# Skin Notation (SK) Profile

Dimethyl sulfate (DMS)

[CAS No. 77

- 78

- 1]

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Healthii

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## Suggested Citation

NIOSH [20XX ]. NIOSH skin notation profile: Dimethyl sulfate. By Hudson NL, Dotson GS.
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH)

Publica tion No. XXX

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. XXXiii

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- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. 

## Foreword

As the largest organ of the body, the skin performs multiple critical functions, such as serving as the primary barrier to the external environment. For this reason, the skin is often exposed to

po tentially hazardous agents, including chemicals, which may contribute to the onset of a spectrum of adverse health effects ranging from localized damage (e.g., irritant contact dermatitis and corrosion) to induction of immune

- mediated responses (e.g., alle rgic contact dermatitis and pulmonary responses), or systemic toxicity (e.g., neurotoxicity and hepatoxicity). Understanding the hazards related to skin contact with chemicals is a critical component of modern occupational safety and health programs.

In 2009, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 61

– A Strategy for Assigning New NIOSH Skin Notations [NIOSH 2009

- 147]. This document provides the scientific rationale and framework for the assignment of multiple hazard

- specific skin notations (SK) that clearly distinguish between the systemic effects, direct (localized) effects, and immune

- mediated respo nses caused by skin contact with chemicals. The key step within assignment of the hazard

- specific SK is the determination of the hazard potential of the substance , or its potential for causing adverse health effects as a result of skin exposure. This deter mination entails a health hazard identification process that involves use of the following:

 Scientific data on the physicochemical properties of a chemical

 Data on human exposures and health effects

 Empirical data from in vivo and in vitro laboratory testing

 Computational techniques, including predictive algorithms and mathematical models that describe a selected process (e.g., skin permeation) by means of analytical or numerical

methods.

This Skin Notation Profile provides the SK assignments and sup portive data for dimethyl sulfate (DMS). In particular, this document evaluates and summarizes the literature describing the hazard potential of the substance and its assessment according to the scientific rationale and

framework outlined in CIB 61. In mee ting this objective, this Skin Notation Profile intends to

inform the audience

— mostly occupational health practitioners, researchers, policy

- and decision

makers, employers, and workers in potentially hazardous workplaces

— so that improved risk

management p ractices may be developed to better protect workers from the risks of skin contact

with the chemicals of interest.

John Howard, M.D.

Director National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Centers for Disease Control and Preventioniv

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- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. 

## Contents

FOREWORD

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ III

ABBREVIATIONS

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... V

GLOSSARY

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................. VII

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... VIII

1.0 INTRODUCTION

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 1

1.1 G ENERAL S UBSTANCE I NFORMATION

................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 1

1.2 P URPOSE

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................. 1

1.3 O VERVIEW OF SK A SSIGNMENT

................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 1

2.0 SYSTEMIC TOXICIT Y FROM SKIN EXPOSURE (SK: SYS)

................................ ................................ ...... 2

3.0 DIRECT EFFECTS O N SKIN (SK: DIR)

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 3

4.0 IMMUNE

- MEDIATED RESPONSES ( SK: SEN)

................................ ................................ ............................. 4

5.0 SUMMARY

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 5

REFERENCES

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 6

APPENDIX: CALCULATIO N OF THE SI RATIO

................................ ................................ ................................ 9

O VERVIEW

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 9

C ALCULATION

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 11

A PPENDIX R EFERENCES

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 12v

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## Abbreviations

ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

CIB Current Intelligence Bulletin

cm 2 squared centimeter(s)

cm/hour centimeter(s) per hour

cm/s centimeter(s) per seco nd

DEREK Deductive Estimation of Risk from Existing Knowledge

DIR skin notation indicating the potential for direct effects to the skin following

contact with a chemical

DMS dimethyl sulfate

EC European Commission

ECB European Chemicals Bureau

GHS G lobally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

GPMT guinea pig maximization test

IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRR) subnotation of SK: DIR indicating the potential for a chemical to be a skin irritant

