Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether
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Bis(chloromethyl) Ether sc-210941 Material Safety Data Sheet Hazard Alert Code EXTREME HIGH MODERATE LOW Key: Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION PRODUCT NAME Bis(chloromethyl) Ether STATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS NATURE CONSIDERED A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE ACCORDING TO OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200. NFPA FLAMMABILITY3 HEALTH4 HAZARD INSTABILITY1 SUPPLIER Company: Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. Address: 2145 Delaware Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Telephone: 800.457.3801 or 831.457.3800 Emergency Tel: CHEMWATCH: From within the US and Canada: 877-715-9305 Emergency Tel: From outside the US and Canada: +800 2436 2255 (1-800-CHEMCALL) or call +613 9573 3112 PRODUCT USE ■ The use of a quantity of material in an unventilated or confined space may result in increased exposure and an irritating atmosphere developing. Before starting consider control of exposure by mechanical ventilation. Formerly used for chloromethylations. As an intermediate in preparation of strongly-basic anion ion exchange resins of the quaternary ammonium type. Byproduct generated in production and use of chloromethyl methyl ether. CMME CARE: Small amounts form in mixtures of formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride HCl gas and also in formaldehyde solutions containing chloride ions. SYNONYMS C2-H4-C12-O, BCME, "bis(chloromethyl) ether", bis-CME, chloro(chloromethoxy)methane, "chloromethyl ether", dichlorodimethylaether, "sym-dichloro-dimethyl ether", "1, 1' -dichlorodimethyl ether", "1, 1' -dichlorodimethyl ether", "dichlorodimethyl ether, symmetrical", "sym-dichloromethyl ether", "dimethyl-1, 1' -dichloroether", "dimethyl-1, 1' -dichloroether", "methane-1, 1' dichloroether", oxybis(chloromethane) Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Harmful if swallowed. Toxic in contact with skin. Very toxic by inhalation. May cause CANCER. HARMFUL - May cause lung damage if swallowed. Flammable. POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS SWALLOWED ■ Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual. ■ Swallowing of the liquid may cause aspiration into the lungs with the risk of chemical pneumonitis; serious consequences may result. (ICSC13733). ■ Ingestion of formaldehyde may cause immediate severe abdominal pain, with vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, anuria, dizziness, followed by unconsciousness, convulsions and may result in death. The methanol stabiliser in solutions is a cause of visual impairment and possible permanent blindness. ■ Ingestion of alkyl ethers may produce stupor, blurred vision, headache, dizziness and irritation of the nose and throat. Respiratory distress and asphyxia may result. EYE ■ There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons. ■ Eye contact with alkyl ethers (vapor or liquid) may produce irritation,redness and tears. SKIN ■ Skin contact with the material may produce toxic effects; systemic effectsmay result following absorption. ■ There is some evidence to suggest that this material can cause inflammation of the skin on contact in some persons. ■ Alkyl ethers may defat and dehydrate the skin producing dermatoses. Absorption may produce headache, dizziness, and central nervous system depression. ■ Minor regular skin contact with formaldehyde results in hardening of skin - tanning. Formaldehyde is a sensitising agent capable of inducing contact dermatitis. Episodes of contact dermatitis have been observed amongst workers exposed to formaldehyde in hospitals, in the production of formaldehyde resins, textiles, shampoos and laminated furniture. Contact urticaria has also been reported as a result of dermal exposure. ■ Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material. ■ Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected. INHALED ■ Inhalation of vapors or aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce severely toxic effects; these may be fatal. ■ Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by narcosis, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of coordination and vertigo. ■ There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. ■ Acute exposure of rats and hamsters to bis(chloromethyl)ether resulted in pulmonary oedema, haemorrhage and necrotising bronchitis. In rats, the acute inhalation LC50 for a 7-hour exposure has been estimated to be 7 ppm. The cause of death was acute lung