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Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS)

Ether, bis(chloromethyl)

RTECS #

KN1575000

CAS #

542-88-1

Updated

September 201

Molecular Weight

114.96

Molecular Formula

C2H4Cl2O

Synonyms

1,1'-Dichlorodimethyl ether
BCME
Bis(chloromethyl) ether (ACGIH:OSHA)
Bis-chloromethyl-ether
Bis-CME
Chloro(chloromethoxy)methane
Chloro(chloromethoxy)methane fume
Chloromethyl ether
Dichlordimethylaether (German)
Dimethyl-1,1'-dichloroether
Methane, oxybis(chloro-
Oxybis(chloromethane)
RCRA waste number P016
sym-Dichloro-dimethyl ether
sym-Dichloromethyl ether

Mutation Data and Reference

System TestRoute/Organism/TissueDoseReference
DNA inhibitionskin/mouse360 µmol/kgCNREA8 33,769,1973
morphological transformkidney/hamster80 µg/LBJCAAI 37,873,1978
morphological transformfibroblast/mouse0.001 mg/L/21D (-enzymatic activation step)EMMUEG 37,231,2001
mutation in microorganisms/Salmonella typhimurium20 µg/plate (-enzymatic activation step)BJCAAI 37,873,1978
Unscheduled DNA Synthesisfibroblast/human160 µg/LTXCYAC 21,151,1981
Unscheduled DNA Synthesisskin/mouse360 µmol/kgCNREA8 33,769,1973

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/mouse lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppb/6H/26W- intermittentTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors		TXAPA9 58,269,1981
inhalation/mouse toxic concentration (other than lowest): 1 ppm/82D- intermittentTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Increased incidence of tumors in susceptible strains		AEHLAU 22,663,1971
inhalation/rat toxic concentration (other than lowest): 75 ppb/6H/2Y- intermittentTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Olfaction: Tumors

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors		JJIND8 68,597,1982
inhalation/rat toxic concentration (other than lowest): 100 ppb/6H/26W- intermittentTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Olfaction: Tumors

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors		TXAPA9 58,269,1981
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppb/6H/4W- intermittentTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Olfaction: Tumors

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors		AEHLAU 30,73,1975
inhalation/rat toxic concentration (other than lowest): 100 ppb/6H/6W- intermittentTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors		PAACA3 21,106,1980
intraperitoneal/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 50 mg/kg/61W- intermittentTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		CNREA8 35,2553,1975
skin/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 5520 mg/kg/23W- intermittentTumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria

Skin and Appendages: Tumors		AEHLAU 16,472,1968
skin/mouse toxic dose: 11 gm/kg/44W- intermittentTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Skin and Appendages: Tumors

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		JNCIAM 43,481,1969
subcutaneous/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 384 mg/kg/42W- intermittentTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		CNREA8 40,352,1980
subcutaneous/mouse toxic dose: 640 mg/kg/53W- intermittentTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		CNREA8 35,2553,1975
subcutaneous/mouse toxic dose: 12500 µg/kgTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors

Skin and Appendages: Other: Hair		TXAPA9 15,92,1969
subcutaneous/rat lowest published toxic dose: 375 mg/kg/43W- intermittentTumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria

Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application		JNCIAM 43,481,1969

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/hamster lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 7 ppm/7HLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Chronic pulmonary edema or congestion

Blood: Hemorrhage		AEHLAU 30,61,1975
inhalation/hamster lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 33 mg/m3/7HLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/human lowest published toxic concentration: 14 mg/m3Eye: Conjunctiva irritation

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough		VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/human Lowest published lethal concentration: 470 mg/m3/1MLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changesVCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/man lowest published toxic concentration: 3 ppmOlfaction: Other olfaction effects

Eye: Conjunctiva irritation

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		TJSGA8 51,596,1973
inhalation/man Lowest published lethal concentration: 100 ppm/3MLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changesTJSGA8 51,596,1973
inhalation/mouse lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 25 mg/m3/6HAEHLAU 22,663,1971
inhalation/mouse lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 35 mg/m3/2HLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		VCVGK* -,279,1994
inhalation/rat lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 218 mg/m3/30MLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		VCVGK* -,279,1994
inhalation/rat lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 14 mg/m3/2HLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		VCVGK* -,279,1994
inhalation/rat lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 33 mg/m3/7HLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 7 ppm/7HLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Chronic pulmonary edema or congestion

Blood: Hemorrhage		AEHLAU 30,61,1975
oral/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 210 µL/kgAIHAAP 30,470,1969
skin/rabbit lethal dose (50 percent kill): 280 µL/kgAIHAAP 30,470,1969

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/hamster lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m3/6H/210D- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: TumorsVCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/mouse lowest published toxic concentration: 5 mg/m3/28W- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: TumorsVCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/mouse lowest published toxic concentration: 6 mg/m3/130D- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: TumorsVCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m3/6H/210D- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: TumorsVCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m3/659D- intermittentOlfaction: Tumors

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 4.7 mg/m3/30D- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi

Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field		VCVGK* -,280,1994

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.001 ppmDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-Confirmed human carcinogenDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Human Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 4,231,1974
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient EvidenceIMEMDT 4,231,1974
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)Cancer Review:Group 1IMSUDL 7,131,1987
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 566,21,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWFCTOD7 44,1699,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWENTOX* -,565,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 584,1,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWHUTOX* -,649,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWMUREAV 733,39,2012

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), Carcinogen, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.0048 mg/m3), Carcinogen, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARKtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), carc, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 0.003 ppm (0.014 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCEVME 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), C1 Carcinogen, FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYceiling concentration 0.0047 mg/m3, Carcinogen, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), carc, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-INDIAtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), Carcinogen, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN1 carc, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), carcinogen, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.0047 mg/m3), carcinogen, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENGroup A Carcinogen, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), carc 1, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m3), carc, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)see Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 29,1926.1108CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-cancer suspect agentCFRGBR 29,1910.1008,1987

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO BIS(CHLOROMETHYL) ETHER-airCarcinogen use 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1008NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code X6315; Number of Industries 1; Total Number of Facilities 3; Number of Occupations 1; Total Number of Employees Exposed 14; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 5

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/90/168691/AS)
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: Carcinogenicity-mouse/rat
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NTP 11th Report on Carcinogens,2004:Known to be human carcinogen
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #10

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