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11.2 Significant Data with Possible Relevance to Human Health
• Eyes - Unlikely to cause more than transient stinging or redness if accidental eye contact
occurs
•
Skin - Unlikely to cause harm to the skin
• Ingestion - Unlikely to cause harm if accidentally swallowed in small doses, although larger
quantities should be avoided
• Inhalation - At ambient temperatures this product will be unlikely to present an inhalation
hazard
11.3 Other Health Hazard Information
• Product may emit Formaldehyde vapours at temperatures above 150°C/302°F in the presence of
air. Formaldehyde vapour is harmful by inhalation and irritating to the eyes and respiratory
system at breathing concentrations of less than 1ppm (1 part per million)
12 Ecological Information
Used lubricant may become contaminated with pumped product, also verify precautions and advice
against relevant product information
12.1 Environmental Fate and Distribution
• Air: This product is a high molecular weight liquid polymer, which has a very low vapour
pressure (<1mm Hg). As a result it is unlikely to become an atmospheric contaminant unless
generated as an aerosol
• Water: This product has a very low water solubility (< 100 ppb). As it has a specific gravity of <
1, if discharged to water, it will initially form a surface film. As the product is non-volatile and has
a high binding affinity for particulate matter, it will adsorb to particulates and sediment out.
• Soil: If discharged to surface water, this product will bind to sediment. If discharged in effluent to
a waste water treatment plant, the product is removed from the aqueous phase by binding to
sewage sludge. If the sewage sludge is subsequently spread on soil, the silicone product is
expected to degrade.
• Degradation: This product, polydimethylsiloxane, degrades in soil abiotically to form smaller
molecules. These in turn are either biodegraded in soil or volatilized into the air where they are
broken down in the presence of sunlight. Under appropriate conditions, the ultimate degradation
products are inorganic silica, carbon dioxide and water vapour. Due to the very low water
solubility of this product, standard OECD protocols for ready and inherent biodegradability are
not suitable for measuring the biodegradability of this product. The product is removed >80%
during the sewage treatment process.
