Safety Emporium for all your lab and safety needs

Ketosis

Glossary Index

LC50

MSDS Topics	Free Sites	FAQ's	Regulations	Glossary	Software	Suppliers
	Books	Forum	Poll	Fun stuff	Quiz	Store
Understand your MSDS with the MS-Demystifier				Search ALL our MSDS info

Lachrymator

Definition

• A lachrymator is an irritant that causes tearing (watering of the eyes).

  "Real World" examples include onions, tear gas and pepper spray (capsaicin). Some typical lachrymating chemicals are thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) and acrolein (CH₂=CH-CHO).

MSDS Relevance Certain chemicals may say lachrymator on the label so treat these with respect. Use these only in a fume hood or with other local exhaust ventilation. Goggles or safety glasses are not adequate protection for lachrymators because the fumes and vapors can still reach your eyes directly or through inhalation. If you need personal protective equipment, a full-face atmosphere-supplying respirator is your best choice. The use of an eye wash can help flush a lachrymator out of your eye tissues and relieve some of the pain/irritation. Additional protectice measures such as gloves are also a good idea when working with lachrymators. Many of these are also skin irritants and/or corrosive. Further Reading Why do onions make you cry? at HowStuffWorks. CBRNE - Irritants - CS, CN, CNC, CA, CR, CNB, PS at eMedicine deals with the medical effects and treatment of exposure to common tear gas agents. CS Gas at the BBC discusses the nature of this common tear gas. Laboratory Safety Guidelines for Lachrymators at Brandeis University. See also: conjunctivitis, eye wash, iridocyclitis, irritant, sternutator, vesicant. Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Safety doesn't have to make you cry. Get your eye wash signs, inspection tags and floor markers from Safety Emporium.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.