Right to Know

Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: KEROSENE
Synonyms: Fuel Oil #1; Jet Fuel (Aviation Kerosene); Range Oil CAS Number: 8008-20-6
Chemical Name: Kerosine (Petroleum) RTK Substance Number: 1091
Date: April 2012 Revision: July 2016 DOT Number: UN 1223

Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE

Kerosene is a colorless to yellowish, oily liquid with a strong Hazard Summary
odor. It is a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons and is used in Hazard Rating NJDHSS NFPA
heating oil, lamps, stoves, flares, degreasers, pesticides and HEALTH - 2
paint thinners, and as jet fuel. FLAMMABILITY - 2
REACTIVITY - 0
 ODOR THRESHOLD = 0.1 ppm
COMBUSTIBLE
 Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone to
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE
determine potentially hazardous exposures.
CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE

Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious;

Reasons for Citation 4=severe
 Kerosene is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance
 Kerosene can affect you when inhaled and by passing
List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH,
through the skin.
NTP, DEP, IARC, IRIS, NFPA and EPA.
 Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Prolonged or repeated
exposure can cause burns and itching of the skin with rash,
redness and blisters.
 Inhaling Kerosene can irritate the nose, throat and lungs.
 High exposure can affect the nervous system causing
headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness,
restlessness, disorientation and drowsiness. Convulsions
and coma may follow very high exposure.
SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5.  Kerosene may damage the kidneys.

FIRST AID Workplace Exposure Limits

Eye Contact NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is
 Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 100 mg/m3 averaged over a 10-hour workshift.
minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact
lenses, if worn, while rinsing. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 200 mg/m3 (does
not apply to aerosol vapor) averaged over an 8-hour
Skin Contact workshift.
 Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash
contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water.  The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin
contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though
Inhalation air levels are less than the limits listed above.
 Remove the person from exposure.
 Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if
breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped.
 Transfer promptly to a medical facility.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300
NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337
National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802
KEROSENE Page 2 of 6

Determining Your Exposure Reproductive Hazard

 According to the information presently available to the New
 Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product Kerosene has been tested and has not been shown to affect
ingredients and important safety and health information reproduction.
about the product mixture.
Other Effects
 For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New
 Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause burns and
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services itching of the skin with rash, redness and blisters.
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK  Kerosene can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may
Program website cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, and/or
(http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/ri shortness of breath.
ght-to-know/) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or  Kerosene may damage the kidneys.
Hazard Communication Standard file.
 You have a right to this information under the New Jersey
Medical
Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public
Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Medical Testing
if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the
following are recommended:
federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you
are a private worker.  Lung function tests
 The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most  Kidney function tests
employers to label chemicals in the workplace and  Exam of the nervous system
requires public employers to provide their employees with
Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and
information concerning chemical hazards and controls.
present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for
The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication exposure.
Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide
similar information and training to their employees. You have a legal right to request copies of your medical testing
under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical
This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020).
regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure.
Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other Mixed Exposures
factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential  Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer,
effects described below. emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen
respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if
you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce
Health Hazard Information your risk of developing health problems.

Acute Health Effects

The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur
immediately or shortly after exposure to Kerosene:

 Contact can irritate the skin and eyes.

 Inhaling Kerosene can irritate the nose and throat causing
coughing and wheezing.
 High exposure can affect the nervous system causing
headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness,
restlessness, disorientation and drowsiness. Convulsions
and coma may follow very high exposure.

Chronic Health Effects

The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at
some time after exposure to Kerosene and can last for months
or years:

Cancer Hazard
 While Kerosene has been tested, it is not classifiable as to
its potential to cause cancer.
KEROSENE Page 3 of 6

