Chemicals reported to induce methemoglobinemia in experimental animals or in humans after ingestion, intravenous administration or exposure following a chemical accident
These chemicals are not likely to cause clinically significant methemoglobinemia in the occupational setting. However, the detection of elevated blood levels of methemoglobin could be useful in some clinical or industrial hygiene settings as an indicator of exposure. The biological exposure index (BEI) for methemoglobin inducers is 1.5% of hemoglobin, measured during or at the end of the shift. "BEIs represent the levels of determinants which are most likely to be observed in specimens collected from a healthy worker who has been exposed to chemicals to the same extent as a worker with inhalation exposure to the TLV." (p. 55, 1996 TLVs and BEIs, ACGIH)
| Table 2--Industrial Chemicals: Methemoglobinemia May Be a Secondary Toxic Effect | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Category |
Agent Name |
CAS # |
Alternate Name |
| Metals | Copper & compounds | varies | |
| Metals | Silver & soluble compounds | varies | |
| Esters | Methyl formate | 107-31-3 | Formic acid, methyl ester |
| Herbicides, Nitroaromatic | Dinitro-o-cresol | 534-52-1 | Dinitro-ortho-cresol |
| Herbicides, Nitroaromatic | Dinitrophenol | 25550-58-7 | |
| Herbicides, Other | Metolachlor | 51218-45-2 | |
| Herbicides, Other | Monolinuron | 1746-81-2 | |
| Herbicides, Other | Monuron | 150-68-5 | |
| Herbicides, Other | Propanil | 709-98-8 | |
| Other Insecticides | Chlordimeform | 6164-98-3 | |
| Hydrides | Arsine | 7784-42-1 | |
| Toxic Gases & Vapors | 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine | 57-14-7 | |
| Toxic Gases & Vapors | 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine | 540-73-8 | |
| Toxic Gases & Vapors | Methyl mercaptan | 74-93-1 | Methanethiol |
| Toxic Gases & Vapors | Methylhydrazine | 60-34-4 | |
| Toxic Gases & Vapors | Tetranitromethane | 509-14-8 | |
| Oxidizers | Perchloryl fluoride | 7616-94-6 | |
| Amines, Aromatic | 2-Aminophenol | 95-55-6 | |
| Amines, Aromatic | 4-Aminophenol | 123-30-8 | p-Aminophenol |
| Amines, Aromatic | alpha-Naphthylamine | 134-32-7 | 1-Naphthylamine |
| Amines, Aromatic | Benzidine | 92-87-5 | |
| Amines, Aromatic | beta-Naphthylamine | 91-59-8 | 2-Naphthylamine |
| Amines, Aromatic | Dapsone | 80-08-0 | 4,4'-Sulfonyldianiline |
| Amines, Aromatic | o-Anisidine | 90-04-0 | |
| Amines, Aromatic | p-Anisidine | 104-94-9 | |
| Amines, Aromatic | p-Phenylene diamine | 106-50-3 | |
| Amines, Heterocyclic | Cyclohexylamine | 108-91-8 | |
| Hydrazines | 1,2-Diphenylhydrazine | 122-66-7 | |
| Hydrazines | Hydrazine | 302-01-2 | |
| Hydrazines | Phenylhydrazine | 100-63-0 | |
| Nitrates, Aliphatic | Ethylene glycol dinitrate | 628-96-6 | |
| Nitrates, Aliphatic | Nitroglycerin | 55-63-0 | |
| Nitrates, Aliphatic | Pentaerythritol tetranitrate | 78-11-5 | |
| Nitros, Aliphatic | 2-Nitropropane | 79-46-9 | |
| Nitros, Aromatic | 2-Nitrophenol | 88-75-5 | |
| Nitros, Aromatic | 4-Nitrophenol | 100-02-7 | |
| Nitros, Aromatic | 5-Nitro-o-toluidine | 99-55-8 | |
| Nitros, Aromatic | Dinitolmide | 148-01-6 | 3,5-Dinitro-o-toluamide |
| Other Aromatics | 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydronaphthalene | 119-64-2 | Tetralin |
| Other Aromatics | Methylene blue | 61-73-4 | |
| Inorganic Compounds | Ammonium nitrate | 6484-52-2 | |
| Inorganic Compounds | Chloramide | 10599-90-3 | |
| Inorganic Compounds | CHLORATES | CLASS | |
| Inorganic Compounds | Hydroxylamine | 7803-49-8 | |
| Inorganic Compounds | NITRATES and NITRITES | CLASS | |
| Inorganic Compounds | PERCHLORATES | CLASS | |
| Other Organic Compounds | Naphthalene | 91-20-3 | |
| Other Organic Compounds | Otto fuel | 106602-80-6 | |
| Peroxides | Cyclohexanone peroxide | ||
| Phenols | Catechol | 120-80-9 | Pyrocatechol |
| Phenols | Cresol, all isomers | 1319-77-3 | |
| Phenols | Hydroquinone | 123-31-9 | Dihydroxybenzene |
| Phenols | Phenol | 108-95-2 | |
| Phenols | Pyrogallol | 87-66-1 | |
| Phenols | Resorcinol | 108-46-3 | |
Revised: May 30, 2018
