| Safety Profile |
Confirmed carcinogen
with experimental carcinogenic,
neoplastigenic, and tumorigenic data. A
human poison by ingestion and possibly
other routes. Poison by subcutaneous and
intravenous routes. Mildly toxic by
inhalation. Human systemic effects by
inhalation and ingestion: nausea or vomiting,
pupdlary constriction, coma, antipsychotic
effects, tremors, somnolence, anorexia,
unspecified respiratory system and
gastrointestinal system effects. Experimental
teratogenic and reproductive effects. An eye
and skin irritant. Damages liver, kidneys,
and lungs. Mutation data reported. A
narcotic. Individual susceptibility varies
widely. Contact dermatitis can result from
skin contact.
resembling that of chloroform, though not
as strong. Following exposure to high
concentrations, the victim may become
unconscious, and, if exposure is not
terminated, death can follow from
respiratory fdure. The aftereffects following
recovery from narcosis are more serious
than those of delayed chloroform poisoning,
usually taking the form of damage to the
kidneys, liver, and lungs. Exposure to lower
ppd6OM
Carbon tetrachloride has a narcotic action
concentrations, insufficient to produce
unconsciousness, usually results in severe
gastrointestinal upset and may progress to
serious hdney and hepatic damage. The
E kidney lesion is an acute nephrosis; the
liver involvement consists of an acute
degeneration of the central portions of the
lobules. When recovery takes place, there
may be no permanent dsability. Marked
variation in individual susceptibdity to
carbon tetrachloride exists; some persons
appear to be unaffected by exposures that
seriously poison their fellow workers.
Alcoholism and previous liver and kidney
damage seem to render the indwidual more
susceptible. Concentrations on the order of
1000 to 1500 ppm are sufficient to cause
symptoms if exposure continues for several
hours. Repeated ddy exposure to such
concentration may result in poisoning.
Though the common form of poisoning
following industrial exposure is usually one
of gastrointestinal upset, which may be
followed by renal damage, other cases have
been reported in which the central nervous
system has been affected, resulting in the
production of polyneuritis, narrowing of the
visual fields, and other neurologcal changes.
Prolonged exposure to small amounts of
carbon tetrachloride has also been reported
as causing cirrhosis of the liver.
Locally, a dermatitis may be produced
following long or repeated contact with the
liquid. The skin oils are removed and the
skin becomes red, cracked, and dry. The
effect of carbon tetrachloride on the eyes
either as a vapor or as a liquid, is one of
irritation with lachrymation and burning.
Industrial poisoning is usually acute with
malaise, headache, nausea, dminess, and
confusion, which may be followed by stupor
and sometimes loss of consciousness.
Symptoms of liver and kidney damage may
follow later with development of dark urine,
sometimes jaundice and liver enlargement,
followed by scanty urine, albuminuria, and
renal casts; uremia may develop and cause
death. Where exposure has been less acute, the symptoms are usually headache,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, epigastric
distress, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Visual
disturbances (blind spots, spots before the
eyes, a visual "haze," and restriction of the
visual fields), secondary anemia, and
occasionally a slight jaundice may occur.
Dermatitis may be noticed on the exposed
parts.
with particulates of many metals, e.g.,
aluminum (when ball milled or heated to
152' in a closed container), barium (bulk
metal also reacts violently), beryllium,
potassium (200 times more shock sensitive
than mercury fulminate), potassium-sodium
alloy (more sensitive than potassium),
lithium, sodium, zinc (burns ready). Also
forms explosive mixtures with chlorine
trifluoride, calcium hypochlorite (heatsensitive), calcium dtsllicide (frictionand
pressuresensitive), triethyldialuminum
trichloride (heatsensitive), decaborane(l4)
(impact-sensitive), dinitrogen tetraoxide.
Violent or explosive reaction on contact
with fluorine. Forms explosive mixtures
with ethylene between 25' and 105' and
between 30 and 80 bar. Potentially explosive
reaction on contact with boranes. 9:l
mixtures of methanol and cCl4 react
exothermically with aluminum, magnesium,
or zinc. Potentially dangerous reaction with
dimethyl formamide, 1,2,3,4,5,6
hexachlorocyclohexane, or
dtmethylacetamide when iron is present as a
catalyst. CCh has caused explosions when
used as a fire extingusher on wax and
uranium fires. Incompatible with aluminum
trichloride, dtbenzoyl peroxide, potassiumtert-butoxide. Vigorous exothermic reaction
with allyl alcohol, Al(C2H5)3, (benzoyl
peroxide + C2H4), BrF3, diborane, dsilane,
liquid O2, Pu, (AgClO4 + HCl), potassiumtert-butoxide, tetraethylenepentamine,
tetrasilane, trisilane, Zr. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cl
and phosgene. It has been banned from
household use by the FDA. See also
Forms impact-sensitive explosive mixtures
CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS,
ALIPHATIC.
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