4,4'-Bipyridine

Synonyms

4,4'-Dipyridyl; 4-(4-Pyridyl)pyridine; gamma,gamma'-Bipyridyl; gamma,gamma'-Dipyridyl; 4,4'-Bipyridine; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Pyridines

Description

Solid; [IUCLID] White crystalline solid with a pungent odor; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Formed as a pyrolysis product in tobacco smoke and also from the degradation of the herbicide paraquat; [Reference #1]

Comments

Skin lesions of the face, neck, and arms reported in 30 employees in a manufacturing plant; Histological evaluation revealed a progression from keratosis to Bowen's disease, and squamous cell carcinoma in 6 cases; A study of 246 employees at 28 factories during 1984-1985 showed 34% with hyperpigmented macules and 20% with marked hyperkeratotic lesions; Not irritating to rabbit skin; Not sensitizing in guinea pig maximization test; Changes in the lung, some changes in kidney and spleen, lachrymation, swelling around eyes, and occasional convulsions observed in oral lethal-dose studies of rats; Histopathological changes to liver and kidney reported in skin irritation study of rats; Dermal LD50 (rabbit) = 400-800 mg/kg; [IUCLID] Causes lacrimation, somnolence, and dyspnea in oral lethal-dose studies of rats; [RTECS] Generally not irritating to skin; Toxic by ingestion and skin absorption; [Alfa Aesar MSDS] See "2,3'-Bipyridine" and "2,2'-Bipyridine."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

5.56E-05 mm Hg

Other CNS neurotoxin

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

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Smoking cigarettes