Butylated hydroxytoluene SDS/MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)

3.1 Substances
Product name: Butylated hydroxytoluene
CAS Number: 128-37-0
PubChem CID: 31404
Molecular formula: C15H24O
Molecular weight: 220.35 g/mol
IUPAC name: 2,6-ditert-butyl-4-methylphenol

3.2 Mixtures
Not applicable (pure substance).

4.1 Description of first aid measures
Inhalation: Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.
Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.
Eye contact: First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth. Rest. Refer for medical attention .

4.2 Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
See Section 11 (Toxicological Information).

4.3 Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed
Treat symptomatically. Contact a poison control center or physician for severe exposure.

5.1 Extinguishing media
Suitable: Water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide (CO2), alcohol-resistant foam.
Unsuitable: None known.

5.2 Specific hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Fires involving this compound should be controlled with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide or Halon extinguisher. (NTP, 1992)
Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.
Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
To fight fire, use carbon dioxide, dry chemical.
Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or alcohol foam extinguishers. Water or foam may cause frothing. ... If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Notify local health and fire officials and pollution control agencies. From a secure, explosion-proof location, use water spray to cool exposed containers. If cooling streams are ineffective (venting sound increases in volume and pitch, tank discolors, or shows any signs of deforming), withdraw immediately to a secure position. ... The only respirators recommended for firefighting are self-contained breathing apparatuses that have full face-pieces and are operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

5.3 Advice for firefighters
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full protective clothing.
Fight fire from upwind. Cool containers with water spray until fire is extinguished.
Flash point: 260 °F (NTP, 1992)

6.1 Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (see Section 8).
Avoid breathing dust/vapor. Ensure adequate ventilation.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Keep people away from and upwind of spill.

6.2 Environmental precautions
Prevent product from entering drains, waterways, or soil.
Contain spill with inert absorbent material.

6.3 Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up
Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Discharge into the environment must be avoided. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Pick up and arrange disposal without creating dust. Sweep up and shovel. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete. Remove all ignition sources. Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. Ventilate area after cleanup is complete. It may be necessary to contain and dispose of this chemical as a hazardous waste. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters.
SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.
SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.
Product: Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company; Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Precautions for safe handling: Further processing of solid materials may result in the formation of combustible dusts. The potential for combustible dust formation should be taken into consideration before additional processing occurs. Provide appropriate exhaust ventilation at places where dust is formed.
Appropriate engineering controls: Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.
For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for 2,6-DI-T-BUTYL-P-CRESOL (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

7.1 Precautions for safe handling
SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: Should a spill occur while you are handling this chemical, you should dampen the solid spill material with alcohol, then transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with alcohol to pick up any remaining material. Seal the absorbent paper, and any of your clothes, which may be contaminated, in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with alcohol followed by washing with a strong soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminate area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.
STORAGE PRECAUTIONS: You should store this chemical under refrigerated temperatures and keep it away from all oxidizing materials. (NTP, 1992)
Separated from strong oxidants and strong bases. Well closed.
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids.
General storage may be used. .. A regulated, marked area should be established where this chemical is handled, used, or stored in compliance with OSHA Standard 1910.1045. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from oxidizing agents (such as peroxides, permanganates, chlorates, perchlorates, and nitrates).

7.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
Separated from strong oxidants and strong bases. Well closed.
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Storage class (TRGS 510): Non Combustible Solids.
General storage may be used. .. A regulated, marked area should be established where this chemical is handled, used, or stored in compliance with OSHA Standard 1910.1045. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from oxidizing agents (such as peroxides, permanganates, chlorates, perchlorates, and nitrates).
Store away from incompatible materials (see Section 10).
[Note: Specific storage temperature not available in public databases. Refer to supplier Certificate of Analysis (COA) for exact storage conditions.]

9.1 Information on basic physical and chemical properties
a) Appearance: Butylated hydroxytoluene is a white crystalline solid. (NTP, 1992)
b) Odor: Very faint, musty, occasional cresylic-type odor
c) Odor threshold: No data available
d) pH: No data available
e) Melting point/freezing point: 156 to 160 °F (NTP, 1992)
f) Initial boiling point and boiling range: 509 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992)
g) Flash point: 260 °F (NTP, 1992)
h) Evaporation rate: No data available
i) Flammability (solid, gas): No data available
j) Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: No data available
k) Vapor pressure: 0.01 mmHg (NIOSH, 2024)
l) Vapor density: No data available
m) Relative density: 1.048 at 68 °F (NTP, 1992) - Denser than water; will sink
n) Water solubility: less than 1 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992)
o) Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water: Log P (n-octanol/water): 5.3
p) Auto-ignition temperature: No data available
q) Decomposition temperature: No data available
r) Viscosity: 3.47 centistokes at 0 °C; 1.54 centistokes at 120 °C
s) Explosive properties: No data available
t) Oxidizing properties: No data available

9.2 Other information
Topological Polar Surface Area (TPSA): 20.2 Ų
Complexity: 207

11.1 Information on toxicological effects
Acute toxicity:
No acute toxicity data available.
Skin corrosion/irritation:
No data available.
Serious eye damage/eye irritation:
No data available.
Respiratory or skin sensitization:
May cause an allergic skin reaction (H317).
Germ cell mutagenicity:
No data available.
Carcinogenicity:
No data available.
Reproductive toxicity:
Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child (H361).
Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure):
H370, H373
Specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure):
No data available.
Aspiration hazard:
No data available.

