4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
Hazard Summary-Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000
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4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene is used as a dye for coloring polishes, wax
products, and soap. Acute (short-term) dermal exposure to 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene
may result in contact dermatitis in humans. No information is available
on the chronic (long-term), reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic
effects of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in humans. Animal studies have
reported birth defects in the offspring of mice exposed to 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene
and tumors of the lung, liver, and bladder from oral exposure to 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene.
EPA has not classified 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene for carcinogenicity.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified
4-dimethylaminoazobenzene as a Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Uses
- 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene was used as a dye for coloring polishes and other wax products, polystyrene, soap, and as a pH indicator. (4)
- 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene is not currently produced or used commercially in the U.S. (3)
Sources and Potential Exposure
- Occupational exposure (primarily dermal) has occurred for those workers who manufacture or use azo dyes. (1)
Assessing Personal Exposure
- No information is available on the assessment of personal exposure to 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene.
Health Hazard Information
Acute Effects:- Contact dermatitis has been observed in workers who handled 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene. (1)
- Tests involving acute exposure of rats have shown 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene to have high acute toxicity from oral exposure. (2)
- No information is available on the chronic effects of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in humans or animals.
- EPA has not established a Reference Concentration (RfC) or a Reference Dose (RfD) for 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene.
- No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in humans.
- Animal studies have reported birth defects in the offspring of mice exposed to 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene. (1)
- No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in humans.
- Animal studies have reported tumors of the lung, liver, and bladder from oral exposure to 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene. (1,4,5)
- EPA has not classified 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene for carcinogenicity. (1)
- IARC has classified 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene as a Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans. (4)
- The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) considers 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene to be reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. (3)
- The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has calculated an oral cancer slope factor of 4.6 (mg/kg/d)-1 and an inhalation unit risk factor of 0.0013 x 10-3 (µg/m3)-1. (6)
Physical Properties
- 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene exists as yellowish, crystalline leaflets. (1)
- The chemical formula for 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene is C14H15N3, and the molecular weight is 225.3 g/mol. (1)
- The vapor pressure for 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene is 3.3 × 10-7 mm Hg at 25 °C, and it has a log octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) of 4.58. (1)
- 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene is insoluble in water. (4)
Conversion Factors:
To convert concentrations in air (at 25°C) from ppm to mg/m3: mg/m3 = (ppm) × (molecular weight of the compound)/(24.45). For 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene: 1 ppm = 9.2 mg/m3.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 8th Report on Carcinogens. National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC. 1998.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man. Volume 8. World Health Organization, Lyon. 1975.
- M. Sittig. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens. 2nd ed. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ. 1985.
- California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Air Toxics Hot Spots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines: Part II. Technical Support Document for Describing Available Cancer Potency Factors. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Berkeley, CA. 1999.