followin g exposure to the skin

k aq coefficient in the watery epidermal layer

k p skin permeation coefficient

k pol coefficient in the protein fraction of the stratum corneum

k psc permeation coefficient in the lipid fraction of the stratum corneum

LD 50 d o se resulting in 50% mortality in the exposed population

LD Lo dermal lethal dose

LLNA local lymph node assay

LOAEL lowest

- observed

- adverse

- effect level log K OW base

- 10 logarithm of a substance’s octanol

– water partition

M molarity

m 3 cubic meter(s)

mg milligram(s) mg/cm 2 /hour milligram(s) per square centimeter per hour mg/kg milligram(s) per kilogram body weight mg/m 3 milligram(s) per cubic meter

mL milliliter(s) mL/kg milliliter(s) per kilogram body weight

MW molecular weight

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NOAEL no

- observed

- adverse

- effect level

NTP National Toxicology Program

OEL occupational exposure limit

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administrationvi

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- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. ppm parts per million

REL recommended exposure limit

RF retention factor

SEN skin notation indicating the potential for immune

- mediated reactions following

exposure of the skin

SI ratio ratio of skin dose to inhalation dose

SK skin notation

S W solubility in water

SYS skin notation indicating the poten tial for systemic toxicity following exposure of

the skin

USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agencyvii

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- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. 

## Glossary

Absorption

— The transport of a chemical from the outer surface of the skin into both the skin and systemic circulation (including penetration, permeation, and resorption).

Acute exposure

— Contact with a chemical that occurs once or for only a short period of time.

Cance r

— Any one of a group of diseases that occurs when cells in the body become abnormal and grow or multiply out of control.

Contaminant

— A chemical that is ( 1 ) unintentionally present within a neat substance or mixture at a concentration less than 1.0% or ( 2 ) recognized as a potential carcino gen and present within a

neat substance or mixture at a concentration less than 0.1%.

Cutaneous (or percutaneous)

— Referring to the skin (or through the skin).

Dermal

— Referring to the skin.

Dermal contact

— Contact with (touching) the skin.

Direct effects

— Localized, non

- immune

- mediated adverse health effects on the skin, including corrosion, primary irritation, changes in skin pigmentation, and reduction/disruption of the skin barrier integrity, oc curring a t or near the point of contact with chemicals.

Immune

- mediated responses

— Responses mediated by the immune system, in cluding allergic

responses.

Sensitization

— A specific immune

- mediated response that develops following ex posure to a chemical, which, upo n re

- exposure, can lead to allergic contact derma titis (ACD) or other

immune

- mediated diseases such as asthma, depending on the site and route of re

- exposure.

Substance

— A chemical.

Systemic effects

— Systemic toxicity associated with skin absorption of chemicals after exposure

of the skin.viii

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## Acknowledgments

This document was developed by the Education and Information Division (Paul Schulte, Ph.D., Director). G. Scott Dotson, Ph.D., was the project officer for this document, assisted in great part by Nao mi Hudson, Dr.P.H., MPH, Clayton B’Hymer, Ph.D., and Todd Niemeier, M.Sc. The basis for this document was a report ( Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment [ TERA ] ) contracted by NIOSH and prepared by Bernard Gadagbui, Ph.D., and Andrew Maier, Ph.D.

For their contribution to the technical content and review of this document, special acknowledgment is given to the following NIOSH personnel:

Denver Field Office Eric Esswein, M.Sc.

Division of Applied Research and Technology John Snawder, Ph.D.

Mark Tora ason, Ph.D.

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies Gregory A. Day, Ph.D. Aleksander Stefaniak, Ph.D.

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies Matt Dahm, M.Sc. Aaron Sussell, Ph.D. Loren Tapp, M.D.

Education and Information Division Devin Baker, M.Ed. Charles L. Geraci, Ph.D. Thomas J. Lentz, Ph.D. Richard Niemeier, Ph.D. Sudha Pandalai. M.D., Ph.D.

