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Name: o-Xylene
Chemical Formula: C8H10
CAS Number: 95-47-6
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid with a sweet, aromatic smell.
Common Uses: Solvent in paints and coatings, raw material in the production of phthalic anhydride, used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries.
Odor Threshold: Easily noticeable at low concentrations because of its distinct sweet smell.
Hazard Class: Flammable liquid, irritating to eyes, respiratory system, and skin.
Health Risks: Headaches, dizziness, drowsiness after inhalation; skin contact leads to dryness or cracking; eye exposure can cause redness and irritation.
Environmental Risks: Toxic to aquatic life; persistent in soil and water, causing long-term risk to local habitats after spills.
Fire Hazards: Vapors can catch fire easily; vapors heavier than air may travel along the ground, reaching distant ignition sources.
Major Component: o-Xylene (over 95%)
Minor Impurities: m-Xylene, p-Xylene, ethylbenzene present in small quantities depending on source.
Source of Risk: The blend's makeup drives the way these compounds behave in industrial use and emergencies.
Inhalation: Move the person to fresh air right away; keep them warm, encourage regular breathing, and seek medical assistance if symptoms stick around.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash affected area thoroughly with soap and water; avoid scrubbing.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes gently for a minimum of 10 minutes under running water, lifting eyelids to clear chemical.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, avoid inducing vomiting, and get immediate medical help.
Flammability: Vapors ignite at temperatures as low as 17°C (63°F).
Suitable Extinguishers: Use foam, dry powder, or CO2—never water streams, since they can spread burning liquid.
Special Hazards: Toxic gases like carbon monoxide and other irritating fumes cross into the air during combustion.
Protection for Firefighters: Wear full protective respiratory gear and approach fires from upwind to dodge heavy fumes.
Containment: Block off spill area from drains and waterways using absorbent materials like sand or earth.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate space if risk of vapor buildup, wear gloves and goggles, ensure good ventilation.
Clean-Up: Gather with non-sparking tools, store waste in secure, labeled containers until proper disposal.
Environmental Protection: Alert authorities if spill threatens public water sources.
Safe Handling: Work in well-ventilated areas only, avoid inhaling fumes, prevent contact with skin and eyes, avoid all sources of ignition.
Proper Storage: Store in tightly sealed drums below room temperature, keep away from acids, oxidizers, and direct sunlight.
Key Practices: Ground all equipment to prevent static spark, keep containers closed when not in use, use spill trays to prevent leaks spreading.
Exposure Limits: Keep workplace concentrations below established limits (OSHA PEL: 100 ppm).
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation needed for regular work.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile recommended), safety goggles for splash risk, protective apron, and sometimes, air-purifying respirators.
Hygiene: Wash hands before eating, drinking, or smoking; change out of contaminated clothing quickly.
Physical State: Liquid at room temperature
Boiling Point: Around 144°C (291°F)
Melting Point: -25°C (-13°F)
Density: 0.88 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure: Moderate at room temperature, so it evaporates into the air fairly easily.
Solubility: Not very soluble in water, but dissolves well in most organic solvents.
Odor: Sweet, strongly aromatic.
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage and handling conditions, breaks down under intense heat or sunlight.
Risky Reactions: Contact with strong oxidizers can spark fires and explosions; doesn’t play well near acids.
Decomposition: Overheating produces dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide.
Main Effects: Inhaling high enough levels leads to headache, dizziness, breathlessness, and in worst cases, unconsciousness.
Long-Term Exposure: Extended skin contact dries out and cracks skin; repeated inhalation may affect memory and coordination.
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as cancer-causing by IARC in ordinary exposures, but the related compound ethylbenzene (a minor impurity) raises some concern.
Routes of Exposure: Breathing vapors most common, then skin contact.
Aquatic Impact: Harms fish, invertebrates, and plants, even at low concentrations; floatation on water surface hinders oxygen transfer.
Persistence: Does not break down quickly in the wild, so risky to groundwater and soil.
Air Risks: Vapors travel and linger, so spills quickly affect areas outside the immediate site.
Waste Handling: Collect in tightly sealed, properly labeled containers, never pour down drains, keep away from combustible wastes.
Approved Disposal: Ship to certified facility for chemical incineration or treatment.
Legal Duty: Follow all site-specific local, regional, and national rules to avoid fines and prevent pollution.
Hazard Labels: Marked as flammable liquid in transit.
Shipping Precautions: Use leak-proof, secure drums or tanks, keep away from high heat, sparks, or open flame en route.
Spill Readiness: Carriers must carry emergency clean-up kits and all drivers must know proper spill procedures.
Workplace Regulation: OSHA sets maximum airborne concentrations, requires regular air sampling, and worker safety training.
Environmental Law: US EPA classifies o-Xylene as hazardous waste; spills trigger compulsory reporting and cleanup.
Community Right to Know: Facilities storing or using it in quantity must list it under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
