Agent Name
Allyl isothiocyanate
Major Category
Nitrogen Compounds
Synonyms
1-Propene, 3-isothiocyanato-; 2-Propenyl isothiocyanate; 3-Isothiocyanato-1-propene; AITC; Allyl isosulfocyanate; Allyl isosulphocyanate; Allyl isothiocyanate; Allyl isothiocyanate (natural); Allyl isothiocyanate, non-perfume grade; Allyl mustard oil; Allyl sevenolum; Allyl thioisocyanate; Allylisothiokyanat [Czech]; Allylsenevol; Allylsenfoel; Allylsenfoel [German]; Allylsevenolum; Allyspol; Allyspol 75EC; Artificial mustard oil; Artificial oil of mustard; Carbospol; Isothiocyanate d'allyle [French]; Isothiocyanic acid allyl ester; Isothiocyansaeureallylester; Mustard oil; Mustard oil (VAN); Mustard oil, volatile; Mustard oil, volatile, synthetic; Oil of mustard; Oil of mustard BPC 1949; Oil of mustard, artificial; Oleum sinapis; Oleum sinapis volatile; Redskin; Senf oel [German]; Senfoel; Synthetic mustard oil; Volatile mustard oil; Volatile oil of mustard; [ChemIDplus] UN1545
Description
Colorless or pale yellow, very refractive liquid; very pungent, irritating odor; [Merck Index]
Sources/Uses
Used to make flavors and war gases; Used medically as a counterirritant; [ChemIDplus] Used as a fungicide, insecticide fumigant, and a repellent for cats and dogs; Also used in some model airplane cements to deter glue sniffers and externally as a rubefacient; [HSDB] "Generally recognized as safe" by the FDA as a food additive; Used as an ethanol denaturant; [AIHA]
Comments
A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Tear drawing; May cause skin sensitization; May cause liver injury; [ICSC] "The vapor is lacrimogenic and can cause keratitis which interferes with vision." [HSDB] Toxic by skin contact and ingestion; A vesicant--causes burns; Lachrymator; May cause pneumonitis and pulmonary edema after inhalation of high concentration; [MSDSonline] Reported occupational adverse effects are cutaneous allergy and severe respiratory tract irritation; Threshold for respiratory irritation is about 4 ppm; [AIHA]
Odor Threshold Low
0.008 ppm
Odor Threshold High
0.42 ppm
Explanatory Notes
VP = 3.7 mm Hg at 30 deg C; [ChemIDplus] Flash point = 46 deg C; [ICSC] Odor thresholds from AIHA;
NFPA
high ambient temp required
Hepatotoxin
Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion
IARC Carcinogen
Not classifiable
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: