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ChemicalIdentifiers | Hazards | ResponseRecommendations |PhysicalProperties |RegulatoryInformation | AlternateChemicalNames
Chemical Identifiers
What is this information?
The Chemical Identifier fields include common identification numbers, theNFPA diamond U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
| CAS Number | UN/NA Number | DOT Hazard Label | USCG CHRIS Code |
|---|---|---|---|
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| NIOSH Pocket Guide | International Chem Safety Card | ||
m-Cresol | |||
NFPA 704
| Diamond | Hazard | Value | Description | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  Health | 3 | Can cause serious or permanent injury. | |||||||||
 Flammability | 2 | Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures before ignition can occur. | ||||||||||
 Instability | 0 | Normally stable, even under fire conditions. | ||||||||||
 Special |
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
Colorless liquid with a sweet tarry odor. Sinks and mixes slowly with water. (USCG, 1999)
Hazards
What is this information?
The Hazard fields include special hazard alerts air and water reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and details about reactive groups assignments and potentially incompatible absorbents. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
none
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Emits highly toxic fumes.
Behavior in Fire: Vapor may form explosive mixture with air. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
INHALATION: Mucosal irritation and systemic poisoning EYES: Intense irritation and pain, swelling of conjunctiva, and corneal damage may occur. SKIN: Intense burning, loss of feeling, wrinkling, white discoloration, and softening. Gangrene may occur. INGESTION: Burning sensation in mouth and esophagus. Vomiting may result. Acute exposure by all routes may cause muscular weakness, gastroenteric disturbances, severe depression, collapse. Effects are primarily on CNS and edema of lungs. Injury of spleen and pancreas may occur. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
M-CRESOL is sensitive to air, light and heat. It is also hygroscopic. This chemical can react vigorously with strong oxidizers and strong bases. It reacts violently with nitric acid, oleum, chlorosulfonic acid, metals and strong acids. If the water content is below approximately 0.3% and the temperature above 248°F, the corrosion of aluminum and its alloys may occur violently. It will attack some forms of plastics, coatings and rubber. (NTP, 1992)
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
- Phenols and Cresols
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents
No information available.
Response Recommendations
What is this information?
The Response Recommendation fields include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 153 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:
IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.
SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.
FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Fire Extinguishing Agents: CO2, dry chemical, foam, water spray. (USCG, 1999)
Non-Fire Response
SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION. Then, use absorbent paper to pick up all liquid spill material. Your contaminated clothing and absorbent paper should be sealed in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with 60-70% ethanol followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.
STORAGE PRECAUTIONS: You should protect this chemical from exposure to light. Keep the container tightly closed under an inert atmosphere, and store under refrigerated temperatures. (NTP, 1992)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for m-Cresol:
Skin: PREVENT SKIN CONTACT - Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.
Eyes: PREVENT EYE CONTACT - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.
Wash skin: WHEN CONTAMINATED - The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.
Remove: WHEN WET OR CONTAMINATED - Work clothing that becomes wet or significantly contaminated should be removed and replaced.
Change: DAILY - Workers whose clothing may have become contaminated should change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises.
Provide:
• EYEWASH - Eyewash fountains should be provided in areas where there is any possibility that workers could be exposed to the substances; this is irrespective of the recommendation involving the wearing of eye protection.
• QUICK DRENCH - Facilities for quickly drenching the body should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use where there is a possibility of exposure. [Note: It is intended that these facilities provide a sufficient quantity or flow of water to quickly remove the substance from any body areas likely to be exposed. The actual determination of what constitutes an adequate quick drench facility depends on the specific circ*mstances. In certain instances, a deluge shower should be readily available, whereas in others, the availability of water from a sink or hose could be considered adequate.] (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.
SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital for treatment after washing the affected areas.
INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.
INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Phenols are very toxic poisons AND corrosive and irritating, so that inducing vomiting may make medical problems worse. IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center and locate activated charcoal, egg whites, or milk in case the medical advisor recommends administering one of them. If advice from a physician is not readily available and the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give the victim a glass of activated charcoal slurry in water or, if this is not available, a glass of milk, or beaten egg whites and IMMEDIATELY transport victim to a hospital. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, assure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)
Physical Properties
What is this information?
The Physical Property fields include properties such as vapor pressure and boiling point, as well as explosive limits and toxic exposure thresholds The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of data sources.
Note: For Vapor Density and Specific Gravity, comparing the value to 1.0 can tell you if the chemical will likely sink/rise in air or sink/float in fresh water (respectively). Short phrases have been added to those values below as an aid. However, make sure to also consider the circ*mstances of a release. The Vapor Density comparisons are only valid when the gas escaping is at the same temperature as the surrounding air itself. If the chemical is escaping from a container where it was pressurized or refrigerated, it may first escape and behave as a heavy gas and sink in the air (even if it has a Vapor Density value less than 1). Also, the Specific Gravity comparisons are for fresh water (density 1.0 g/mL). If your spill is in salt water (density about 1.027 g/mL), you need to adjust the point of comparison. There are some chemicals that will sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
| Chemical Formula: |
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Flash Point: 187°F(NTP, 1992)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): 1.06 %(NTP, 1992)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 1.35 %(NTP, 1992)
Autoignition Temperature: 1038°F(USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: 52.7°F(NTP, 1992)
Vapor Pressure: 0.04 mmHgat 68°F; 1 mmHg at 126°F(NTP, 1992)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): 3.72 (NTP, 1992)- Heavier than air; will sink
Specific Gravity: 1.0336 at 68°F(USCG, 1999)- Denser than water; will sink
Boiling Point: 397°Fat 760 mmHg(NTP, 1992)
Molecular Weight: 108.14 (NTP, 1992)
Water Solubility: 10 to 50 mg/mLat 68°F(NTP, 1992)
Ionization Energy/Potential:8.98 eV(NIOSH, 2023)
IDLH: 250 ppm(NIOSH, 2023)
AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)
No AEGL information available.
ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)
No ERPG information available.
PACs (Protective Action Criteria)
| Chemical | PAC-1 | PAC-2 | PAC-3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresols, all isomers; (includes 95-48-7,108-39-4,106-44-5) | 14 ppm | 25 ppm | 250 ppm | LEL = 11000 ppm |
(DOE, 2018)
Regulatory Information
What is this information?
The Regulatory Information fields include information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of Lists, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List (see more about these data sources).
EPA Consolidated List of Lists
| Regulatory Name | CAS Number/ 313 Category Code | EPCRA 302 EHS TPQ | EPCRA 304 EHS RQ | CERCLA RQ | EPCRA 313 TRI | RCRA Code | CAA 112(r) RMP TQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m-Cresol | 108-39-4 | 100 pounds | 313 | U052 |
(EPA List of Lists, 2022)
CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
No regulatory information available.
OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List
No regulatory information available.
Alternate Chemical Names
What is this information?
This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical, including trade names and synonyms.
- CRESOL (META)
- 3-CRESOL
- 1-HYDROXY-3-METHYLBENZENE
- 3-HYDROXYTOLUENE
- M-CRESOL
- M-CRESOLE
- M-CRESYLIC ACID
- M-HYDROXYTOLUENE
- M-KRESOL
- M-METHYLPHENOL
- M-OXYTOLUENE
- M-TOLUOL
- META-CRESOL
- 3-METHYL PHENOL
- 3-METHYLPHENOL
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