Health Effects Laboratory Division Stacey Anderson, Ph.D. H. Fredrick Frasch, Ph.D.

Vic Johnso n, Ph.D. Michael Luster, Ph.D. Paul Siegel, Ph.D. Berran Yucesoy, Ph.D.ix

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory Heinz Ahlers, JD, M.Sc. Angie Shepherd

For their contribution to the technical content and review of this document, special acknowledgment is given to the following CDC personnel:

Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services/Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office Barbara Landreth, M.A.

In addition, special appreciation is expressed to the following individ uals for serving as independent, external reviewers and providing comments that contributed to the development or improvement of this document:

 G. Frank Gerberick, Ph.D., The Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH

 Dori Germolec, Ph.D., National Toxic ology Program, National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle, NC

 Ben Hayes, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Dermatology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN

 Jennifer Sahmel, M.Sc., CIH, ChemRisk, Boulder, CO

 James Taylor, M. D., Industrial Dermatology, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH1

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- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. 

## 1.0 Introduction

1.1 General Substance Informa tion

Chemical: Dimethyl sulfate

CAS No: 77

- 78

- 1 Molecular weight (

MW ): 126.1

Molecular formula: (CH 3 ) 2 SO 4 Structural formula:

Synonyms: DMS; Methyl sulfate; Dimethyl ester of sulfric acid; Dimethylsulfate

Uses: Dimethyl sulfate (DMS) is primarily used as a methylating and sulfonating agent during the manufacturing of organic compounds [ACGIH 2001].



### 1.2 Purpose

This skin notation profile presents ( 1 ) a brief summary of epidemiological and toxicological data associated with skin contact with DMS and ( 2 ) the rationale behind the hazard

- specific skin notation (SK) assignment for DMS. The SK assignment is based on the scientific rationale and logic outlined in

the Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 61: A Strateg y for Assigning New NIOSH Skin Notations [NIOSH 2009]. The summarized information and health hazard assessment are limited to an evaluation of the potential health effects of dermal exposure to DMS. A literature search was conducted through February 2013 t o identify information on DMS, including but not limited to data relating to its toxicokinetics, acute toxicity, repeated

- dose systemic toxicity, carcinogenicity , biological system/function

– specific effects (including reproductive and developmental effects and immunotoxicity), irritation, and sensitization. Information was considered from studies of humans, animals, or appropriate modeling systems that are relevant to assessing the effects of dermal exposure to
DMS.



### 1.3 Overview of SK Assignment

DMS is pot entially capable of causing numerous adverse health effects following skin contact. A critical review of available data has resulted in the following SK assignment for DMS: SK: SYS

- DIR (COR)

. Table 1 provides an overview of the critical effects and data used to develop the SK assignment for

DMS.2

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Table 1. Summary of the SK Assignment for DMS

Skin Notation Critical

Effect Available

Data

SK: SYS Hematological effects; Hepatoxicity;

central nervous system effects Sufficient human data;

limited animal data SK: DIR (COR) Skin corrosion Sufficient human data;

sufficient animal data



## 2.0 Systemic Toxicity from Skin Exposure (SK: SYS)

Quantitative information of absorption via the dermal route of exposure to DMS has not been identified. However, the chemical is considered to be rapidly absorbed through intact skin [Rippey and Stallwood 2005]. In an occupational exposure study, Schettgen et al. [2004] observed a significant increase in hemoglobin adducts of DMS in a group of employees that worked in a specific building of a chemical plant where stationary monitoring of DMS showed only values below the limit of detection (reported as 10 μg/m 3 ) data collected with area samples, which ar e less accurate for estimating worker exposure than personal breathing zone samples. According to these investigators, the high exposures to DMS was attributed to skin contact with residues of unreacted DMS in the product [Schettgen et al. 2004]. Based

on this qualitative information, the chemical may be considered to have the potential to be absorbed following dermal exposure. The potential of DMS to pose a skin absorption hazard was also evaluated, with use of a predictive algorithm for estimating and eva luating the health hazards of dermal exposure to substances [NIOSH 2009]. The evaluation method compares an estimated dose accumulated in the body from skin absorption and an estimated dose from respiratory absorption associated with a reference occupation al exposure limit. On the basis of this algorithm, a ratio of the skin dose to the inhalation dose (SI ratio) of 12.8 was calculated for DMS. An SI ratio of ≥0.1 indicates that skin absorption may significantly contribute to the overall body burden of a su bstance [NIOSH 2009]; therefore, DMS is considered to be absorbed through the skin following dermal exposure. Additional information on the SI

ratio and the variables used in its calculation are included in the appendix

.

