methylamine carcinogenic or bullshit?

Bushroot · Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:30 pm

What worries me most is methylamine -
I was making methylamine acetate, by generating methylamine gas from KOH and MeNH2*HCl and bubbling it through GAA. There was no more than 25 grams of hydrochloride, but the procedure took several hours, and the apparatus was obviously leaking. The smell remained in my flat for the whole remaining day...
I don't want to tell you those "physiological" details, but several days later some small mass has formed on my neck Sad

Doctors say it's nothing but it makes me really worried... Could that be what I think of?

joe_aldehyde · huxleys associate

well, i can't tell you anything but the fact that everytime i work with methylamine, nitroethane and benzaldehyde and don't have adequate ventilation, i get really sick from the stuff. dizzyness, visual distortion, slight headaches, nausea, reduced respiration, and so on. i don't know which component this comes from but i guess nitroethane isn't so bad, benzaldehyde neither. and well...i usually use less than 2ml's of aq. methylamine solution 40%...think for yourself.
anyways - i don't think that you can develop cancer in a matter of days. why don't you take a picture and post it here?

Vitriodor · Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:39 am

It is nasty stuff for the eyes and lungs, but I couldn´t find anything about carcinogenic properties.

Bushroot · Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:50 pm

thanx for support, people!
joe_aldehyde
this stuff can't be seen on a surface, only feel it fingers. so the picture won't help. I also fear that people won't like seeing any sickness photos on a chemical forum Smile

Vitriodor, I couldn't find any info about it's carcinogenic properties as well, that's why I ask. Maybe I'm just a paranoic Very Happy

joe_aldehyde · huxleys associate

well, i'd say it may be some lymphatic thing, maybe you have a virus infection. ANYWAYS - keep away from doing such experiments in your flat without proper ventilation. methylamine sure is something you don't wanna breathe.

methyl_ethyl · Riedel De Haen

HAZARDTEXT® Hazard Response Managements

METHYLAMINE

1.0. IDENTIFICATION
SYNONYMS
IDENTIFIERS
SYNONYM REFERENCE
USES/FORMS/SOURCES

1.1. SYNONYMS
1. AMINOMETHANE
2. ANHYDROUS METHYLAMINE
3. CARBINAMINE
4. MERCURIALIN
5. METHANAMINE
6. METHYLAMINE
7. METHYLAMINE, ANHYDROUS
8. METHYLAMINE, AQUEOUS SOLUTION
9. METHYLAMINEN (Dutch)
10. METILAMINE (Italian)
11. METYLOAMINA (Polish)
12. MMA
13. MONOMETHYLAMINE

1.2. IDENTIFIERS
1.2.1. CAS REGISTRY NUMBER
A. 74-89-5
1.2.2. NIOSH/RTECS NUMBER
A. PF 6300000
1.2.3. UN/NA NUMBER
A. 1061 - Methylamine, anhydrous
B. 1235 - Methylamine, aqueous solution
1.2.4. STCC NUMBER
A. 4907840 (Aqueous solution)
B. 4905530 (Anhydrous)
1.2.6. MOLECULAR FORMULA
A. C-H5-N
1.2.7. ERG GUIDE NUMBER
A. 118 - GASES - FLAMMABLE - CORROSIVE (for UN/NA Number 1061)
B. 132 - FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS - CORROSIVE (for UN/NA Number 1235)

1.3. SYNONYM REFERENCE
A. (HSDB , 1999; RTECS , 1999)

1.4. USES/FORMS/SOURCES
A. USES
1. Methylamine is used in the tanning and dying industries, as a fuel additive, as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, rubber chemicals, surfactants, explosives, and accelerators, as a polymerization inhibitor, and as a component of paint removers, solvents, photographic developers and rocket propellant (ACGIH, 1991; Budavari, 1996; CGA, 1990; Hathaway et al, 1996; Lewis, 1997).
B. FORMS
1. Methylamine is available as a compressed gas and as a 30%-50% aqueous solution. Anhydrous methylamine is available in grades of 98% purity and above. (ACGIH, 1991; Ashford, 1994; CGA, 1990; Lewis, 1997).
C. SOURCES
1. Methylamine is coproduced with trimethylamine and dimethylamine in amine formation by the interaction of methanol and ammonia over a catalyst at high temperature (Ashford, 1994; Lewis, 1997).

