Ether, bis(chloromethyl)

RTECS #

KN1575000

CAS #

542-88-1
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

March 2018

Molecular Weight

114.96

Molecular Formula

C₂H₄Cl₂O

Synonyms

1,1'-Dichlorodimethyl ether
BCME
Bis(chloromethyl) ether (ACGIH:OSHA)
Bis-chloromethyl-ether
Bis-CME
Chloro(chloromethoxy)methane
Chloro(chloromethoxy)methane fume
Chloromethyl ether
Dichlordimethylaether (German)
Dimethyl-1,1'-dichloroether
Methane, oxybis(chloro-
Oxybis(chloromethane)
RCRA waste number P016
sym-Dichloro-dimethyl ether
sym-Dichloromethyl ether

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
DNA inhibition	skin/mouse	360 µmol/kg	CNREA8 33,769,1973
morphological transform	kidney/hamster	80 µg/L	BJCAAI 37,873,1978
morphological transform	fibroblast/mouse	0.001 mg/L/21D (-enzymatic activation step)	EMMUEG 37,231,2001
mutation in microorganisms	/Salmonella typhimurium	20 µg/plate (-enzymatic activation step)	BJCAAI 37,873,1978
Unscheduled DNA Synthesis	fibroblast/human	160 µg/L	TXCYAC 21,151,1981
Unscheduled DNA Synthesis	skin/mouse	360 µmol/kg	CNREA8 33,769,1973

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppb/6H/26W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	TXAPA9 58,269,1981
inhalation/mouse	toxic concentration: 1 ppm/82D- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria Tumorigenic: Increased incidence of tumors in susceptible strains	AEHLAU 22,663,1971
inhalation/rat	toxic concentration: 75 ppb/6H/2Y- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Olfaction: Tumors Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	JJIND8 68,597,1982
inhalation/rat	toxic concentration: 100 ppb/6H/26W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Olfaction: Tumors Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	TXAPA9 58,269,1981
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 100 ppb/6H/4W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Olfaction: Tumors Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	AEHLAU 30,73,1975
inhalation/rat	toxic concentration: 100 ppb/6H/6W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	PAACA3 21,106,1980
intraperitoneal/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 50 mg/kg/61W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	CNREA8 35,2553,1975
skin/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 5520 mg/kg/23W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria Skin and Appendages: Tumors	AEHLAU 16,472,1968
skin/mouse	toxic dose: 11 gm/kg/44W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Skin and Appendages: Tumors Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	JNCIAM 43,481,1969
subcutaneous/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 384 mg/kg/42W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	CNREA8 40,352,1980
subcutaneous/mouse	toxic dose: 640 mg/kg/53W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	CNREA8 35,2553,1975
subcutaneous/mouse	toxic dose: 12500 µg/kg	Tumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors Skin and Appendages: Other: Hair	TXAPA9 15,92,1969
subcutaneous/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 375 mg/kg/43W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Carcinogenic by RTECS criteria Tumorigenic: Tumors at site of application	JNCIAM 43,481,1969

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/hamster	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 7 ppm/7H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Chronic pulmonary edema or congestion Blood: Hemorrhage	AEHLAU 30,61,1975
inhalation/hamster	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 33 mg/m³/7H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/human	lowest published toxic concentration: 14 mg/m³	Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/human	Lowest published lethal concentration: 470 mg/m³/1M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/man	lowest published toxic concentration: 3 ppm	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Eye: Conjunctiva irritation Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	TJSGA8 51,596,1973
inhalation/man	Lowest published lethal concentration: 100 ppm/3M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	TJSGA8 51,596,1973
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 25 mg/m³/6H		AEHLAU 22,663,1971
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 35 mg/m³/2H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,279,1994
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 218 mg/m³/30M	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,279,1994
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 14 mg/m³/2H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,279,1994
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 33 mg/m³/7H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Acute pulmonary edema Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 7 ppm/7H	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Chronic pulmonary edema or congestion Blood: Hemorrhage	AEHLAU 30,61,1975
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 210 µL/kg		AIHAAP 30,470,1969
skin/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 280 µL/kg		AIHAAP 30,470,1969

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/hamster	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m³/6H/210D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 5 mg/m³/28W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 6 mg/m³/130D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m³/6H/210D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 0.5 mg/m³/659D- intermittent	Olfaction: Tumors Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes	VCVGK* -,280,1994
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 4.7 mg/m³/30D- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Structural or functional change in trachea or bronchi Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	VCVGK* -,280,1994

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 0.001 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-Confirmed human carcinogen	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Human Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 4,231,1974
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 4,231,1974
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Animal Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 100F,306,2012
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Human Sufficient Evidence	IMEMDT 100F,306,2012
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Group 1	IMSUDL 7,131,1987
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)	Cancer Review:Group 1	IMEMDT 100F,306,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ZHPMAT 166,113,1978
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 566,21,2004
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		FCTOD7 44,1699,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,565,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 584,1,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,649,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 733,39,2012
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 768,27,2016

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), Carcinogen, JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.0048 mg/m³), Carcinogen, MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), carc, MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 0.003 ppm (0.014 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), C1 Carcinogen, FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	ceiling concentration 0.0047 mg/m³, Carcinogen, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), carc, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-INDIA	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), Carcinogen, JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	1 carc, MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), carcinogen, 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.0047 mg/m³), carcinogen, JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	Group A Carcinogen, JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), carc 1, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 0.001 ppm (0.005 mg/m³), carc, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	see Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 29,1926.1108	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-cancer suspect agent		CFRGBR 29,1910.1008,1987

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO BIS(CHLOROMETHYL) ETHER-air	Carcinogen use 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1008	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code X6315; Number of Industries 1; Total Number of Facilities 3; Number of Occupations 1; Total Number of Employees Exposed 14; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 5

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
ATSDR TOXICOLOGY PROFILE (NTIS** PB/90/168691/AS)
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: Carcinogenicity-mouse/rat
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens,2016:Known to be a human carcinogen
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #10

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health