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International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

BENZAL CHLORIDE

VOL.: 29 (1982) (p. 65)

5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation

5.1 Experimental data

In one experiment in which benzal chloride was tested by skin application in female mice, it produced squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin. In a concurrent experiment in which it was tested for a shorter duration, a low incidence of skin papillomas was observed.

In one study, benzal chloride was mutagenic to bacteria with metabolic activation and was positive in a rec-assay with Bacillus subtilis.

No data were available to assess the teratogenicity of this compound to experimental animals.

5.2 Human data

Occupational exposure to benzal chloride has and probably still does occur during its manufacture and conversion to benzaldehyde.

No data were available to assess the mutagenicity or teratogenicity of this compound to man.

No case report or epidemiological study involving exposure to benzal chloride alone was available to the Working Group. Six cases of respiratory cancer have been reported among benzoyl chloride manufacturing workers in two small plants, who were also potentially exposed to benzal chloride. The cases occurred in young workers, three of whom were nonsmokers.

5.3 Evaluation

There is limited evidence that benzal chloride is carcinogenic in experimental animals.

Although the epidemiological data were inadequate to evaluate the carcinogenicity of benzal chloride alone, they provide limited evidence that employment in the production of benzoyl chloride and its chlorinated toluene precursors, which involves exposure to benzal chloride, represents a carcinogenic risk to man.

No evaluation could be made of the carcinogenic risk to man of benzal chloride itself.

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Subsequent evaluation: Vol. 71 (1999)

Last updated: 9 April 1998 






























    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Benzal chloride (ICSC)