Key Points

Fire

• Flammable
• Reacts with strong oxidants, causing fire and explosion hazard. Attacks some forms of plastics, rubber and coatings
• Emits acrid fumes and may explode when heated to decomposition.
• In the event of a fire involving white spirit, use normal foam and normal fire kit with breathing apparatus

Health

• Toxic by inhalation and ingestion. Irritating to skin and eyes.
• CHIP: Carcinogenic, mutagenic and harmful
• Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Systemic symptoms include drowsiness, lethargy, ataxia, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmias, coma and respiratory collapse
• Aspiration into the lungs causes pneumonitis. Signs and symptoms may progress over 24 - 48 hours
• Inhalation may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, respiratory tract irritation, euphoria, delirium, tremor, lethargy, ataxia and drowsiness.
• Dermal exposure can cause irritation, drying, cracking, erythema and blistering. Rarely systemic toxicity may arise.
• Ocular exposure may cause irritation to the eyes causing an immediate stinging and burning sensation with lacrimation.

Environment

• Avoid release into the environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial incidents

All sections are available to download in PDF format.

• Incident Management (PDF, 66 KB)
  White Spirit - Incident Management
  Added/updated: 28 June 2011