N o dermal lethal dose (LD Lo ) for humans or dermal LD 50 values ( the dose resulting in 50% mortality in the exposed animals) in experimental animals have been identified.

Although no epidemiological studies or dermal repeated

- dose studies using DMS have been identified, several repo rts in the literature demonstrate systemic and pulmonary toxicity resulting from skin contamination through spills, though, in such cases, there might have been some contribution by inhalation exposure [Littler and McConnell 1955; Wang et al. 1988; Schettg en et al 2004; Yagami et al. 2009]. Although no quantitative information on the exposure dose was provided, these case reports demonstrate that dermal exposure to DMS can result in systemic effects (e.g., albuminuria, hematuria, hypoglycemia) indicating in volvement of the liver and nausea, headache and irritability, indicating central nervous system effects.

No repeat

- dose or subchronic standard toxicity or specialty studies evaluating biological system/function specific effects (including reproductive an d developmental effects and immunotoxicity) or standard3

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. cancer bioassays following dermal exposure to DMS were identified in animals. Hoffman [1980] indicated that DMS is a methylating material that can act as a mutagenic substance for nucleic acids.

Howev er, in animal studies, van Duuren et al. [1974] observed no carcinogenic effects when 0.1 mL (corresponding to 133 mg) solution of DMS in 0.1 mL acetone was applied to the skin of 20 mice three times per week for a period of 385 or 475 days. The authors al so observed no cancers when the chemical was combined with the tumor promotor phorbol myristate acetate and did not report any findings on the

non

- neoplastic changes in this study [van Duuren et al. 1974]. Although no studies were identified that

demonstr ate the potential of DMS to be carcinogenic, the chemical has been evaluated for carcinogenicity via other routes of exposure. Table 2 summarizes carcinogenic designations of multiple governmental and nongovernmental organizations for DMS.

Table 2. Summa ry of the carcinogenic designations* for DMS by numerous governmental and nongovernmental organizations

Organization Carcinogenic designation
NIOSH [2005] Potential occupational carcinogen NTP [2014] Reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen European Parliament [2008] GHS Category 1B: May cause cancer USEPA [2014] Group B2: Probable human carcinogen IARC [2012] Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans EC [2013] † R45: May cause cancer ACGIH [2001] Group A3: Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown

relevance to humans
ACGIH = American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; EC = European Commission, Joint Research, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection; GHS = Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling o f Chemicals; IARC = International Agency for Research on Cancer; NIOSH = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; NTP = National Toxicology Program; USEPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency.

* The listed cancer designations were based on data from nondermal (such as oral or inhalation) exposure since studies using the dermal route of exposure were unavailable. †Date accessed.

Based on the limited information from occupational case reports [Littler and McConnell 1955; Wang et al. 1988; Schettgen et al 2004; Yagami et al. 2009] 1 and supported by a mathematical model, DMS is systemically available and toxic following dermal exposure. Therefore, on the basis of the data for this
assessment, DMS is assigned the SK: SYS notation.



