Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS)

4,4'-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline)

Skin absorption notice: Absorption through the skin may be a significant source of exposure. See Chapter 11 of the Guidance Note on the Interpretation of Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment, published by Worksafe Australia.

Carcinogen category notice:

Category 1B: Presumed to have carcinogenic potential for humans; the placing of this substance is largely based on animal evidence. See section 3.6 of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Third revised edition.

Based on strength of evidence together with additional considerations, such evidence may be derived from human studies that establish a causal relationship between human exposure to a substance and the development of cancer (known human carcinogen). Alternatively, evidence may be derived from animal experiments for which there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate animal carcinogenicity (presumed human carcinogen). In addition, on a case by case basis, scientific judgement may warrant a decision of presumed human carcinogenicity derived from studies showing limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans together with limited evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.

Documentation notice. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Documentation of Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices, 5th Edition, ACGIH,Cincinnati, Ohio, 1986

No standard should be applied without reference to Guidance on the interpretation of Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants.

Note: The existing exposure standard is adopted from the ACGIH TLVs list. Readers should refer to the relevant ACGIH documentation for substantiation of this value.

1. RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EXPOSURE STANDARD

This substance has a very low vapour pressure with the major route of exposure being via the skin. The Working Group is of the view that workplace atmospheric monitoring is not an appropriate indicator of exposure in this instance and recommends that no time-weighted average exposure standard be provided. Since significant exposure to this substance can occur via the skin, in the absence of measurable atmospheric concentrations it is suggested that biological monitoring may be the only practicable approach to the monitoring and control of exposures to this substance.

2. RECOMMENDATION FOR CARCINOGEN CATEGORY

After reviewing the relevant data, the Exposure Standards Expert Working Group is of the view that although this compound has been deemed to be the equivalent of a Category 1 Carcinogen (established human carcinogen) by the ACGIH, there is insufficient human evidence to justify this category, and recommends that the substance remain classified as a Category 2 Carcinogen (probable human carcinogen).

REFERENCES

1. ACGIH, Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices, 5th ed, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1986

Footnotes:
Documentation notice

Documentation for the majority of substances can be found in the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH) documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices - users should refer to the ACGIH documentation cited.