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Substance Name: Benzoyl Peroxide
Common Names: BPO, Dibenzoyl Peroxide
Appearance: White, granular or crystalline powder with a faint, sharp smell
Main Uses: Commonly found in acne treatments, dental pastes, and as a polymerization initiator in plastics
Physical Hazard: Strong oxidizing agent, explosive risk when dry or heated, can readily ignite organic materials
Health Hazard: Irritant to eyes, skin, and respiratory system, low toxicity if swallowed but may cause abdominal pain or headache, prolonged or repeated contact causes dermatitis
Environmental Hazard: Harmful to aquatic life, persistent in the environment, can contribute to water contamination
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Symbols: Exploding bomb (explosive), flame over circle (oxidizer), exclamation mark (irritant)
Main Component: Benzoyl Peroxide, technical grade usually above 98% pure
Impurities: Trace stabilizers, possible phthalates depending on grade, but primarily pure substance used in industry
Chemical Formula: C14H10O4
Molecular Weight: 242.1 g/mol
Eye Contact: Flush with plenty of running water for at least 15 minutes, seek medical help if irritation persists
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing, watch for redness or inflammation
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, seek medical attention for coughing, difficulty breathing, or persistent symptoms
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting, seek immediate medical assistance, watch for abdominal discomfort
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, foam, or dry chemical, avoid CO2 as it may not cool product sufficiently
Hazards from Combustion: Produces benzoic acid, benzene, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, releases toxic fumes
Special Precautions: Firefighters need full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, keep cool with water spray to avoid explosion
Unusual Fire Behavior: Container rupture possible under intense heat, materials nearby can catch fire easily due to strong oxidizer nature
Personal Protection: Use gloves, dust mask or respirator, goggles, avoid breathing dust, isolate area until clean-up is done
Environmental Caution: Prevent spills from entering drains or water bodies, avoid sweeping dry powder into air
Clean-Up Method: Collect wet, using non-sparking tools, transfer to container with water for safe disposal, ventilate the area
Handling: Avoid rough handling, impact or friction which may cause explosion, keep away from heat, flames, and reducing agents
Storage: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, separate from incompatible materials like strong acids, bases, and organic substances, keep container tightly closed, do not store large volumes near populated areas
Other Requirements: Clearly label containers, prevent sources of static electricity, rotate stock regularly to avoid long-term decomposition risks
Occupational Exposure Limits: ACGIH TLV set at 5 mg/m3 as 8-hour TWA
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation, process enclosure, avoid raising dust
Personal Protective Equipment: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and lab coat, use NIOSH-approved respirator if dust levels exceed limits
Good Hygiene Practices: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, no eating or smoking nearby, remove contaminated clothing promptly
State: Solid, usually crystalline or powder
Colour: White
Odour: Faint, aromatic
Melting Point: 103 – 106 °C
Decomposition Temperature: Breaks down rapidly above 50 °C, strong exotherm
Solubility in Water: Practically insoluble, soluble in acetone, ethers
Vapour Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Density: 1.33 g/cm³
Chemical Stability: Unstable at high temperatures; breaks down with heat, friction or contamination
Conditions to Avoid: Sunlight, open flames, sparks, or impact
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, bases, amines, heavy metal salts, reducing agents, flammable solvents
Hazardous Decomposition: Releases toxic fumes, including benzene and carbon monoxide during decomposition
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: May detonate in confined spaces under heat or shock
Routes of Exposure: Eyes, skin, inhalation, ingestion
Acute Effects: Redness, itching, burning on contact with skin or eyes, coughing or nose/throat irritation on inhalation, possible gastrointestinal distress after ingestion
Chronic Effects: May cause skin sensitization or dermatitis over time, repeated exposure not associated with cancer or systemic toxicity, but caution always warranted
Carcinogenicity: No evidence for carcinogenicity in humans at occupational levels
Other Information: Occasional allergic reactions reported in medical and industrial use
Aquatic Toxicity: Harmful to fish and other aquatic life, not rapidly biodegradable
Persistence: Remains in environment, especially in sediment, can break down to benzoic acid
Bioaccumulation: Not expected to bioaccumulate significantly, but chronic contamination has environmental impacts
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spills, avoid release into waterways, environmental clean-up should focus on containment and removal
Waste Handling: Do not dump down the drain or in regular garbage, must be treated as hazardous waste
Preferred Disposal Method: Incineration in a licensed facility with proper air scrubbing
Contaminated Packaging: Empty containers need thorough rinsing and disposal as hazardous material
UN Number: 3108 for benzoyl peroxide, dry and UN 3106 for paste (at least 40% water or phlegmatizer by mass)
Hazard Class: 5.2 Organic Peroxides
Packing Group: II (substances presenting medium danger)
Special Precautions: Keep cool during transport, minimize movement, clearly mark containers as hazardous material
Regulated Shipping Names: Benzoyl peroxide, dry or paste, as appropriate
Occupational Safety Regulations: Listed under OSHA regulations as hazardous, subject to workplace exposure controls
Environmental Rules: Subject to restrictions for discharge to water, covered under major environmental protection frameworks like EPA’s hazardous waste listings
Workplace Labelling: Requires hazard pictograms under GHS, specific warning and risk phrases
Consumer Products: Permitted with warning statements in over-the-counter acne medications, restricted concentration limits
