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Methyl isocyanate - Identification, toxicity, use, water pollution potential, ecological toxicity and regulatory information

Note: See Working with the Information on this Page section below for important notes about this data.

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Chemical ID
 Identifying information, including synonyms, ID numbers, use type, chemical classification, a link to a list of all products containing this chemical and a list of the top crops this pesticide is used on in California.
Poisoning Symptoms
 Signs and symptoms of poisoning, first aid, and links to treatment information for this chemical.
Toxicity
 Link to information on toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.
Regulatory
 Links to world-wide registration status as well as regulatory information for the U.S. and California.
Water
 Water quality standards and physical properties affecting water contamination potential.
Ecotoxicity
 Toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Related Chems
 List of chemicals in the same family, including breakdown products, salts, esters, isomers, and other derivatives.
 

Chemical Identification and Use for Methyl isocyanate
Basic Identification Information About This Chemical
Chemical Name: Methyl isocyanate
CAS Number: 624-83-9
U.S. EPA PC Code:
CA DPR Chem Code:
Molecular Weight: 57.06
Use Type: Breakdown product
Chem Class: Unclassified
View Related Chemicals
 
Additional Resources About This Chemical Class and Use Type

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.
 
Other Names for this Chemical
About Chemical Synonyms
624-83-9 (CAS number) , 624839 (CAS number without hyphens) , Isocianato De Metilo , Isocyanate Methane , Isocyanatomethane , Metam ammonium breakdown product , Metam potassium breakdown product , Metam sodium breakdown product , Methyl carbonyl amine , Methyl ester isocyanic acid , Methyl isocyanate , Methylisocyanate , MIC
 
Products Containing This Chemical
Current and historic U.S. registered products
View U.S. Products All Products Currently Registered Products
 

Signs and Symptoms of Methyl isocyanate Poisoning

NOTE! There may be other diseases and chemicals that have similar symptoms.

If you have a poisoning emergency in the United States call 1-800-222-1222.
If the victim has collapsed or is unconscious, call 911.

Methyl isocyanate is a Methyl Isothiocyanate (MITC)-generating compound.

Report a Poisoning
Symptoms of Poisoning with Methyl Isothiocyanate (MITC)-generating Compounds
Find Products Containing this Chemical

- Headache, dizziness
- Irritation of eyes, nose and throat
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Shortness of breath, chest tightness
- Symptoms delayed a week or more may include: weakness, diarrhea, cough, and rash

Source for Group Symptoms: Kreutzer, R. (1992). Acute health effects of the Cantara Metam-Sodium spill: An epidemiologic assessment, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Health Services.
Treatment for Methyl Isothiocyanate (MITC)-generating Poisoning

See: Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisoning, 5th edition, U.S. EPA, Chapter 15, page 141.

 
Symptoms of Methyl isocyanate Exposure from the International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC)

Report a Poisoning
View full ICSC Cards: English   Español   Française   Chinese   Dutch   Finnish   German   Hungarian   Japanese   Swahili   Thai   Urdu  
NOTE! AVOID ALL CONTACT! AVOID EXPOSURE OF (PREGNANT) WOMEN!
 General First Aid: IN ALL CASES CONSULT A DOCTOR!

Route of Exposure

Symptoms

First Aid
Inhalation Cough. Laboured breathing. Shortness of breath. Sore throat. Vomiting. Fresh air rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.
Skin MAY BE ABSORBED! Redness. Burning sensation. Pain. Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention.
Eyes Redness. Pain. Loss of vision. First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible) then take to a doctor.
Ingestion Abdominal pain. Burning sensation. Shock or collapse. Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Give plenty of water to drink. Refer for medical attention.
Notes for ICSC Information
Reacts violently with fire extinguishing agents such as water and hydrated agents. Depending on the degree of exposure periodic medical examination is suggested. The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation are therefore essential. The symptoms of asthma often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation are therefore essential. Anyone who has shown symptoms of asthma due to this substance should avoid all further contact. The odour warning when the exposure limit value is exceeded is insufficient. Do NOT take working clothes home.
 

Toxicity Information for Methyl isocyanate

  Note: Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on humans. Why?

Summary Toxicity Information

PAN Bad Actor
Chemical 1 		Acute
Toxicity 2 		Carcinogen Cholinesterase
Inhibitor 		Ground
Water Contaminant 		Developmental or
Reproductive Toxin 		Endocrine
Disruptor
No
 
Indicates high toxicity in the given toxicological category. Indicates no available weight-of-the-evidence summary assessment. For additional information on toxicity from scientific journals or registration documents, see the "Additional Resources for Toxicity " section of the chemical detail page.
1. PAN Bad Actors are chemicals that are one or more of the following: highly acutely toxic, cholinesterase inhibitor, known/probable carcinogen, known groundwater pollutant or known reproductive or developmental toxicant. NOTE! Because there are no authoritative lists of Endocrine Disrupting (ED) chemicals, EDs are not yet considered PAN Bad Actor chemicals.
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.

Additional Resources about the Toxicity of this Chemical

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.

Detailed Toxicity Information
This Chemical
Parent Chemical 
Acute Toxicity 2
 Methyl isocyanate Metam-sodium
WHO Acute Hazard
TRI Acute Hazard
Material Safety Data Sheets
Acute rating from U.S. EPA product label
U.S. NTP Acute Toxicity Studies
      View Studies
Cholinesterase Inhibitor		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Highly Toxic
No Consensus Value
Moderately to Highly Toxic

No 		II, Moderately Hazardous
Not Listed
Not Available
Highly Toxic
No NTP Studies

No
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.
 
