Sources/Uses
Used as a solvent and intermediate in industries making drugs, perfumes, dyes, rubber, textiles, resins, and specialty lacquers; [HSDB]
Comments
Highly toxic; [Quick CPC] When burned, benzonitrile releases hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides. Unlike the other nitriles, benzonitrile, an aromatic compound, does not release cyanide in the body after ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. Its acts as a uncoupler similar to the toxicity of pentachlorophenol. [HSDB; Goldfrank, p. 179] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [ICSC] Causes contact urticaria; [Kanerva, p. 219] See "Pentachlorophenol."