Question

Is castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-40 harmful to human body? Does it have an impact on the environment?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 蓖麻油聚氧乙烯醚EL-40

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-40 poses certain hazards to both human health and the environment: it is irritating to skin and eyes, harmful to aquatic life, and may cause long-term environmental impacts.

Effects on Human Health

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-40 is a irritant substance. According to GHS classification criteria, its skin corrosion/irritation is Category 2, serious eye damage/eye irritation is Category 2, and the signal word is "Warning". The specific hazards are as follows:

Skin contact: May cause skin irritation (H315), manifested as redness, pain, etc. If contact occurs, immediately remove contaminated clothing and rinse with plenty of running water and soap for at least 15 minutes. If irritation persists, seek medical attention.

Eye contact: May cause serious eye irritation (H319). Immediately lift eyelids and rinse gently with plenty of running water or saline solution for at least 15 minutes, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible. If wearing contact lenses, remove them during the initial rinsing.

Inhalation and ingestion: If inhaled, move the patient to fresh air and keep breathing unobstructed; if ingested, do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth with water and seek medical attention immediately. Overall, under normal industrial use conditions, as long as standard operating procedures are followed and protective equipment (such as chemical safety gloves, protective goggles, protective clothing) is worn, health risks can be minimized.

Environmental Impact

This product is harmful to aquatic life and may cause long-term persistent effects in the aquatic environment (H412). This means that even at low concentrations, it may produce chronic toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems such as fish and plankton, and is not easily degraded quickly in the natural environment.

In the event of a spill emergency, the product must be prevented from entering soil, sewers, surface water or groundwater systems. If a spill occurs, immediately contain and absorb with inert absorbent materials (such as sand, vermiculite), and dispose of the absorbed waste as hazardous waste through professional agencies. It is strictly prohibited to discharge untreated product or wastewater containing this product directly into municipal sewage networks or natural waters.

Safe Use Recommendations

Personal Protective Measures

  • Must wear chemical safety gloves, protective goggles or face shield, and appropriate work clothing during operation
  • Ensure the work area is well-ventilated, and use local exhaust ventilation if necessary
  • After work, thoroughly wash hands and exposed skin with soap and water
  • No eating, drinking or smoking in the work area

Storage and Disposal

  • Storage temperature is recommended to be maintained between 5°C and 35°C, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place
  • Keep container tightly closed, away from ignition sources, heat sources and direct sunlight; avoid coexistence with strong oxidizers and strong acids
  • Waste chemicals and contaminated containers must be disposed of at approved chemical waste treatment facilities in accordance with local, national and international environmental regulations