Workplace Controls and Practices Respiratory Protection

Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators
Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or
should only be used if the employer has implemented a written
sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less
program that takes into account workplace conditions,
toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures
requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and
include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely
medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory
irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust
Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Only NIOSH
ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single
approved respirators should be used.
exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control
exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on
workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control  Where the potential exists for exposure over 100 mg/m3,
Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. use a NIOSH approved respirator with an organic vapor
cartridge. More protection is provided by a full facepiece
The following work practices are also recommended: respirator than by a half-mask respirator, and even greater
protection is provided by a powered-air purifying respirator.
 Label process containers.  Leave the area immediately if (1) while wearing a filter or
 Provide employees with hazard information and training. cartridge respirator you can smell, taste, or otherwise detect
 Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. Kerosene, (2) while wearing particulate filters abnormal
 Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed resistance to breathing is experienced, or (3) eye irritation
recommended exposure levels. occurs while wearing a full facepiece respirator. Check to
 Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is,
 Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good,
material. you may need a new respirator.
 Always wash at the end of the workshift.  Consider all potential sources of exposure in your workplace.
 Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges
contaminated. to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as
 Do not take contaminated clothing home. vapor and mist) or against a mixture of chemicals.
 Get special training to wash contaminated clothing.  Where the potential for exposure over 290 mg/m3, use a
 Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece
being handled, processed or stored. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure
 Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, mode. For increased protection use in combination with an
applying cosmetics or using the toilet. auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an
emergency escape air cylinder.

Personal Protective Equipment

Fire Hazards
The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR
If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained
1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard
personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train (29 CFR 1910.156).
employees on how and when to use protective equipment.
 Kerosene is a COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID.
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may  Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or foam as extinguishing
not apply to every situation. agents.
 Water may not be effective in fighting fires.
 POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE.
Gloves and Clothing  CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE.
 Avoid skin contact with Kerosene. Wear personal protective  Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.
equipment made from material that can not be permeated or  Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance to cause
degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers a fire or explosion far from the source.
and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the  Flow or agitation may generate electrostatic charges.
most protective glove and clothing material for your  Kerosene may form an ignitable vapor/air mixture in closed
operation. tanks or containers.
 The recommended glove materials for Kerosene are Nitrile,
Viton, Viton/Butyl and Barrier®.
 The recommended protective clothing materials for
Kerosene are Tychem® F, BR, CSM and TK, or the
equivalent.
 All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear)
should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.

Eye Protection
 Wear indirect vent goggles when working with liquids that
may splash, spray or mist. A face shield is also required if
the liquid is severely irritating or corrosive to the skin and
eyes.
KEROSENE Page 4 of 6

Spills and Emergencies Occupational Health Information

If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be
Resources
properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste
Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
1910.120) may apply. Occupational Health Service, offers multiple services in
occupational health. These services include providing
If Kerosene is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: informational resources, educational materials, public
presentations, and industrial hygiene and medical
 Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the investigations and evaluations.
area.
 Eliminate all ignition sources.
 Absorb liquids in dry sand, earth, or a similar material and
For more information, please contact:
place into sealed containers for disposal.
 Keep Kerosene out of confined spaces, such as sewers,
because of the possibility of an explosion. New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services
 Ventilate area of spill or leak. Right to Know Program
 DO NOT wash into sewer. PO Box 368
 It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Kerosene as Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Phone: 609-984-2202
Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the
federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific Fax: 609-984-7407
recommendations. E-mail: [email protected]
Web address:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/
Handling and Storage right-to-know/
Prior to working with Kerosene you should be trained on its
proper handling and storage. The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
are not intended to be copied and sold
for commercial purposes.
 Kerosene is not compatible with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such
as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES,
CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and
FLUORINE) and NITRIC ACID.
 Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are
prohibited where Kerosene is used, handled, or stored.
 Metal containers involving the transfer of Kerosene should
be grounded and bonded.
 Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when
opening and closing containers of Kerosene.
 Kerosene may accumulate static electricity.
KEROSENE Page 5 of 6