## 3.0 Direct Effects on Skin (SK: DIR)

No human or animal in vivo studies on corrosivity of DMS or in vitro tests for corrosivity using human

skin models or in vitro tests of skin integrity using cadaver skin were identi fied. However, several case reports were identified that indicate varying skin changes from simple redness to skin burns depending on the length of contact. For example, Littler and McConnell [1955] reported burns from a direct spill

on the skin of a stude nt, who dropped and broke a 2.5 L bottle that was almost full of DMS. The liquid

1 References in bold text indicate studies that serve as the basis of the SK assignments.4

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. soaked through his pants to involve the genitalia and left thigh, Littler and McConnel [1955] also reported a worker whose job duties included working on an analgesic drug to which dimethyl sulfate was added. The worker whose work clothing was likely splashed with dimethyl sulfate, experienced disturbances in vision, breathing difficulties, and swollen and vesicated skin [Littler and McConnel 1955]. Wang et al. [1988] reported that within 1

- 2 hours of skin exposure to DMS, redness, swelling, pain, bleb formation, and burns were present. Yagami et al. [2009] reported a patient that spilled 100% DMS in his lap; the patient developed severe irritation, redness, swelling, and bliste rs at the exposure site. In the cases reported by Littler and McConnell [1955],Wang et al. [1988] and Yagami et al. [2009], there was a delay in onset but symptoms were still occurring. DMS has anesthetic effects; thus, the sensation of skin contact may no t be noticed until the onset of significant tissue damage.

In animals, Dow [1938] reported necrosis, blistering and deep ulceration when 0.001 cubic centimeters per square centimeter (cc/cm 2 ) was applied to the ear and abdomen (species unspecified). A re view by Browning [1965] reported that the chemical caused secondary and tertiary burns when applied directly to animal skin, although no further detailed information was provided. No irritation was observed when 0.01 ml undiluted DMS were applied to the sk in of guinea pigs, but 0.1 ml was sufficient to produced moderate to severe skin irritation [E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972]. The structure activity relationship model, Deductive Estimation of Risk from Existing Knowledge ( DEREK ) for Windows, predicted DMS to be a plausible skin irritant.

Taken together, human [ Littler and McConnell 1955; Wang et al. 1988; Yagami et al. 2009] and

animal data [Dow 1938; Browning 1965; E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972] demonstrate

that DM S is corrosive at high doses and prolonged dermal exposure, and irritating at low concentrations. Therefore, on the basis of the data for this assessment, DMS is assigned the SK: DIR (COR) notation.



## 4.0 Immune

- mediated Responses (SK: SEN)

There is limite d information identified from occupational exposures. Yagami et al. [2009] reported a patient that spilled 100% DMS in his lap; the patient developed severe irritation, redness, swelling, and blisters at the exposure site. The authors suspected that the pa tient developed allergic contact dermatitis to DMS, and patch tested him using 0.1% pet. DMS and noted a positive skin reaction [Yagami et al. 2009]. In guinea pigs, 0.05 ml (67 mg) of 0.5% and 1% DMS solution was sufficient to cause positive

responses upo n the challenge dose, although no guinea pigs were sensitized [ E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972 ]. Ashby et al. [1995] suggested that DMS is a potential skin sensitizer based on the results of their murine local lymph node assay (LLNA). In this assa y, topical application of 0.25, 0.5 and 1% DMS in acetone/olive oil (80/20 v/v) resulted in greater than a 3

- fold increase in thymidine isotope incorporation in the lymph nodes of exposed mice compared with vehicle controls [Ashby et al. 1995]. Ashby et al . [1995] considered a 3

- fold increase to be determinant of sensitizing activity. The ECB [2002] review of the Ashby et al. [1995] study noted that the positive response observed may be due to the corrosive properties of the chemical. A non

- standard, Ear

- Fl ank Test was also conducted, and which the authors [Stevens 1967] concluded that the chemical was not a skin sensitizer. In guinea pigs, 0.05 ml (67 mg) of 0.5% DMS solution was not sufficient to cause sensitization when applied to the intact skin of guine a pigs [E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972].5

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Although positive responses were observed in the murine LLNA test [Ashby et al. 1995] and in a single human patch test [Yagami et al. 2009], conflicting evidence in animal studies [Stevens 1967; E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972] suggest that DMS is not capable of causing immune

- mediated responses (i.e., sensitization) following skin contact and that the positive responses may be attributable to corrosive properties of the chemical. Therefore, on t he basis of the data for this assessment, DMS is not assigned the SK: SEN notation.



