| Agent Name |
Methyl isocyanate |
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| CAS Number |
624-83-9 |
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| Formula |
C2-H3-N-O |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Iso-cyanatomethane; Isocyanate de methyle [French]; Isocyanate, methyl-; Isocyanic acid, methyl ester; Methane, isocyanato-; Methyl carbonimide; Methyl isocyanat [German]; Methyl isocyanat [German]; Methyl isocyanate; Methyl isocyanide; Methylcarbylamine; Methylisocyanaat [Dutch]; Methylisokyanat [Czech]; Metil isocianato [Italian]; TL 1450; [ChemIDplus] UN2480 |
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| Category |
Monoisocyanates |
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| Description |
Colorless liquid with a sharp, pungent odor; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in the production of insecticides, herbicides, polyurethanes, and other plastics; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Methyl isocyanate can cause eye and skin injuries, pulmonary edema, and possibly immunological asthma. Skin sensitivity to methyl isocyanate developed in all sixteen guinea pigs tested. [ACGIH] Causes second and third degree burns after short skin exposures; [CHRIS] In high-dose reproductive studies of animals, methyl isocyanate decreases fertility and increases fetal losses and birth defects. Women exposed in the Bhopal disaster had higher rates of spontaneous abortions than controls. [Frazier, p. 344-5] A lachrymator; [HSDB] Methyl isocyanate is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans. |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Methyl Isocyanate |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| TIH |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.02 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
0.02 ppm |
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| MAK |
0.01 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
3 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Lacrimation and irritation of the eyes, mucous membranes and skin; "Human data: Volunteers experienced eye irritation and lacrimation after 1 to 5 minutes at 2 ppm, with more marked irritation at 4 ppm; exposures were unbearable at 21 ppm [Kimmerle and Eben 1964]. In another study, volunteers noted eye irritation and lacrimation at 5 ppm in less than 50 seconds [Mellon 1963]. |
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| Vapor Pressure |
348 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
2.1 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 6.1 ppm/6 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Odor threshold from AIHA; Flash point = -7 deg C; |
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| Reference Link |
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO) |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
3: may ignite at ambient temperature |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Asthma |
Yes |
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| Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
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| Fibrogenic |
Yes |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Lacrimator |
Yes |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: METHYL ISOCYANATE
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