HEXAMETHYLENE-1,6-DIISOCYANATE
822-06-0
Hazard Summary
- Acute (short-term) exposure to high concentrations of hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate in
humans can cause pulmonary edema, coughing, and shortness of breath. Hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate
is also extremely irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat.
- Human studies have suggested that chronic (long-term) exposure to
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate may cause chronic lung problems, but the evidence is not
conclusive. Animal studies have reported depressed weight gain, effects on the lungs, and
organ weight increases in the adrenal glands from chronic inhalation exposure to
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not established a Reference Dose
(RfD) for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate.
- The Reference Concentration (RfC) for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is under review by
EPA.
- No information is available on the reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects
of hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate in humans or animals. EPA has not classified
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate for carcinogenicity.
Please Note: The main sources of information for this fact sheet are the
Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), a database of summaries of peer-reviewed
literature, and the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS), a database
of toxic effects that are not peer reviewed.
Environmental/Occupational Exposure
- The general public may be exposed to hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate through inhalation
of air containing the chemical after it is released during spray applications of
polyurethane paints. (1)
- Occupational exposure to hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate may occur through inhalation of
vapors or through dermal contact. (1)
Assessing Personal Exposure
- No information is available on the assessment of personal exposure to
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate.
Health Hazard Information
Acute Effects:
- Acute (short-term) exposure to high concentrations of hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate can
cause pulmonary edema, coughing and shortness of breath. (1,2)
- Hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat in
humans. (1)
- Acute animal tests, such as the LC50 and LD50 tests in rats, have
shown hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate to have extreme acute toxicity from inhalation
exposure and moderate to high acute toxicity from oral exposure. (3)
Chronic Effects (Noncancer):
- Epidemiologic studies have suggested that chronic (long-term) exposure to
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate may cause chronic lung problems, but the evidence is not
conclusive. (1,2)
- Animal studies have reported depressed weight gain, effects on the lungs, and organ
weight increases in the adrenal glands from chronic inhalation exposure to
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate. (1)
- EPA has not established an RfD for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate. (4)
- The RfC for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is under review by EPA. (4)
Reproductive/Developmental Effects:
- No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate in humans or animals.
Cancer Risk:
- No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of
hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate in humans or animals.
- EPA has not classified hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate for carcinogenicity.
Physical Properties
- Hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is a colorless liquid with an irritating odor. (2)
- The odor threshold for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is 0.001 ppm. (1)
- The chemical formula for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is C8H12N2O2,
and the molecular weight is 168.22 g/mol. (1)
- The vapor pressure for hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is 0.05 mm Hg at 25 C. (1)
Uses
- Hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate is used in the preparation of dental materials, contact
lenses, and medical adsorbents and in the production of polyurethane. (1)
Conversion Factors:
To convert from ppm to mg/m3: mg/m3 = (ppm) � (molecular weight
of the compound)/(24.45). For hexamethylene-1,6-diisocyanate: 1 ppm = 6.9 mg/m3.
Health Data from Inhalation Exposure
Concentration (mg/m3)
|
Health numbersa
|
Regulatory, advisory numbersb
|
Reference
|
1,000.0 |
|
|
|
--
--
--
--
100.0 |
|
|
|
--
--
--
--
10.0 |
|
|
3 |
--
--
--
--
1.0 |
|
|
|
--
--
--
--
0.1 |
|
- NIOSH advisory level (maximum 10 min) (0.14 mg/m3)
|
2 |
--
--
--
--
0.01 |
|
- NIOSH advisory level (10-h workday) (0.035 mg/m3)
|
2 |
LC50 (Lethal Concentration50)--A calculated concentration of a
chemical in air to which exposure for a specific length of time is expected to cause death
in 50% of a defined experimental animal population.
NIOSH--National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
a Health numbers are toxicological numbers from animal
testing or risk assessment values developed by EPA.
b Regulatory numbers are values that have been incorporated in Government
regulations, while advisory numbers are nonregulatory values provided by the Government or
other groups as advice.
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.
- New Jersey Department of Health. Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet on Hexamethylene
Diisocyanate, New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton, NJ. 1986.
- 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. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on
Hexamethylene-1,6-Diisocyanate. Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Office
of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati,
OH. 1993.
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