## 5.0 Summary

Although limited information was identified on the toxicokinetics and systemic toxicity of DMS, occupational case reports [Littler and McConnell 1955; Wang e t al. 1988; Schettgen et al 2004; Yagami et al. 2009] supported by the mathematical model prediction demonstrates that DMS is systemically available and toxic following dermal exposure. DMS is corrosive at high doses and following prolonged dermal exposure and irritating at lower concentrations based on human [Littler and McConnell 1955; Wang et al. 1988; Yagami et al. 2009] and animal [ Dow 1938; Browning 1965; E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972] studies. Although positive responses were

observed in the murine LLNA test [Ashby et al. 1995] and in a single human patch test [Yagami et al. 2009], conflicting evidence in animal studies [Stevens 1967; E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 1972] suggests that DMS is not capable of causing immune

- mediated resp onses (i.e., sensitization) following skin contact and that the positive responses may be attributable to corrosive properties of the

chemical. Therefore, on the basis of these assessments, DMS is assigned a composite skin notation of

SK: SYS

- DIR (COR)

.

Table 3 summarizes the skin hazard designations for DMS previously issued by NIOSH and other organizations. The equivalent dermal designations for DMS, according to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling of chemicals, the equiv alent GHS classification for DMS are Skin Corrosion Category 1B (Causes severe skin burns and eye damage) and Skin Sensitization Category 1 (May cause an allergic skin reaction) [European Parliament 2008].

Table 3. Summary of previous skin hazard designa tions for DMS

Organization Skin hazard designation
NIOSH [2005] [skin]: Potential for dermal absorption OSHA [2015] * [skin]: Potential for dermal absorption ACGIH [2001] [skin]: Based on systemic toxicity reported for workers from

dermal contact with DMS EC [2013] * R34: Causes burns

R43: May cause sensitization by skin contact

ACGIH = American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; EC = European Commission, Joint Research, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection; NIOSH = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; OSHA = Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

*Date accessed.6

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. 

## References

Note : Asterisks (*) denote sources cited in text; daggers ( † ) denote additional resources.

*ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) [2001]. Dimethyl sulfate. In: Documentation of threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 7th ed., Vol. 1. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygien ists.

*Ashby J, Basketter DA, Paton D, Kimber I [1995]. Structure activity relationships in a skin sensitization using the murine local lymph node assay. Toxicology 103 :177

- 194.

*Browning E [1965]. Toxicity and metabolism of industrial solvents. Amsterd am, Netherlands pp. 713

- 721.

*Dow Chemical Company [1938]. The skin irritating action of dimethylsulfate. Midland, MI: Dow Chemical Company. On file with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under TSCA Section 8D.

OTS #0557225.

† E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company [1943]. Preliminary tests on the toxicology of diethyl sulfate and diethyl peroxide. By Fleming AJ. Wilmington, DE: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Haskell Laboratory for Toxicology and Industrial Medicial Research Project No. MR

- 1 19. On file with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under TSCA Section 8D. OTS #0557105.

*E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company [1972]. Primary skin irritation and sensitization tests on guinea pigs. By McDonnell ME. Newark, DE: E.I. du Pont de Nemour s and Company, Haskell Laboratory for Toxicology and Industrial Medicine Report No. 22

- 72. On file with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under TSCA Section 8D. OTS #0557106.

*EC (European Commission) [ND]. Dimethyl sulfate. In: EINICS (European In ventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances), http://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/. Accessed: 03

- 21

- 13.

*European Parliament, Council of the European Union [2008]. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2 008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. OJEU, Off J Eur Union L353 :1

– 1355, http://eur

lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUri Serv.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:353:0001:1355:EN:PDF. Accessed: 01

- 27

- 15.

*Hoffman GK [1980]. Genetic effects of DMS, diethyl sulfate and related compounds. Mutat. Res.