Cancer Information
 Methyl isocyanate Metam-sodium
IARC Carcinogens
U.S. NTP Carcinogens
California Prop 65 Known Carcinogens
U.S. EPA Carcinogens
TRI Carcinogen		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Yes
Likely
Not Listed
 
Endocrine Disruption
 Methyl isocyanate Metam-sodium
Illinois EPA list
Keith list
Colborn list
Benbrook list
Danish Inert list
EU list		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
Not listed
Yes
 
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity
 Methyl isocyanate Metam-sodium
CA Prop 65 Developmental Toxin
U.S. TRI Developmental Toxin
CA Prop 65 Female Reproductive Toxin
CA Prop 65 Male Reproductive Toxin
U.S. TRI Reproductive Toxin 		Yes
Not Listed
Yes
Not Listed
Not Listed 		Yes
Yes
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Chemicals of Special Concern
 Methyl isocyanate Metam-sodium
PAN Bad Actors
PAN Dirty Dozen list		 Yes
Not Listed		 Yes
Not Listed
 

Water Pollution Potential and Criteria for Methyl isocyanate

Water Pollution Potential

This Chemical
Parent Chemical
  Methyl isocyanate Metam-sodium
PAN Ground Water Contaminant Rating Insufficient Data Insufficient Data
 

Sorry, no water quality standards or criteria have been established for this chemical by the U.S. or Canadian governments; however, there may be criteria established for related chemicals.
 

Regulatory Information for Methyl isocyanate

International Regulatory Status
This Chemical
Parent Chemical 
Registration in Selected Countries Registration in Selected Countries:
Methyl isocyanate
 Registration for Selected Countries:
Metam-sodium
 
UNEP Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
UNEP Prior Informed Consent Chemical (PIC)
WHO Obsolete Pesticide		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 

U.S. and California Regulatory Status
U.S. EPA Registered
U.S. EPA Hazardous Air Pollutant
U.S. EPA Minimum Risk Pesticide (25b list)

CA Registered
CA Groundwater Contaminant
CA Toxic Air Contaminant 		No
Yes
No

No
Not Listed
HAPTAC, Indus 		Yes
Not Listed
No

Yes
Not Listed
TAC
 

Maximum Tolerance and Residue Levels
Codex Alimentarius
   (UN FAO Maximum Residue Limits)
U.S. Maximum Tolerance Levels
European Union Maximum Residue Levels 		Go to web site

Go to web site
Go to web site
 

Ecotoxicity for Methyl isocyanate

Note! Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on the environment. Why? Click on underlined terms for definitions and additional information.

Aquatic Ecotoxicity
All Toxic Effects for Organism Group
Organism Group Effects Noted

No effects noted for this chemical. Try related chemicals.
 
Summary of Acute Toxicity for Organism Group

Sorry, no acute aquatic ecotoxicity data available for this chemical. Try related chemicals.
 

Terrestrial Ecotoxicity
Summary of Acute Toxicity for Organism Group

Sorry, no honeybee acute toxicity data available for this chemical. Try related chemicals.

Note: Population-level effects on honeybees may occur even if a pesticide has low acute toxicity. For example, certain pesticides interfere with honeybee reproduction, ability to navigate, or temperature regulation, any of which can have an effect on long-term survival of honeybee colonies. The neonicotinoids, pyrethroids and keto-enol pesticides are some types of pesticides causing one or more of these effects.
Honeybee Chronic Toxicity

Sorry, no honeybee chronic toxicity data available for this chemical. Try related chemicals.

Related Chemicals for Methyl isocyanate
CAS Number Relation Reason Chemical Name Chem Detail Registration Symptoms California Use Chem Use Type U.S. EPA Reg PAN Bad Actor
6734-80-1, 137-42-8 Parent P Metam-sodium View View View View Fumigant, Herbicide, Fungicide, Microbiocide, Algaecide Yes Yes
144-54-7 Related 1 Metam acid View View View View Fumigant No Not Listed
39680-90-5 Related 1 Metam ammonium View View View View Fumigant No Not Listed
137-41-7 Related 1 Metam potassium View View View View Fumigant, Fungicide, Microbiocide, Algaecide, Nematicide Yes Yes
624-83-9 Related 5a Methyl isocyanate View View View View Breakdown product No Yes
556-61-6 Related 5a Methyl isothiocyanate View View View View Fumigant, Insecticide, Herbicide, Nematicide, Breakdown product Yes Yes
Related 1 Methylammonium N-methyldithiocarbamate View View View View Fumigant, Herbicide, Nematicide, Fungicide No Yes
 
Working with the Information on this Page

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* Data marked with an asterisk indicates that this chemical is not explicitly listed on the corresponding list. Instead, it belongs to a group of chemicals that IS designated on the list. For example, if an agency assigns a classification of reproductive toxicant to "mercury compounds", that classification is applied to all mercury compounds in the PAN Pesticide database, which are then marked with an asterisk.

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Citation: Kegley, S.E., Hill, B.R., Orme S., Choi A.H., PAN Pesticide Database, Pesticide Action Network, North America (San Francisco, CA, 2010), http:www.pesticideinfo.org.
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