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Chemical Name: N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone
Synonyms: 1-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone
CAS Number: 88-12-0
Use: Usually found in making polymers, used for resins, adhesives, and in medicine and cosmetics as a polymerization building block. Makes its way into things like hair sprays, shampoos, hydrogels, and even some specialty inks.
Hazard Class: Flammable liquid, irritant
Risk Phrases: Can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. May harm aquatic life if released in large quantities.
Signal Word: Warning
Symptoms: Contact with the skin may cause redness, dryness, and discomfort. Vapor inhalation brings headaches, dizziness, and can make your nose and throat sore.
Routes of Exposure: Eye or skin contact and inhalation are the main ways it affects people in the workspace.
Main Ingredient: N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone (typically 99% or greater in concentration)
Impurities: May contain trace amounts of water, other pyrrolidone derivatives, or minor contaminants from manufacturing.
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air, watch for persistent coughing or breathing problems. Seek medical help if symptoms continue.
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with lots of water and soap. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
Eye Contact: Rinse slowly and gently with plenty of water for at least fifteen minutes, holding eyelids open. Get medical attention if discomfort doesn't go away.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water if the person is conscious. Do not force vomiting. Medical attention is important if swallowing happens.
Flammability: N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone burns. Vapors may catch fire in open flame or heat.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder, alcohol-resistant foam. Water spray cools down unburned surfaces.
Hazardous Decomposition: Burning releases toxic fumes, especially oxides of nitrogen and carbon.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters need self-contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing to keep fumes away from skin and lungs.
Special Notes: Containers left in the heat should be moved if it can be done safely. Otherwise, spray cool water to lower pressure build-up.
Personal Precautions: Don’t touch spilled material without gloves and goggles. Ventilate the area right away to clear any buildup of vapors.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent release to drains, waterways, or soil. Even small spills can be harmful to fish and other aquatic creatures.
Cleanup Methods: Absorb spills with dry materials like sand or earth, scoop into containers for disposal. Wash area with water after cleanup.
Disposal: Collected spill should go to an approved chemical waste treatment or incineration site.
Handling: Use only in well-ventilated spaces. Wear gloves and eye protection. Avoid breathing vapors and skin contact. Don’t eat, drink, or smoke around chemical handling.
Storage: Keep containers tightly closed and out of direct sunlight, away from sources of heat and ignition. Store in cool, dry, and well-ventilated rooms. N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone tends to react if exposed to acids, oxidizers, and certain metals. Locked chemical cabinets limit unauthorized access.
Incompatibles: Separated from strong acids, oxidizing agents, and strong bases.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust and fume hoods cut down breathing risks. Good general room ventilation helps.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof goggles, and lab coats or coveralls keep skin safe. For bigger spills or working with high vapor levels, use organic vapor respirators.
Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA or ACGIH limits set for NVP, but working in low concentrations is better for health. Dust masks do not protect against vapors.
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Slightly amine-like, mild
Boiling Point: Around 90 – 96°C at atmospheric pressure
Melting Point: -23°C
Flash Point: Near 90°C (closed cup)
Solubility: Freely mixes with water, ethanol, most organic solvents
Vapor Pressure: Moderate at room temperature
Density: About 1.03 g/cm3
Other Properties: Tends to polymerize if not properly stabilized.
Chemical Stability: Product remains stable under cool, dry storage in sealed containers. Heat, light, and air speed up unwanted chemical changes.
Polymerization Risk: Without stabilizers like MEHQ (monomethyl ether hydroquinone), NVP may polymerize, releasing heat.
Reactive With: Strong acids, bases, and oxidizers; these could trigger a reaction leading to pressure or rupture in containers.
Hazardous Decomposition: Uncontrolled heat breaks it down to nitrogen and carbon oxides, causing additional hazards.
Acute Toxicity: Inhalation, swallowing, or skin contact can cause headaches, skin rash, and eye irritation. Animal studies show low to moderate toxicity, but repeated and prolonged skin contact can worsen irritation.
Chronic Effects: Long-term exposure may dry or crack the skin. Some reports link NVP to mild liver and kidney stress in animal testing under repeated high-level exposure.
Carcinogenicity: Not listed by IARC, ACGIH, or NTP as carcinogenic. Animal data do not show clear cancer risk at workplace exposure levels.
Other Effects: Can bring on allergic skin reactions for sensitive individuals.
Aquatic Toxicity: May hurt aquatic life, especially if dumped in large amounts. High concentrations from a spill could affect water quality and fish health.
Persistence and Degradability: Tends to break down in the environment over time, but the process depends on temperature, sunlight, and microbial activity.
Bioaccumulation: Little evidence shows it builds up in living things, but runoff into waterways should be avoided.
Wastewater Dispersion: Heavy industrial discharges shouldn’t reach rivers or municipal drains.
Waste Handling: Small amounts can go as chemical waste, larger quantities belong at a licensed hazardous waste plant or incinerator.
Container Disposal: Empty containers hold vapor and residue, so they need triple rinsing and puncturing before going to recycling or landfill.
Environmental Laws: All disposal must respect local and federal rules to keep the environment safe.
UN Number: UN 2810
Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substance)
Packing Group: III
Labeling: Marked as toxic for shipping purposes. In bulk, vehicles need placards.
Transport Precautions: Secure containers tightly. Avoid rough handling or temperature swings that might cause leaks or breakage. Local transport laws may ask for special permits, especially on public roads.
International Rules: REACH and other European regulations track and control manufacture, import, and use.
US Regulations: NVP appears on TSCA inventory. Disposal and reporting follow guidelines from the EPA and local state agencies.
Worker Safety: OSHA covers chemical handling, so workplaces have to maintain safety data on hand, offer proper training, provide protection, and allow for emergency response.
Community Considerations: Big users need plans for pollution prevention, spill response, and public notification if a major incident occurs.
