beta-Chloroprene

Synonyms

Chlorobutadiene; Chloroprene; 2-Chloro-1,3-butadiene; [NIOSH] UN1991;

Category

Other Monomers

Description

Colorless liquid with a pungent, ether-like odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used to manufacture synthetic rubber (neoprene and polychloroprene latex); [ACGIH]

Comments

Chloroprene was toxic to workers at 80 ppm and dangerous at 200 ppm causing respiratory irritation and respiratory depression. Acute animal studies show evidence of liver injury. TLV Basis is lung cancer, upper respiratory tract irritation, and eye irritation. A 2-year rodent bioassay found lung cancer as the most frequently occurring neoplastic lesion. A cohort of 5000 workers exposed to a mean concentration of 5.23 ppm for a median of 18 years had no increased deaths from lung cancer or other cancers over a 60-year follow-up. [ACGIH] A lachrymator; [HSDB] Can cause chemical burns; [NIOSH Guidelines for Chemical Hazards] In high-dose reproductive studies of animals, chloroprene or its metabolites can cause testicular damage. Increased spontaneous abortions were measured in one population study of exposed workers. [Frazier, p. 338-9] Chloroprene (UN1991) has warning of explosive polymerization; [ERG 2016]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

1 ppm

25 ppm

300 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Human data: Exposure to 973 ppm has resulted in nausea and giddiness in volunteers in 10 to 15 minutes [Nystrom 1948]. Extreme fatigue and unbearable chest pain has occurred following a month of exposure to concentrations ranging from 56 to 334 ppm [Nystrom 1948].

215 mm Hg

0.11 ppm

Odor Threshold High

138 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 3,270 ppm/4 hr

Yes

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from AIHA; Flash point = -4 deg F; [CHEMINFO] VP from HSDB;

No reports found; [TDR, p. 334]

may ignite at ambient temp

Yes

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Skin burns

Possible (2b)

Anticipated human carcinogen

Suspected Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, acute toxic