75 :63

- 109.

*IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) [2012]. Agents reviewed by the IARC monographs. In: IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/PDFs/index.php. Accessed: 01

- 27

- 15.7

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. *Littler TR, McConnell RB [1955]. Dimethyl sulphate poisoning. Br. J. Ind. Med 12 : 54

- 56.

*NIOSH [2005]. NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards. By Barsan ME. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005

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*NIOSH [2009]. Current intelligence bulletin 61: a strategy for assigning new NIOSH skin notations. By Alhers HW, Chen

- Peng C, Demchuk E, Dotson GS. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cente rs for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009

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Servi ces, Public Health Service. National Toxicology Program, http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/pubhealth/roc/roc13/index.html. Accessed: 01

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*OSHA [ND]. Dimethyl sulfate. In: OSHA Occupational chemical database, http://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/chemResult.html? recNo=644. Accessed: 01

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*Rippey JCR, Stallwood MI [2005]. Nine cases of accidental exposure to dimethyl sulphate

– a potential chemical weapon. Emerg Med J 22 :878

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This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. *Yagami A, Kawai N, Kosai N, Inoue T, Suzuki K, Matsunaga K [2009]. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis due to dimethyl sulfate following sensitization from a severe acute irritant reaction to the reagent. Contact Dermatitis 60 (3): 183

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This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

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## Appendix: Calculation of the SI Ratio

This appendix presents an overview of the SI ratio and a summary of the calculation of the SI ratio for DMS. Although the SI r atio is considered in the determination of a substance’s hazard potential following skin contact, it is intended only to serve as supportive data during the assignment of the

NIOSH SK. An in

- depth discussion on the rationale and calculation of the SI ratio can be found in Appendix B of the Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 61: A Strategy for Assigning New NIOSH Skin

Notations [NIOSH 2009].



### Overview

The SI ratio is a predictive algorithm for estimating and evaluating the health hazards of skin exposure to substances. The algorithm is designed to evaluate the potential for a substance to penetrate the skin and induce systemic toxicity [NIOSH 2009]. The goals for incorporating this algorithm into the proposed strategy for assigning SYS notation are as fol lows:

(1) Provide an alternative method to evaluate substances for which no clinical reports or animal toxicity studies exist or for which empirical data are insufficient to determine systemic effects. (2) Use the algorithm evaluation results to determine whether a substance poses a skin absorption

hazard and should be labeled with the SYS notation.

The algorithm evaluation includes three steps: (1) determining a skin permeation coefficient ( k p ) for the substance of interest, (2) estimating substance uptake by the skin a nd respiratory absorption routes, and (3) evaluating whether the substance poses a skin exposure hazard.

The algorithm is flexible in the data requirement and can operate entirely on the basis of the physicochemical properties of a substance and the relevant exposure parameters. Thus, the algorithm is independent of the need for biologic data. Alternatively, it can function with both the physicochemical properties and the experimentally determined permeation coefficient when such data are available and

approp riate for use.

The first step in the evaluation is to determine the k p for the substance to describe the transdermal penetration rate of the substance [NIOSH 2009]. The k p , which represents the overall diffusion of the substance through the stratum corneu m and into the blood capillaries of the dermis, is estimated from the compound’s molecular weight ( MW ) and base

- 10 logarithm of its octanol

– water partition coefficient ( log K

OW ). In this example, k p is determined for a substance with use of Equation 1. A s elf

- consistent set of units must be used, such as outlined in Table A1. Other model

- based estimates of k p may also be used [NIOSH 2009].10

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Equation 1: Calculation of Skin Permeation Coefficient ( k p )

where k

psc is the permeation coefficient in the lipid fraction of the stratum corneum, k pol is the coefficient in the protein fraction of the stratum corneum, and k aq is the coefficient in the watery epidermal layer. These components are individually estimated by

log k psc = −1.326 + 0.6097 × log K

ow − 0.1786 × MW 0.5

k pol = 0.0001519 × MW −0.5

k aq = 2.5 × MW

−0.5

The second step is to calculate the biologic mass uptake of the substance from skin absorption (skin dose) and inhalation (inhalation dose) during the same period of exposure. The skin dose is calculated as a mathematical product of the k p , the water solub ility ( S

W ) of the substance, the exposed skin surface area, and the duration of exposure. Its units are milligrams (mg). Assume that the skin exposure continues for 8 hours to unprotected skin on the palms of both hands (a surface area of 360 squared

centi meters [cm 2 ]).

