Bromide; handle with care as if highly toxic.
Appearance: Dark red crystalline powder or orange-brown solution
Odor: Odorless or faintly aromatic
Melting Point: 260–262°C
Boiling Point: Not determined
Solubility: Soluble in water and ethanol
pH (solution): Approximately neutral
Flash Point: Data not available
Vapor Pressure: Information not specified; low volatility expected
Relative Density: 1.55 (water = 1)
Partition Coefficient (octanol/water): Data not available
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage and handling conditions.
Hazardous Reactions: Contact with oxidizing agents may cause hazardous decomposition.
Conditions to Avoid: Extreme heat, open flames, exposure to strong oxidizers or acids.
Incompatible Materials: Oxidizers, acids, bases, halogens
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Formation of toxic products including nitrogen oxides, bromides, and carbon oxides possible during fire or high-temperature breakdown.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, eye contact
Acute Toxicity: Harmful at low doses. LD50 (oral, rat): 1503 mg/kg. Effects may include nausea, headache, weakness.
Chronic Effects: Genetic mutations, reproductive harm, carcinogenic effects demonstrated in animal studies.
Mutagenicity: Strong evidence from bacterial and mammalian cell studies.
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as a confirmed human carcinogen by EPA, IARC, or NTP, but animal studies and DNA interaction studies indicate a high risk.
Reproductive Toxicity: Developmental and reproductive toxicity reported in laboratory settings.
Target Organs: Blood, kidneys, liver, reproductive organs
Symptoms: Redness, itching, and irritation at contact site; gastrointestinal distress if ingested.
Aquatic Toxicity: Highly toxic to aquatic organisms, can cause long-term adverse effects in aquatic environments.
Persistence and Degradability: Expected to have moderate persistence in water and soil, degraded slowly under natural conditions.
Bioaccumulative Potential: Potential for bioaccumulation is significant due to molecular structure and low environmental breakdown rate.
Mobility in Soil: Compound likely to bind to soil and sediment, but possibility of migration to groundwater exists.
Other Adverse Effects: Interferes with genetic material in plants and animals; not to be released into natural waterways under any circumstances.
Waste Treatment Methods: Handle as hazardous waste in accordance with local, regional, and national regulations. Do not dispose of in general trash, sinks, or drains.
Deactivation/Neutralization: Treat small quantities with bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution for effective deactivation before disposal. Confirm complete neutralization using UV light.
Packaging: Collect waste in sealed, clearly labelled, chemical-resistant containers; segregate from incompatible waste materials.
Special Precautions: All disposed materials, including contaminated lab ware and personal protective equipment, require handling as hazardous chemical waste.
UN Number: Not regulated as a dangerous good under major international transport regulations but all packages must be labelled and contain documentation specifying toxicity.
Transport Hazard Class: Toxic substance if shipped as a pure chemical; typically regulated as hazardous cargo.
Packing Group: Varies by concentration and shipping method; consult local regulations.
Special Precautions: Avoid contact with cargo of foodstuffs or animal feed. Ensure secondary containment. All containers should be tightly sealed and protected from impact or mechanical damage.
OSHA: Not specifically listed as a regulated hazardous substance, but managed under laboratory and hazard communication standards.
TSCA Status: Listed for research purposes only; not commonly approved for commercial distribution.
European Regulation (REACH): Restricted under EU chemical regulations due to its mutagenic and toxic properties.
SARA Title III: Not listed under Sections 302, 304, or 313, but laboratories must report storage and usage as part of good laboratory practice.
Other Relevant Laws: Handle in compliance with institutional, local, and federal health and safety rules. Waste must follow hazardous substance disposal rules specific to the country and local jurisdiction.
Labelling: All containers require carcinogen, mutagen, toxic symbols, and hazard statements in accordance with Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and institutional requirements.
