Agent Name
alpha-Chloroacetophenone
Alternative Name
Phenacyl chloride
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Synonyms
Phenacyl chloride; Tear gas; 1-Chloroacetophenone; 2-Chloro-1-phenylethanone; 2-Chloroacetophenone; Acetophenone, 2-chloro-; CN; CN (lacrimator); Chemical mace; Chloromethyl phenyl ketone; Ethanone, 2-chloro-1-phenyl-; Mace (lacrimator); Phenacyl chloride; Phenacylchloride; Phenylchloromethylketone; alpha-Chloroacetophenone; [ChemIDplus] UN1697
Description
Colorless to gray crystalline solid with a sharp, irritating odor; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
A lacrimator (tear gas) agent; [ACGIH]
Comments
Alpha-chloroacetophenone can cause allergic contact dermatitis with cross-reactions to o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile. [ACGIH] A lachrymator; [HSDB] "With extremely high inhalational exposures, lower respiratory injury is possible." [Olson, p. 680] May cause respiratory tract irritation and pulmonary edema; [ICSC]
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: ACGIH [1971] reported that the effective concentration to produce casualties as estimated from volunteer exposure is greater than 100 mg/m3. Deichmann and Gerarde [1969] reported that a fatality followed an exposure of less than 20 minutes to high concentrations of vapor (5.4 grams in a 34 m3 room, which is roughly equivalent to 160 mg/m3). Based on the data cited above, an IDLH of 100 mg/m3 is chosen.. . . . Other human data: It has been reported that 31 mg/m3 is intolerable after 3 minutes [Punte et al. 1962].
Vapor Pressure
0.005 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
0.01 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LCLo (rat) = 417 mg/m3/15 min
Explanatory Notes
Odor threshold from NJ "Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet"; Flash point = 244 deg F;
ACGIH Carcinogen
Not Classifiable
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: