National Toxicology Program

CASRN: 75-05-8

Formula: C2 H3 N

Synonyms/Common Names:

• METHYL CYANIDE

Known Uses:

SOLVENT IN HYDROCARBON EXTRACTION PROCESSES. SPECIALTY SOLVENT. CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATE. SEPARATION OF FATTY ACIDS FROM VEGETABLE OILS. PHARMACEUTICALS. (TDB)

Short-Term Toxicity

• 14-Day (Inhalation)  (C60822A) Completed 
  • Rats: F344/N; Mice: B6C3F1
• 13-Week (Inhalation)  (C60822A) Completed 
  • Rats: F344/N; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Dose: 0,25,400 PPM/10 PER GROUP
• 13-WEEK (Inhalation)  (C60822B) Completed 
  • NTIS No. PB96-214937  (Peer Review 06/21/1994)
    Citation: Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Acetonitrile (CAS No. 75-05-8) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies)
  • Rats: F344/N; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Dose: R&M: 0, 100, 200, 400, 800, OR 1600 PPM (10/S/S)

Long-Term Carcinogenicity

• 2-YEAR (Inhalation)  (C60822B) Report Complete 
  • TR-447 (NTIS No. PB96-214937)  (Peer Review 06/21/1994)
    Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Acetonitrile (CAS No. 75-05-8) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies)
  • Rats: F344/N; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Carcinogenesis Results
  • Male Rats Equivocal Evidence 
  • Female Rats No Evidence 
  • Male Mice No Evidence 
  • Female Mice No Evidence 
  • Dose: R: 0, 100, 200, OR 400 PPM M: 0, 50, 100, OR 200 PPM ; 50/GROUP

Special Studies

• Mechanisms  (S0499) Completed 
  • Citation: GHANAYEM, ET.AL., STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF ACETONITRILE TOXICITY I: WHOLE BODY AUTORADIOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION & MACROMOLECULAR INTERACTION OF 2-14C-ACETONITRILE IN MICE, PHARM & TOXICOL 70:322-330, 1992
  • M Mice
  • Dose: 60 UMOL/KG

Genetic Toxicology

• In Vitro Cytogenetics (CA/SCE)  (119279) Completed 
  • Citation: Galloway, S., Armstrong, M., Reuben, C., Colman, S., Brown, B., Cannon, C., Bloom, A., Nakamura, F., Ahmed, M., Duk, S., Rimpo, J., Margolin, B., Resnick, M., Anderson, B., and Zeiger, E. Chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells: Evaluations of 108 chemicals. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 10 (Suppl 10) (1987) 1-176
  • Chromosome Aberation Inconclusive 
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange Weakly Positive 
• Micronucleus  (A41659) Completed 
  • Citation: Witt, K.L., Knapton, A., Wehr, C.M., Hook, G.J., Mirsalis, J., Shelby, M.D., and MacGregor, J.T. Micronucleated Erythrocyte Frequency in Peripheral Blood of B6C3F1 Mice from Short-Term, Prechronic, and Chronic Studies of the NTP Carcinogenesis Bioassay Program. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 36 (2000) 163-194
  • Mice: B6C3F1
  • Male Positive 
  • Female Negative 
• Salmonella  (571879) Completed 
  • Citation: Mortelmans, K., Haworth, S., Lawlor, T., Speck, W., Tainer, B., and Zeiger, E. Salmonella mutagenicity tests. II. Results from the testing of 270 chemicals Environ. Mutagen. Vol. 8 (Suppl 7) (1986) 1-119
  •  Negative 
• Salmonella  (831005) Completed 
  • Citation: Mortelmans, K., Haworth, S., Lawlor, T., Speck, W., Tainer, B., and Zeiger, E. Salmonella mutagenicity tests. II. Results from the testing of 270 chemicals Environ. Mutagen. Vol. 8 (Suppl 7) (1986) 1-119
  •  Negative 

Organ Systems Toxicity

• Conventional Teratology (Inhalation)  (TER91039) Completed 
  • Citation: DE94008272
  • F Rats: Sprague Dawley
  • Rats Maternal ? 
  • Rats Fetal Negative 
  • Dose: 0, 100, 400, 1200 PPM 6 HR/DAY, 7 DAYS/WEEK