Bis(chloromethyl) ether

Synonyms

1,1'-Dichlorodimethyl ether; Chloro(chloromethoxy)methane; Chloromethyl ether; Dichlordimethylaether [German]; Dichloromethyl ether, symmetrical; Dimethyl-1,1'-dichloroether; Ether, bis(chloromethyl); Methane, oxybis(chloro-; Oxybis(chloromethane); sym-Dichloro-dimethyl ether; sym-Dichloromethyl ether; [ChemIDplus] UN2249

Category

Halogenated Ethers

Description

Colorless liquid with a suffocating odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in the past to make polymers, resins, and textiles; Currently, only small amounts are used in enclosed systems in the chemical industry. [ACGIH]

Comments

A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] Bis(chloromethyl) ether and Chloromethyl methyl ether (technical grade) are listed in Table 18-3 as substances that are known human carcinogens (IARC Group 1) after occupational exposure causing lung cancer (oat cell). [Siemiatycki, p. 327]

Regulated as a carcinogen; See 29CFR1910.1003;

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

0.001 ppm

29.4 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 7 ppm/7h

Explanatory Notes

Flash point < 19 deg C; VP from HSDB;

No reports found; [TDR, p. 191]

Reference Link #2

may ignite at ambient temp

Insufficient data

0.1 ppm

0.5 ppm

Yes

Skin burns

Established

Human carcinogen

Confirmed Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Lung cancer