irritation that resulted in congestion, edema and hemorrhage. ■ Hydrogen chloride (HCl) vapour or fumes present a hazard from a single acute exposure. Exposures of 1300 to 2000 ppm have been lethal to humans in a few minutes. Inhalation of HCl may cause choking, coughing, burning sensation and may cause ulceration of the nose, throat and larynx. Fluid on the lungs followed by generalised lung damage may follow. Breathing of HCl vapour may aggravate asthma and inflammatory or fibrotic pulmonary disease. High concentrations cause necrosis of the tracheal and bronchial epithelium, pulmonary oedema, atelectasis and emphysema and damage to the pulmonary blood vessels and liver. ■ Following inhalation, ethers cause lethargy and stupor. Inhaling lower alkyl ethers results in headache, dizziness, weakness, blurred vision, seizures and possible coma. Low blood pressure, slow heartbeat and cardiovascular collapse may be seen with throat irritation, irregular breathing, pulmonary edema and respiratory arrest. Nausea, vomiting and salivation may be seen. There have been deaths reported, and convulsions and paralysis can be found in severe cases. Massive exposures can cause damage to the kidney and liver. ■ Inhalation of vapour at relatively low concentrations may cause a tingling sensation in the nose and upper respiratory tract. Slightly higher concentrations may cause a burning sensation, headache.High vapour concentrations of formaldehyde are capable of causing chest constriction, bronchiopneumonia, dysphagia, oedema, spasms of the larynx and dyspnoea. ■ Inhalation of the vapor is hazardous and may even be fatal. CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS ■ There is sufficient evidence to suggest that this materialdirectly causes cancer in humans. Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. In humans, exposure to vapors of chloromethyl methyl ether (CME) containing bis(chloromethyl)ether BCME as a contaminant lead to increased incidence of chronic bronchitis, manifest as chronic cough and impaired respiratory function BCME was found to be a potent alkylating carcinogen for mouse skin and a highly potent inducer of tumours of the respiratory tract in mice and rats. Repeated daily exposures of mice to 1 ppm BCME produced increased numbers of pulmonary adenomas. In rats daily exposure to 0.1 ppm BCME produced squamous cell carcinomas of the lung and esthesio- neuroepitheliomas of the olfactory epithelium. Nine epidemiological studies have demonstrated that exposed workers have an increased risk of lung cancer with the relative risk being 10-fold in heavily exposed workers. The risk increases with duration and cumulative exposure. Histological evaluation indicates that exposure results primarily in cancers of the small-cell type. The maximum relative risk appears to occur 15-20 years after the first exposure and latency is shortened among workers with heavier exposure. Chronic minor exposure to hydrogen chloride (HCl) vapour or fume may cause discolouration or erosion of the teeth, bleeding of the nose and gums; and ulceration of the nasal mucous membranes. Repeated exposures of animals to concentrations of about 34 ppm HCl produced no immediate toxic effects. Workers exposed to hydrochloric acid suffered from gastritis and a number of cases of chronic bronchitis have also been reported. Repeated or prolonged exposure to dilute solutions of HCl may cause dermatitis. Chronic exposure to alkyl ethers may result in loss of appetite, excessivethirst, fatigue, and weight loss. When administered by inhalation, formaldehyde induced squamous cell carcinomas of the nasal cavity in rats of both sexes. Although excess occurrence of a number of cancers has been reported in humans, the evidence for a possible involvement of formaldehyde is strongest for nasal and nasopharangeal cancer. The occurrence of these cancers showed an exposure- response gradient in more than one study, but the numbers of exposed cases were often small and some studies did not show excesses In humans. Formaldehyde exposure has been associated with cancers of the lung, nasopharynx and oropharynx and nasal passages. Several investigations have concluded that specific respiratory sensitisation occurs based on positive bronchial provocation tests amongst formaldehyde-exposed workers. These studies have been criticised for methodological reasons. One large study however revealed that 5% of persons exposed to formaldehyde and had asthma-like symptoms met the study criteria for formaldehyde-induced asthma; this included a positive response on a bronchial provocation test with 2.5 mg/m3 formaldehyde.