WHMIS (Dimethylmercury)

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

WHMIS 2015 classification - Note to reader

• Flammable liquids - Category 21 2
• Flash point = 5 °C Setaflash closed cup and boiling point = 96 °C

• Acute toxicity - dermal - Category 13 4

• Carcinogenicity - Category 25

• Reproductive toxicity - Category 1A4 6 7 8 9
• Toxic to the reproductive function (Category 2)
• Toxic to the development (Category 1A)

• Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure - Category 1

• Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure - Category 1

Danger

Highly flammable liquid and vapour (H225)
Fatal in contact with skin (H310)
Suspected of causing cancer (H351)
May damage fertility or the unborn child (H360)
Causes damage to organs (H370)
Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (H372)

Ingredient disclosure

Comments:

Due to the lack of data, classifications regarding toxic to reproduction (H361) and specific organ toxicity - repeated exposure (H372) were established by analogy to methylmercury compounds (methylmercury chloride).                                       

The lethal dose for methylmercury compounds in human is estimated to be between 10 and 60 mg/kg.

References

• ▲1.  Lenga, R.E. et Votoupal, K.L., The Sigma-Aldrich library of regulatory and safety data. Vol. 1. Milwaukee : Sigma-Aldrich. (1993). [RM-515040]
• ▲2.  New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Hazardous substance fact sheet : Dimethyl Mercury. Right to Know Program. Trenton, NJ. (2007). RTK 0763.   www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb
• ▲3.  Ash, M. et Ash, I., Handbook of Food Additives . 3rd ed. N.Y. : Endicott. (2008). [RT-554003]
• ▲4.  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological profile for mercury. Atlanta [GA] : ATSDR. (1999).   http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp46.pdf
• ▲5.  IARC meeting on beryllium, cadmium, mercury and occupational exposures in the glass industry. Lyon : IARC. (1993).
• ▲6.  American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices / Documentation of TLV's and BEI's. 7th ed. Cincinnati, Ohio : ACGIH. (2001-). Publication #0100Doc. [RM-514008]   http://www.acgih.org
• ▲7.  Classen W., Krinke G.J et Weber E, «Developmental Neurotoxicology Study in Rats: a Positive Control Study With Dimethylmercury and Hydroxyurea..» Neurotoxicology. Vol. 22, no. 4, p. 530. (2001).
• ▲8.  FAO and WHO working groups, Mercury. Envitonmental Health Criteria 1. (1976). EHC1.   http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc001.htm
• ▲9.  Amin-Zaki L. et al., «Methylmercury Poisoning in Iraqi Children: Clinical Observations Over Two Years.» British Medical Journal. Vol. 1, p. 613-616. (1978).   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1603391/pdf/brmedj00116-0021.pdf

The [number] refers to the Information SST database of the CNESST Documentation Center.