International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations
BIS(CHLOROMETHYL)ETHER
VOL.: 4 (1974) (p. 231)
5. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation
5.1 Animal carcinogenicity data
Bis(chloromethyl)ether (BCME) is carcinogenic to mice following
inhalation, skin application and subcutaneous administration. In
newborn mice it is carcinogenic after a single subcutaneous exposure.
In the rat it is carcinogenic by inhalation and subcutaneous
administration.
5.2 Human carcinogenicity data
A high incidence of predominantly oat-cell carcinoma in a small
population of laboratory workers exposed to BCME strongly suggests
that exposure to this compound constitutes a serious human lung cancer
hazard.
There is also epidemiological evidence to suggest that exposure to
BCME may constitute a lung cancer risk amongst workers exposed to it
as a contaminant in the manufacture of the related chloromethyl methyl ether (CMME) (see separate
monograph on CMME).
Subsequent evaluation: Suppl. 7 (1987)
Last updated: 17 March 1998