Equation 2: Determination of Skin Dose

Skin dose = k

p × S

w × Exposed skin surface area × Exposure time

= k p (cm/hr) × S

w (mg/cm 3 ) × 360 cm 2 × 8 hr

The inhalation dose (in mg) is derived on the basis of the occupational exposure li mit (OEL) of the

substance

— if the OEL is developed to prevent the occurrence of systemic effects rather than sensory/irritant effects or direct effects on the respiratory tract. Assume a continuous exposure of 8 hours, an inhalation volume of 10 cubic mete rs (m 3 ) inhaled air in 8 hours, and a factor of 75% for retention of the airborne substance in the lungs during respiration (retention factor, or RF).

Equation 3: Determination of Inhalation Dose

Inhalation dose = OEL × Inhalation volume × RF

= OEL (mg/m 3 ) × 10 m 3 × 0.7511

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. The final step is to compare the calculated skin and inhalation doses and to present the result as a ratio of skin dose to inhalation dose (the SI ratio). This ratio quantitatively indicates ( 1 ) the significance of dermal absorption as a route of occupational exposure to the substance and ( 2 ) the contribution of dermal uptake to systemic toxicity. If a substance has an SI ratio greater than or equal to 0.1, it is considered a skin absorption hazard.



### Calculation

Table A1 summarizes the data applied in the previously described equations to determine the SI ratio for DMS. The calculated SI ratio was 12.8. On the basis of these results, DMS is predicted to represent a skin absorption hazard.

Table A1. Summary of Da ta used to Calculate the SI Ratio for DMS

Variables Used in Calculation Units Value Skin permeation coefficient Permeation coefficient of stratum corneum lipid path( k psc ) cm/hr 5.8309 × 10 - 4
Permeation coefficient of the protein fraction of the stratum corneum ( k

pol ) cm/hr 1.3525 × 10 - 5

Permeation coefficient of the watery epidermal layer ( k aq ) cm/hr 0.2226 Molecular weight ( MW

) * amu 126.13

Base

- 10 logarithm of its octanol

– water partition coefficient (Log K

ow ) * None 0.16 Calculated skin permeation coefficient ( k p ) cm/hr 5.9502 × 10 - 4

Skin dose

Water solubility ( S w ) * mg/cm 3 28 Calculated skin permeation coefficient ( k p ) cm/hr 5.9502 × 10 - 4

Estimated skin surface area (palms of hand) cm 2 360 Exposure time hr 8

Calculated skin dose mg 47.98

Inhalation Dose
Occupational exposure limit (OEL) † mg/m 3 0.5

Inhalation volume m 3 10 Retention factor (RF) None 0.75

Inhalation dose mg 3.75

Skin dose

– to

– inhalation dose (SI) ratio None 12.8

* Variables identified from SRC [ND].

† The OEL used in calculation of the SI ratio for DMS was the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) [NIOSH 2005].12

This information is distributed solely for the purpose of pre

- dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. 

### Appendix References

NIOSH [2005]. NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005

– 149, http://www.cdc. gov/niosh/npg/.

Accessed: 01

- 27

- 15.

NIOSH [2009]. Current intelligence bulletin 61: a strategy for assigning new NIOSH skin notations. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Insti tute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No.

2009

- 147, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009

- 147/pdfs/2009

- 147.pdf. Accessed: 01

- 27

- 15.

SRC [2009]. Interactive PhysProp database demo, http://esc.syrres.com/fatepointer/webprop.asp?CAS =77781

. Accessed: 01

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