GLOSSARY

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of
Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of
Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. continuing an explosion.
mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air.
Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established
It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume).
by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from
once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals.
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation
is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations
Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can
can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.
change its physical state from a liquid to a gas.
NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer.
substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.
The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned by
NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
the Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical.
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves
respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and
CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the
proposes standards to OSHA.
regulations of the United States government.
NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals
A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn.
and reviews evidence for cancer.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health
destruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers.
Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety
standards.
The critical temperature is the temperature above which a
gas cannot be liquefied, regardless of the pressure applied.
PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational
Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental
safety standards in public workplaces.
Protection.
Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency
materials.
that regulates the transportation of chemicals.
ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal
measure of concentration by volume in air.
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards.
Protective Action Criteria (PAC) are values established by
ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for
the Department of Energy and are based on AEGLs and
emergency responders for transportation emergencies
ERPGs. They are used for emergency planning of chemical
involving hazardous substances.
release events.
Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values
A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
provide estimates of concentration ranges where one
energy under certain conditions.
reasonably might anticipate observing adverse effects.
STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15-
A fetus is an unborn human or animal.
minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time
during a work day.
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will
ignite easily and burn rapidly.
A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
damaging the fetus.
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.
UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in
air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a
reaction or explosion.
scientific group.
Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of
Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to
one gas to the weight of another (usually Air), at the same
remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured
temperature and pressure.
in electron volts.
The vapor pressure is a force exerted by the vapor in
IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database on
equilibrium with the solid or liquid phase of the same
human health effects that may result from exposure to various
substance. The higher the vapor pressure the higher
chemicals, maintained by federal EPA.
concentration of the substance in air.
 Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

Common Name: KEROSENE

Synonyms: Fuel Oil #1; Jet Fuel (Aviation Kerosene); Range Oil
CAS No: 8008-20-6
Molecular Formula: Varies
RTK Substance No: 1091
Description: Colorless to yellowish, oily liquid with a strong odor

HAZARD DATA
Hazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity
COMBUSTIBLE Kerosene is not compatible with OXIDIZING AGENTS
2 - Health
Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or foam as (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES,
2 - Fire extinguishing agents. PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES,
0 - Reactivity Water may not be effective in fighting fires. CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and NITRIC
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. ACID.
DOT#: UN 1223 CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE.
ERG Guide #: 128 Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers
cool.
Hazard Class: 3 Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance
(Flammable) to cause a fire or explosion far from the source.
Flow or agitation may generate electrostatic
charges.
Kerosene may form an ignitable vapor/air mixture
in closed tanks or containers.

SPILL/LEAKS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Odor Threshold: 0.1 ppm
Isolation Distance:
Flash Point: 100o to 162oF (38o to 72oC)
Spill: 50 meters (150 feet) LEL: 0.7%
Fire: 800 meters (1/2 mile) UEL: 5%
Absorb liquids in dry sand, earth, or a similar material Auto Ignition Temp: 351o to 624oF (177o to 329oC)
and place into sealed containers for disposal. Vapor Density: 4.5 (air = 1)
Use only non-sparking tools and equipment. Vapor Pressure: 2 to 5 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC)
Specific Gravity: 0.81 to 0.95 (water = 1)
DO NOT wash into sewer.
Water Solubility: Insoluble
Kerosene is dangerous to aquatic life at high
Boiling Point: 304o to 574oF (151o to 301oC)
concentrations.
Freezing Point: -30oF (-34oC)
Molecular Weight: 170 (approximately)

EXPOSURE LIMITS PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

OSHA: None Gloves: Nitrile, Viton, Viton/Butyl, Barrier® (>8-hr breakthrough)
NIOSH: 100 mg/m3, 10-hr TWA Coveralls: DuPont Tychem® F, BR, CSM and TK (>8-hr breakthrough)
ACGIH: 200 mg/m3, 8-hr TWA Use turnout gear or flash protection if ignition/fire is the
The Protective Action Criteria values are: greatest hazard.
PAC-1 = 290 mg/m3 PAC-2 = 1,100 mg/m3 Respirator: >100 mg/m3 - full-facepiece APR with Organic vapor cartridge
PAC-3 = 4,100 mg/m3 >290 mg/m3 or fire - SCBA

HEALTH EFFECTS FIRST AID AND DECONTAMINATION

Eyes: Irritation Remove the person from exposure.
Skin: Irritation Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove
Inhalation: contact lenses.
Nose and throat irritation with coughing
and wheezing Quickly remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with
large amounts of soap and water.
Headache, dizziness, nausea and
vomiting, weakness, restlessness, Begin artificial respiration if breathing has stopped and CPR if necessary.
disorientation and drowsiness Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
Convulsions and coma may follow very
high exposure
July 2016