Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Value:

75 mg/kg bw

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Value:

330 mg/m³ air

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Value:

9 mg/kg bw

Additional information

All information was obtained from handbooks and databases. Hence, the information was scored as Klimisch 4. Some of these handbooks/databases were peer reviewed or are data bases from agencies (ATSDR) or insurances (GESTIS).

"The chief systemic health effect following inhalation exposure to BCEE is irritation to the respiratory tract (Schrenk et al. 1933). Because BCEE is so irritating, inhalation exposure conditions that are likely to cause significant injury to lung are easily detectable, and most people would presumably avoid such exposures. BCEE is similarly irritating to the skin following dermal contact (Smyth and Carpenter 1948), but no information was located on Systemic Toxicity following dermal exposure. Oral exposure has been noted to result in decreased weight gain in animals (Weisburger et al. 1981), but no information exists on toxicity to specific organ systems following oral exposure." (ATSDR page 22)

Oral:

An oral LD50 of 75 mg/kg bw was reported and will be used for the further assessment.

Inhalation:

For 4 hour inhalation studies, LC50 values ranging from 330 to 1462 mg/m³ were provided. These values were provided without further experimental information. Based on the limited amount of information available, the most conservative value was selected, i.e. 330 mg/m³ (GESTIS).

Dermal:

For the dermal toxicity, two LD50 values are available, one for rabbit and one for guinea pig. The rabbit study was performed using a 10% BCEE solution in propylene glycol for 24 hours. It is not stated if the reported rabbit LD50 of 90 mg/kg bw is based on the applied substance or the BCEE content. As worst case scenario, it is assumed that the LD50 is based on the total applied material. Hence, the LD50 based on BCEE is 10% of the applied amount, i.e., 9 mg/kg bw. The LD50 for guinea pig was determined with pure BCEE and resulted in an LD50 of 366 mg/kg bw. Since this value was higher than the value for the rabbit, it was not considered for the risk assessment.