The Chemicals That Surround Me at Work

As a nurse and research who works in a hospital, I realize that I am exposed to many chemicals and hazards throughout my day which I might now even notice. I decided to find a product that is commonly used at the hospital in order to clean and polish surfaces.

Name of the Chemical:
Methyl 1 Soyate (Product Description: N.C.C.E Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish)

• What are the health risk associated with this chemical? 
• Eyes: May be an eye ilTitant
• Inhalation: Negligible unless heated to produce vapors. Vapors or finely misted material may irritate the mucous membranes and cause irritation, dizziness, and nausea.
• Skin Prolonged skin contact is not likely to cause significant irritation. Material encountered at elevated temperatures may cause thermal burns.
• Ingestion: No hazards anticipated from incidental ingestion or industrial exposure.

• Is the chemical a carcinogen?
• None of the components in this product at concentration of 0.1% or greater listed by the NTP, IARC or OSHA as carcinogens.

• What personal protective equipment or special precautions should be taken when working with this chemical?
• Use of chemical-resistant apron or other impervious clothing, and rubber boots if necessary, to avoid contaminating regular clothing and shoes and to prevent skin contact.
• Respiratory Protection: Not normally required in well-ventilated area. Use of NIOSH approved air-purifying respirator with an organic vapor cartridge if there is a reasonable possibility for harmful exposure to vapors or mist.
• Ventilation: Provide sufficient mechanical (general and/or local exhaust ventilation) to maintain vapor mist concentrations below exposure limits.
• Protective gloves: Use chemical-resistant rubber gloves to prevent skin contact

• If this is a chemical found in your workplace, what training/education were you given about any risks associated with this chemical?
• I was given no education or training on the chemical risks. 

ToxNet

Where there any discrepancies regarding the potential health effects noted in the MSDS?

• No information on ToxNet

What are the potential dangers associated with the chemical and product you looked up? 

Methyl soyate is a mixture of long-chain fatty acid methyl esters. This class of chemicals has not been well characterized as to carcinogenic activity; very limited evidence raises an unresolved question about possible weak activity as a skin tumor promoter. Fatty acid esters are generally non-mutagenic. Some researchers suggest that fatty acid ethyl esters may play a role in ethanol induced organ damage. 

No data were found on consumer, environmental, or occupational exposure to methyl soyate in the available literature. Methyl soyate has been developed since the National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES) was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in 1981-1983. 

Was the MSDS an adequate tool for a worker to use to gain an understanding about the potential health risks and how to protect him/herself?

• In this case, the MSDS was the only tool to look up what Methyl 1 Soyate is since there was not any information about it on ToxNet and it has not been investigated by the Federal Government since 1981-1983.

Links:

https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/methylsoyate_508.pdf