3.0. CLINICAL EFFECTS

3.1. GENERAL CLINICAL EFFECTS
A. Methylamine is a moderate to severe irritant of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Corneal damage may occur with direct eye contact.
1. Coughing, nausea, and pulmonary edema may occur following inhalation.
2. Olfactory fatigue occurs rapidly with inhalation exposure.
B. Chemical or allergic bronchitis has followed inhalation exposure to methylamine. Contact with the liquid may cause frostbite.
C. Methylamine has not been associated with long-term effects, systemic adverse effects, or dermal sensitization in humans. Hepatotoxicity has been seen in experimental animals.
D. Mutation data exists for methylamine. No carcinogenicity data were available for methylamine at the time of this review.
E. POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS - EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK, GUIDE 118 (ERG, 2004)
1. May cause toxic effects if inhaled.
2. Vapors are extremely irritating.
3. Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite.
4. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
5. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.
F. POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS - EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK, GUIDE 132 (ERG, 2004)
1. May cause toxic effects if inhaled or ingested/swallowed.
2. Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes.
3. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
4. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation.
5. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.

5.0. MEDICAL TREATMENT
LIFE SUPPORT
SUMMARY

5.1. LIFE SUPPORT
A. Support respiratory and cardiovascular function.

5.2. SUMMARY
A. FIRST AID - EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK, GUIDE 118 (ERG, 2004)
1. Move victim to fresh air.
2. Call 911 or emergency medical service.
3. Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing.
4. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; give artificial respiration with the aid of a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device.
5. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult.
6. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes.
7. In case of contact with liquefied gas, thaw frosted parts with lukewarm water.
8. In case of burns, immediately cool affected skin for as long as possible with cold water. Do not remove clothing if adhering to skin.
9. Keep victim warm and quiet.
10. Keep victim under observation.
11. Effects of contact or inhalation may be delayed.
12. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves.
B. FIRST AID - EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK, GUIDE 132 (ERG, 2004)
1. Move victim to fresh air.
2. Call 911 or emergency medical service.
3. Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing.
4. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; give artificial respiration with the aid of a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device.
5. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult.
6. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes.
7. In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes.
8. In case of burns, immediately cool affected skin for as long as possible with cold water. Do not remove clothing if adhering to skin.
9. Keep victim warm and quiet.
10. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed.
11. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves.
C. FIRST AID
1. FIRST AID (NIOSH, 1995) -
a. INHALATION EXPOSURE - Move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible.
b. DERMAL EXPOSURE - If this chemical contacts the skin, immediately flush the contaminated skin with water. If this chemical penetrates the clothing, immediately remove the clothing and flush the skin with water. Get medical attention promptly.
c. EYE EXPOSURE - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical.
1. If eye tissue is frozen, seek medical attention immediately; if tissue is not frozen, immediately and thoroughly flush the eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. If irritation, pain, swelling, lacrimation, or photophobia persist, get medical attention as soon as possible.
d. INGESTION EXPOSURE - If solution containing the contaminant has been swallowed, get medical attention as soon as possible.
2. GENERAL -
a. Move victims of inhalation exposure from the toxic environment and administer 100% humidified supplemental oxygen with assisted ventilation as required. Exposed skin and eyes should be copiously flushed with water. Ingestion may result in significant esophageal or gastrointestinal tract irritation or burns, and EMESIS SHOULD NOT BE INDUCED. Cautious gastric lavage followed by administration of activated charcoal may be of benefit if the patient is seen soon after the exposure.
3. INHALATION EXPOSURE -
a. INHALATION: Move patient to fresh air. Monitor for respiratory distress. If cough or difficulty breathing develops, evaluate for respiratory tract irritation, bronchitis, or pneumonitis. Administer oxygen and assist ventilation as required. Treat bronchospasm with inhaled beta2 agonist and oral or parenteral corticosteroids.
b. If bronchospasm and wheezing occur, consider treatment with inhaled sympathomimetic agents.
c. ACUTE LUNG INJURY: Maintain ventilation and oxygenation and evaluate with frequent arterial blood gas or pulse oximetry monitoring. Early use of PEEP and mechanical ventilation may be needed.
d. This agent may cause hepatotoxicity. Monitor liver function tests in patients with significant exposure.
4. DERMAL EXPOSURE -
a. DECONTAMINATION: Remove contaminated clothing and wash exposed area thoroughly with soap and water. A physician may need to examine the area if irritation or pain persists.
b. Treat dermal irritation or burns with standard topical therapy. Patients developing dermal hypersensitivity reactions may require treatment with systemic or topical corticosteroids or antihistamines.
5. EYE EXPOSURE -
a. DECONTAMINATION: Irrigate exposed eyes with copious amounts of room temperature water for at least 15 minutes. If irritation, pain, swelling, lacrimation, or photophobia persist, the patient should be seen in a health care facility.
6. INGESTION EXPOSURE -
a. Because of the potential for severe gastrointestinal tract irritation or burns, do not induce emesis.
b. Significant esophageal or gastrointestinal tract irritation or burns may occur following ingestion. The possible benefit of early removal of some ingested material by cautious gastric lavage must be weighed against potential complications of bleeding or perforation.
c. GASTRIC LAVAGE: Consider after ingestion of a potentially life-threatening amount of poison if it can be performed soon after ingestion (generally within 1 hour). Protect airway by placement in Trendelenburg and left lateral decubitus position or by endotracheal intubation. Control any seizures first.
1. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Loss of airway protective reflexes or decreased level of consciousness in unintubated patients; following ingestion of corrosives; hydrocarbons (high aspiration potential); patients at risk of hemorrhage or gastrointestinal perforation; and trivial or non-toxic ingestion.
d. ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Administer charcoal as a slurry (240 mL water/30 g charcoal). Usual dose: 25 to 100 g in adults/adolescents, 25 to 50 g in children (1 to 12 years), and 1 g/kg in infants less than 1 year old.
e. Observe patients with ingestion carefully for the possible development of esophageal or gastrointestinal tract irritation or burns. If signs or symptoms of esophageal irritation or burns are present, consider endoscopy to determine the extent of injury.

