ARCHIVED REPORTS XR0001898 - Laserfiche WebLink

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XYLENE ' Known Site Contaminant- Xylene ' Highest Concentration Observed. (specify units and media) ' Contaminant Data. I Fire and Explosion Hazard ' Flammable/combustible material, may be ignited by heat, sparks or flames Vapors may travel to a source of ignition and flash back Container may explode in heat of fire Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard (DOT, 1984) Protective Clothing Avoid breathing vapors Keep upwind Wear boots, protective gloves, and goggles Do not handle broken packages without protective equipment Wash away any material that may have contacted the ' body with copious amounts of water or soap and water ((C)AAR, 1986) Health Hazards ' May be poisonous if inhaled Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation Contact may irritate skin and eyes Fire may produce irritating or poisonous gases Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution (DOT, 1984) General Description Xylene is a clear colorless liquid with a characteristic aromatic odor It is used as a solvent for paints and adhesives, and to make other chemicals It has a flash point of 81-90 EF It is tighter than water and ' insoluble in water In very high concentrations, vapors are heavier than air ((C)AAR, 1986) Fire Fighting Procedures ' Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped Use water in flooding quantities as fog Solid streams of water may spread fire Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water Apply water from as far a distance as possible Use foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical ((C)AAR, 1986) Spill Cleanup Keep sparks,flames,and other sources of ignition away Keep material out of water sources and sewers ' Build dikes to contain flow as necessary Attempt to stop leak if without hazard Use water spray to knock-down vapors Land spill Dig a pit,pond,lagoon,holding area to contain liquid or solid material Dike surface flow using soil, sand bags, foamed polyurethane,or foamed concrete Absorb bulk liquid with fly ash, cement powder, sawdust, or commercial sorbents Apply "universal" gelling agent to immobilize spill Apply fluorocarbon-water foam to diminish vapor and fire hazard Water spill Use natural barriers or oil spill control booms to limit spill motion Use surface active agent(e g detergent, ' soaps, alcohols) to compress and thicken spilled material Inject "universal" gelling agent to solidify encircled spill and increase effectiveness of booms If dissolved,apply activated carbon at ten times the spilled amount in region of 10 ppm or greater concentration Remove trapped material with suction hoses Use mechanical dredges or lifts to remove immobilized masses of pollutants and precipitates Air ' spill Apply water spray or mist to knock down vapors ((C)AAR, 1986) First Aid Page 26 of 27