ContaminantDB: Dichloromethane

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (11)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-06 18:58:02 UTC

Update Date

2026-03-26 21:52:41 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000076

Identification

Common Name

Dichloromethane

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Dichloromethane is used as an extraction solvent in the preparation of decaffeinated coffee, hop extracts and spice oleoresins. Diluent for colour additives and inks for marking fruit and vegetables The output of these processes is a mixture of methyl chloride, dichloromethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. These compounds are separated by distillation. Dichloromethane has been shown to exhibit anti-tumor, anti-proliferative, analgesic, anti-fungal and antibiotic functions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Dichloromethane belongs to the family of Organochlorides. These are organic compounds containing a chlorine atom.

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
Disinfection Byproducts
EAFUS Chemicals
FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Feces
HPV EPA Chemicals
IARC Carcinogens Group 2A
OECD HPV Chemicals
STOFF IDENT Compounds
T3DB toxins
ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals

Contaminant Type

Food Toxin
Household Toxin
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Metabolite
Organic Compound
Organochloride
Pesticide
Pollutant
Solvent
Synthetic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF 3D-SDF PDB SMILES InChI View 3D Structure

Synonyms

Value	Source
Chlorure de methylene	ChEBI
DCM	ChEBI
Dichlormethan	ChEBI
Methane dichloride	ChEBI
Methylenchlorid	ChEBI
Methylene bichloride	ChEBI
Methylene chloride	ChEBI
Methylene dichloride	ChEBI
Aerothene	HMDB
Aerothene MM	HMDB
Bichloride, methylene	HMDB
CH2CL2	HMDB
Chloride, methylene	HMDB
Dichloride, methylene	HMDB
Dichloro-methane	HMDB
Dichloromethane, acs	HMDB
Dichloromethane, NF	HMDB
Distillex DS3	HMDB
Driverit	HMDB
Freon 30	HMDB
m-Clean D	HMDB
Methoklone	HMDB
Metylenu chlorek	HMDB
Narkotil	HMDB
Nevolin	HMDB
R 30	HMDB
Salesthin	HMDB
Solaesthin	HMDB
Solmethine	HMDB

Chemical Formula

CH₂Cl₂

Average Molecular Mass

84.933 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

83.953 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

1975-09-02

IUPAC Name

dichloromethane

Traditional Name

methylene chloride

SMILES

ClCCl

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/CH2Cl2/c2-1-3/h1H2

InChI Key

YMWUJEATGCHHMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of organic compounds known as halomethanes. These are organic compounds in which at least one of the four hydrogen atoms of methane (CH4) are replaced by halogen atoms.

Kingdom

Organic compounds

Super Class

Organohalogen compounds

Class

Alkyl halides

Sub Class

Halomethanes

Direct Parent

Halomethanes

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Halomethane
Hydrocarbon derivative
Organochloride
Alkyl chloride
Aliphatic acyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aliphatic acyclic compounds

External Descriptors

one-carbon compound (CHEBI:15767 )
chloromethanes (CHEBI:15767 )
a small molecule (CPD-681 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

Biological Roles

carcinogenic agent

Chemical Roles

polar aprotic solvent

Physical Properties

State

Liquid

Appearance

Colorless liquid.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	-96.8°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	13 mg/mL at 25°C

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	17.5 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	1.12	ALOGPS
logP	1.29	ChemAxon
logS	-0.69	ALOGPS
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	16.44 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	6.53 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - EI-B (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0002-9000000000-fea8e21d8ce299fd6c73	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - EI-B (Non-derivatized)	splash10-000t-9000000000-3c727a0b79ead1d0afc9	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - EI-B (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0002-9000000000-fea8e21d8ce299fd6c73	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - EI-B (Non-derivatized)	splash10-000t-9000000000-3c727a0b79ead1d0afc9	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-a20182f85c9e395e5511	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-9fdeb81f96b30affd700	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-9fdeb81f96b30affd700	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-9fdeb81f96b30affd700	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-3641e00693a6eab28168	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-3641e00693a6eab28168	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-3641e00693a6eab28168	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-cd27483dddc3a8ea1a54	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-cd27483dddc3a8ea1a54	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-cd27483dddc3a8ea1a54	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-fddbf58cbca8e803abce	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-fddbf58cbca8e803abce	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001j-9000000000-ed36dd35150f69631b13	Spectrum
MS	Mass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)	splash10-000t-9000000000-6ce0b546ffcfe5b5cf7e	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral (8) ; inhalation (8) ; dermal (8)

Mechanism of Toxicity

Methylene chloride targets the lungs, blood system, and nervous system. In the lungs its metabolites damage Clara cells. It is also metabolized into carbon monoxide, which binds to hemoglobin to produce dose-dependent increases in carboxyhemoglobin. This results in the reduced oxygen transport and neurological dysfunction characteristic of carboxyhemoglobinemia (carbon monoxide poisoning). Methylene chloride is also believed to cause neurotoxicity by interfering with signal transmission in a manner similar to general anesthetics. Certain metabolites, such as formaldehyde, may result in carcinogenic effects by causing DNA single strand breaks, DNA-protein crosslinks, and other mutations. (11, 8)

Metabolism

Absorption mainly occurs via inhalation, but may also result from oral or dermal exposure. Methylene chloride is mainly distributed to the adipose tissue and liver. It may be metabolized by cytochrome P-450 2E1, which ultimately produces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide via formyl chloride. Methylene chloride can also be metabolized by theta glutathione-S-transferase, which produces carbon dioxide via a postulated glutathione conjugate (S-chloromethyl glutathione) and formaldehyde. Both pathways produce toxic metabolites which are excreted mainly in expired air, but also in the urine. (11, 8)

Toxicity Values

LD50: 437 mg/kg (Intraperitoneal, Mouse) (12) LD50: 6460 mg/kg (Subcutaneous, Mouse) (12) LD50: 1600 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) (13) LC50: 14 400 ppm over 7 hours (Inhalation, Mouse) (12)

Lethal Dose

357 mg/kg (oral) or 50 000 ppm (inhalation) for an adult human. (14)

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

2A, probably carcinogenic to humans. (7)

Uses/Sources

Methylene chloride is widely used as a solvent in industrial processes, paint stripper, and degreaser. It is also used in food preparation, aerosol propellants, pesticides, and the manufacture of photographic film. (11, 8)

Minimum Risk Level

Acute Inhalation: 0.6 ppm (6) Intermediate Inhalation: 0.3 ppm (6) Chronic Inhalation: 0.3 ppm (6) Acute Oral: 0.2 mg/kg/day (6) Chronic Oral: 0.06 mg/kg/day (6)

Health Effects

Exposure to methylene chloride may cause optic neuropathy and hepatitis. Very high concentrations can lead to unconciousness, coma, and death. It is metabolized to carbon monoxide, potentially leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. Methylene chloride also causes liver and kidney injury, and may be a carcinogen. (11, 9)

Symptoms

Breathing large amounts of methylene chloride causes dizziness, nausea, tingling or numbness of the finger and toes, loss of concentration, and reduced hand-eye coordination. Very high concentrations can lead to unconciousness, coma, and death. Skin contact with methylene chloride causes burning and redness of the skin. (8, 9)

Treatment

Treatment of methylene chloride exposure is mainly symptomatic. Ingested methylene chloride may be removed by emesis and/or gastric lavage, and activated charcoal. Hyperbaric oxygen may be used to treat the carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from inhalation of methylene chloride. (10)

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

HMDB0031548

FooDB ID

FDB008159

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID