Dimethyl phthalate, 99%

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance: colorless to light yellow liquid. Caution! May cause eye irritation. May cause respiratory tract irritation. Target Organs: Central nervous system, respiratory system, eyes, mucous membranes.

Potential health effects

Eye: Produces irritation, characterized by a burning sensation, redness, tearing, inflammation, and possible corneal injury. May cause transient corneal injury. Skin: Prolonged and/or repeated contact may cause irritation and/or dermatitis. Dimethyl phthalate has low acute toxicity in experimental animals exposed by the oral, inhalation and dermal routes. In other words, it is not acutely toxic. However, repeated and/or prolonged skin contact may result in the absorption of harmful amounts. Dimethyl phthalate was not a sensitizer in guinea pigs and has not been reported to be a sensitizer from its use during WWII as an insect repellent; however, it has been called an allergen in one Russian study of human patch testing. Ingestion: Causes gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause central nervous system depression. Inhalation: Inhalation of high concentrations may cause central nervous system effects characterized by nausea, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and coma. May cause respiratory tract irritation. Exposure to dimethyl phthalate occurs from spray or mist, rather than from the vapor, unless heat is applied. Intermittent exposure produced blood, liver and kidney changes in rats. Chronic: Some adverse reproductive effects were seen in animal studies. Few defects occurred when rats were given injections of dimethyl phthalate intraperitoneally on gestational days 5, 10 and 15.