1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene

Synonyms

Pseudocumene; 1,2,5-Trimethylbenzene; 1,3,4-Trimethylbenzene; Asymmetrical trimethylbenzene; Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl-; Benzene, 1,2,5-trimethyl-; Pseudocumol; Uns-trimethylbenzene; as-Trimethylbenzene; psi-Cumene; [ChemIDplus] UN1993; UN3295

Category

Aromatic Solvents

Description

Colorless liquid; [HSDB]

Sources/Uses

Used for sterilizing catgut; as a solvent in manufacture of dyes, perfumes and resins; solvent for liquid scintillation counting solutions; in the manufacture of trimellitic anhydride, pharmaceuticals, pseudocumidine, and pyromellitic dianhydride; as a comonomer for pseudocumene-formaldehyde resins; as an industrial solvent and paint thinner; as vermifuge; [HSDB] Used in high octane fuels; "It is present in gasoline and occurs in coal tar and many petroleum products." [CHEMINFO] See "Trimethyl benzene, isomers."

Comments

A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression; [HSDB] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause chemical pneumonitis after aspiration; Defats the skin; May have effects on the central nervous system and blood; [ICSC] Reported blood dycrasias in chronically exposed workers were probably caused by benzene present as a contaminant; [ACGIH] An irritant; [MSDSonline] See "Trimethyl benzene isomers."

Biomedical References

10 ppm

20 ppm

2.1 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 18,000 mg/m3/4h

Explanatory Notes

Flash point = 44 deg C; [CHEMINFO] VP from ChemIDplus;

high ambient temp required

Acute solvent syndrome

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Painting (Solvents)
• Petroleum Production and Refining