6.0. RANGE OF TOXICITY
MINIMUM LETHAL EXPOSURE
MAXIMUM TOLERATED EXPOSURE
TOXICITY AND RISK ASSESSMENT VALUES
CALCULATIONS

6.1. MINIMUM LETHAL EXPOSURE
A. GENERAL/SUMMARY
1. The minimum lethal human dose to this agent has not been delineated.
B. ANIMAL DATA
1. The approximate oral LD50 for rats given a 40% amine base solution of methylamine ranges from 100 to 200 mg/kg body weight. When given the hydrochloride salt of methylamine, the approximate oral LD50 for rats ranges from 1600 to 3200 mg/kg body weight (ACGIH, 1991).
2. "Five rats given three, daily, oral doses of 200 mg/kg methylamine died within 5 days" (ACGIH, 1991).

6.2. MAXIMUM TOLERATED EXPOSURE
A. ROUTE OF EXPOSURE
1. Methylamine is a severe irritant of the eyes and skin; brief exposures to 20-100 ppm produce transient eye, nose, and throat irritation. Exposure to higher concentrations or a liquid splash of methylamine may be as damaging to the eye as ammonia. Inhalation of higher concentrations results in violent sneezing, a burning sensation of the throat with laryngeal constriction, difficulty in breathing with chest congestion, eye inflammation, and may cause pulmonary edema. Skin contact with methylamine causes dermatitis. There were no accounts of long-term effects, systemic reactions, or skin sensitization found in the literature (ACGIH, 1991; CGA, 1990; Clayton & Clayton, 1994; Grant, 1993; Hathaway et al, 1996; Harbison, 1998; Snyder et al, 1990).
B. ANIMAL DATA
1. Necrosis occurred after 0.1 mL of a 40% aqueous solution of methylamine was applied to the skin of a guinea pig. Hemorrage and necrosis also occurred after an application of liquified methylamine to the skin of guinea pig (ACGIH, 1991).
2. One drop of a 40% aqueous solution of methylamine base caused immediate and severe irritation to the eye of a rabbit. One drop of a 40% aqueous solution of methylamine hydrochloride caused only mild irritation to a rabbit's eye, which returned to normal within 24 hours (ACGIH, 1991).
a. "In another study with rabbits, a 5% aqueous solution of methylamine was reported to cause conjunctival hemorrhage, superficial corneal opacities, and edema" (ACGIH, 1991).
C. Carcinogenicity Ratings for CAS74-89-5 :
1. ACGIH (ACGIH, 2005): Not Listed ; Listed as: METHYLAMINE
2. EPA (IRIS, 2004): Not Listed
3. IARC (IARC, 2004): Not Listed
4. NIOSH (NIOSH, 2003): Not Listed ; Listed as: Methylamine
5. MAK (DFG, 2002): Not Listed
6. NTP (NTP, 2005): Not Listed

6.3. TOXICITY AND RISK ASSESSMENT VALUES
6.3.1. EPA IRIS
A. EPA Risk Assessment Values for CAS74-89-5 (IRIS, 2004):
1. Not Listed
6.3.3. TOXICITY VALUES
A. References: Lewis, 1996 RTECS, 1999
1. LC50 - (INHALATION) MOUSE:
a. 2400 mg/m(3) for 2H
2. LC50 - (INHALATION) RAT:
a. 448 ppm for 2.5H
3. LD50 - (ORAL) RAT:
a. 100 mg/kg
4. LDLo - (SUBCUTANEOUS) GUINEA_PIG:
a. 200 mg/kg
5. LDLo - (SUBCUTANEOUS) MOUSE:
a. 2500 mg/kg
6. LDLo - (SUBCUTANEOUS) RAT:
a. 200 mg/kg

DrugPhreak · Working Bee

Even if it was a carcinogen and you had direct contact with a large amount cancer would never form that fast. Getting cancer from carcinogenic chemicals takes repetition normally over a long period of time.