11.2 Additional information
Carcinogen classification:
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
Volume 40: (1986) Some Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Food Components, Furocoumarins and Ultraviolet Radiation
Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print)
1987
1987
Butylated hydroxytoluene
TR-150: Bioassay of Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) for Possible Carcinogenicity (CASRN 128-37-0) (1979 )
Exposure routes:
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.
inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
Ingestion; Inhalation
Signs and symptoms of exposure:
Cough. Sore throat.
Redness.
Redness. Pain.
Abdominal pain. Confusion. Dizziness. Nausea. Vomiting.
irritation eyes, skin; In Animals: decreased growth rate, increased liver weight
Data source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) via PubChem.

12.1 Toxicity
EC50; Species: Daphnia pulex (Water Flea) age <24 hr, neonate; Conditions: freshwater, static, 17 °C; Concentration: 1440 ug/L for 48 hr; Effect: intoxication, immobilization /> or =96% purity/
LC50; Species: Oryzias latipes (Japanese Medaka); Conditions: freshwater, static, 10 °C; Concentration: 17500 ug/L for 24 hr /formulation/
LC50; Species: Oryzias latipes (Japanese Medaka); Conditions: freshwater, static, 20 °C; Concentration: 13500 ug/L for 24 hr /formulation/
LC50; Species: Oryzias latipes (Japanese Medaka); Conditions: freshwater, static, 30 °C; Concentration: 5300 ug/L for 24 hr /formulation/
For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for 2,6-DI-T-BUTYL-P-CRESOL (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.
/AQUATIC SPECIES/ ... We have studied the liver deposition and toxicological effects in salmon fed graded levels of BHT during a 12-week feeding followed by a 2-week depuration period using chemical, molecular, and catalytic assays. In general, our data showed that BHT was significantly retained in the liver and selectively modulated toxicological responses in the xenobiotic biotransformation pathways during the feeding period. Specifically, BHT produced consistent dose- and time-specific gene expression patterns for AhR2alpha, AhR2beta, CYP1A1, CYP3A, UGT1, and GSTpi. The effect of BHT on the gene expression of biotransformation enzyme did not parallel enzyme activity levels, suggesting a possible inhibition by parent BHT or its metabolites. As a safety precaut

12.2 Persistence and degradability
No data available.

12.3 Bioaccumulative potential
Log P (n-octanol/water): 5.3
Potential for bioaccumulation exists (Log P > 3).

12.4 Mobility in soil
No data available.

12.5 Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
PBT/vPvB assessment not available.

12.6 Other adverse effects
This substance is classified as hazardous to the aquatic environment.

13.1 Waste treatment methods
Waste Treatment Methods: Waste material must be disposed of in accordance with national and local regulations. Leave chemicals in original containers and do not mix with other waste. Handle uncleaned containers in the same manner as the product itself.

14.1 UN number
Not regulated as dangerous goods (research quantities typically exempt).

14.2 UN proper shipping name
Not subject to transport regulations (small quantities for research use).

14.3 Transport hazard class(es)
Not classified as dangerous goods for transport (research quantities).

14.4 Packing group
Not applicable (not regulated as dangerous goods in typical research quantities).

14.5 Environmental hazards
Marine pollutant: Yes (classified as environmentally hazardous per GHS).

14.6 Special precautions for user
Transport in original packaging. Ensure containers are tightly sealed.
For bulk or commercial quantities, consult applicable transport regulations (DOT, IATA, IMDG).

14.7 Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code
Not applicable.

15.1 Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture
US EPA / TSCA: Subject to EPA TSCA regulations
EU ECHA / REACH: Registered (REACH Active)

SARA 302 Components:
No chemicals in this material are subject to the reporting requirements of SARA Title III, Section 302.
SARA 313 Components:
This material does not contain any chemical components with known CAS numbers that exceed the threshold (De Minimis) reporting levels established by SARA Title III, Section 313.
SARA 311/312 Hazards:
Acute (short-term) health hazard
Chronic (long-term) health hazard
Environmental hazard

Massachusetts Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Massachusetts Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
Pennsylvania Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
New Jersey Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the New Jersey Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.

California Prop. 65 Components:
This product does not contain any chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or any other reproductive harm.

Other regulatory listings:
- The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals: Chemical: Phenol, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-
- EFSA Legal Basis: Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 (amended)
- FIFRA Requirements: Residues of butylated hydroxytoluene are exempted from the requirement of a tolerance when used as an antioxidant in accordance with good agricultural practice as inert (or occasionally active) ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops or to raw agricultural commodities after ha
- FDA Requirements: The food additive BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), alone or in combination with other antioxidants permitted in this subpart B may be safely used in or on specified foods, as follows: (a) The BHT meets the following specification: Assay (total BHT) 99 percent minimum. (b) The BHT is used alone or i

15.2 Chemical safety assessment
A chemical safety assessment has not been carried out for this substance.
For research-use-only compounds, no CSA is required under REACH Annex I.

Revision Date: 2026/09/09
Further Information: The information provided is believed to be correct but is not exhaustive and should be used only as a guideline based on current knowledge. It does not represent a guarantee of the properties of the product. Selleck Chemicals Corporation and its Affiliates shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from handling or contact with the product.