Diazomethane 334-88-3

Diazomethane
334-88-3
Hazard Summary
The major source of exposure to diazomethane is occupational. Diazomethane is a strong respiratory
irritant. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to diazomethane may cause irritation of the
eyes, cough, wheezing, asthmatic symptoms, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, dizziness, weakness,
headache, and chest pains. No information is available on the chronic (long-term), reproductive,
developmental, or carcinogenic effects of diazomethane in humans. Increased incidences of lung tumors
have been observed in rats and mice exposed to diazomethane by inhalation and in dermally exposed
mice. EPA has not classified diazomethane with respect to its potential carcinogenicity.
Please Note: The main sources of information for this fact sheet are Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology (5) and
the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), a database of summaries of peer-reviewed literature. (2)
Uses
• Diazomethane is used as a methylating agent for acidic compounds such as carboxylic acids, phenols, and
enols. (1,2,4)
Sources and Potential Exposure
• Humans may be occupationally exposed to diazomethane in the workplace. (1)
Assessing Personal Exposure
• No information was located regarding the measurement of personal exposure to diazomethane.
Health Hazard Information
Acute Effects:
• Diazomethane is a strong respiratory irritant. Acute inhalation exposure of humans to diazomethane may
cause irritation of the eyes, cough, wheezing, asthmatic symptoms, pulmonary edema, pneumonia,
dizziness, weakness, headache, chest pains, fever, moderate cyanosis, malaise, tremors, liver enlargement,
hypersensitivity, and shock. (1 -5)
• Severe respiratory tract irritation, hemorrhagic emphysema, pulmonary edema, and bronchopneumonia
have been observed in animals acutely exposed by inhalation. (2-4)
• Acute animal tests in cats have demonstrated diazomethane to have high acute toxicity by inhalation. (6)
Chronic Effects (Noncancer):
• No information is available on the chronic effects of diazomethane in humans or animals.
• EPA has not established a Reference Concentration (RfC) or a Reference Dose (RfD) for diazomethane. (7)
Reproductive/Developmental Effects:
• No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of diazomethane in humans or
animals.

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Cancer Risk:
•	No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of diazomethane in humans.
•	Increased incidences of pulmonary adenomas have been observed in rats and mice exposed to
diazomethane by inhalation and in dermally exposed mice. (2,3,5)
•	EPA has not classified diazomethane with respect to its potential carcinogenicity. (7)
•	The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified diazomethane as a Group 3, not
classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. (2)
Physical Properties
•	The chemical formula for diazomethane is CH^N^, and its molecular weight is 42.04 g/mol. (4)
¦ Diazomethane occurs as a very toxic, explosive yellow gas. (2-5)
•	Diazomethane has a musty odor; the odor threshold has not been established. (2)
Conversion Factors:
3	3
To convert concentrations in air (at 2 5°C) from ppm to mg/m : mg/m = (ppm) x (molecular weight of the
compound)/(24.45). For diazomethane: 1 ppm = 1.72 mg/m .
Health Data from Inhalation Exposure
Diazomethane
1000
100
I
Oi
E
.3
i
10
5
0.1
Regulatory, advisory
numbers'*
Health numbers'
NI0SH IDLH (3.5 rng/m^
ACGIH TLV, NI05H
REIOSHA PEL
(0.4 mg/m5)
Efii
Est

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ACGIH TLV—American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value expressed as a
time-weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse
effects.
LC (Lethal Concentration )—A calculated concentration of a chemical in air to which exposure for a specific
50 50
length of time is expected to cause death in 50% of a defined experimental animal population.
NIOSH IDLH —National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's immediately dangerous to life or health limit;
NIOSH recommended exposure limit to ensure that a worker can escape from an exposure condition that is likely to
cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from the environment.
NIOSH REL—NIOSH's recommended exposure limit; NIOSH-recommended exposure limit for an 8- or 1 0-h time-
weighted-average exposure and/or ceiling.
OSHA PEL—Occupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit expressed as a time-
weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effect
averaged over a normal 8-h workday or a 40-h workweek.
The health and regulatory values cited in this factsheet were obtained in December 1999.
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. OSHA numbers are regulatory,
whereas NIOSH and ACGIH numbers are advisory.
Summary created in April 1992, updated January 2000
References
1. M. Sittig. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens. 2nd ed. Noyes Publications, Park
Ridge, NJ. 1985.
2. 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. 1 993.
3. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the
Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man: Some Anti-Thyroid and Related Substances, Nitrofurans and
Industrial Chemicals. Volume 7. World Health Organization, Lyon. 1 974.
4. The Merck Index. An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 1 1 th ed. Ed. S. Budavari. Merck and
Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ. 1989.
5. G.D. Clayton and F.E. Clayton, Eds. Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. Volume IIA. 3rd revised ed.
John Wiley & Sons, New York. 1 981.
6. 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.
7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on Diazomethane. National
Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC. 1 999.
8. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). 1 999 TLVs and BEIs. Threshold Limit
Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents. Biological Exposure Indices. Cincinnati, OH. 1 999.
9. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Cincinnati, OH. 1997.
1 0. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Toxic
and Hazardous Substances. Code of Federal Regulations. 29 CFR 1 91 0.1 000. 1 998.

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