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SIDS INITIAL ASSESSMENT PROFILE

CAS No. 26447-40-5 

Chemical Name Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (‘MDI’) 

Structural Formula Mixture of monomeric, oligomeric and polymeric MDI. 

CAS-No. 101-68-8 (a); 

5873-54-1(b); 

2536-05-2 (c) 

26447-40-5 9016-87-9 

Chemical Name Monomeric MDI 

a) 4,4’-methylenediphenyldiisocyanate 

b) 2,4’-methylenediphenyldiisocyanate 

c) 2,2’-methylenediphenyldiisocyanate

MDI (generic) Polymeric MDI 

Structural formula a) 

b) 

c)

SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS OF THE SIAR 

Category/Analogue Rationale 

The predominant commercial product covered by the term MDI is the liquid reaction mixture produced from 

methylene di-aniline. It comprises 4,4’-MDI and its oligomers with small amounts of the other monomers 2,4-MDI 

and 2,2’-MDI. It is commonly termed ‘polymeric MDI’ also called ‘generic’, ‘crude’ or ‘non-isomer specific’ MDI. A 

relatively small proportion is converted to monomeric MDI (essentially 4,4’-MDI) by purification. The data-set on 

this ‘generic MDI’ covers also the testing results on the other MDI analogues. 

The category approach is considered justified since the substances have closely related composition i.e. excess of 

monomeric MDI as well as comparable –NCO content that are considered as the primary determinants of 

(eco)toxicity. 

Human Health 

There are few data available on the toxicokinetics and fate of MDI in humans. Urinary 4,4’-methylenedianiline, 

measured after acid hydrolysis, has been suggested as a biomarker for short-term exposure to MDI. 4,4’-

methylenedianiline (4,4’-MDA), released by hydrolysis of plasma or haemoglobin, has been suggested as a biomarker 

of intermediate and long-term exposure to MDI. No information is available on the toxicokinetics of MDI following 

oral exposure in animals. 

Contradictory results have been obtained with respect to dermal exposure. Eventually, a dermal absorption of 1% is 

taken – as reasonable worst case estimate - to use in dermal exposure calculations. 

With respect to inhalation exposure, there is reliable data regarding distribution/excretion in experimental animals. In 

biomonitoring studies haemoglobin adducts and urine metabolites of MDI were determined. From the data generated 

to date, it is not possible to state categorically that the MDA measured in the majority of studies investigating levels in 
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blood and plasma represents a metabolite of MDI. The results of the inhalation metabolism / toxicokinetics / 

distribution study implicate that a proportion of the MDI dose is converted to metabolites via the intermediary 

formation of an amine group which is rapidly acetylated. However, it is not possible from the current data to elucidate 

the mechanisms in the biological transport and transformation of MDI. Further studies using biologically relevant in 

vitro systems are ongoing Additional studies are being designed to investigate metabolism of formed conjugates and 

any role of free or bound MDA in MDI transformation. 

Assessment of the available acute toxicity data indicates that inhalation exposure to respirable aerosols of MDI results 

in toxicity confined predominantly to the respiratory tract. A well-conducted animal study gives a LC50 (4 h, rat) of 

490 mg/m3

. The limited data available from animal studies indicate that MDI is of low oral and dermal acute toxicity, 

with an oral LD50 (rat) > 10,000 mg/kg and dermal LD50 (rabbit) > 10,000 mg/kg. 

MDI is a known skin and eye irritant. The toxicity studies, mechanistic studies, and human data indicate that MDI 

causes irritation of the respiratory tract. A RD50 (mice) due to pulmonary irritation of 32 mg/m3 was found. An acute 

irritant threshold concentration of 0.5 mg/m3 was estimated from rat studies based on most sensitive (and reversible) 

endpoints in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. 

MDI has also a skin sensitising potential. Animal studies indicate that MDI is a strong allergen. A few human case 

reports describe allergic contact dermatitis due to MDI exposure. MDI is a well-established respiratory sensitiser in 

animals and humans. Animal studies have shown that respiratory sensitisation can be induced by skin contact with 

MDI. The quantitative relationships between exposure (concentration, duration, rate of exposure, route of exposure) 

and incidence of sensitisation have not been established. No threshold level for sensitisation could be determined. 

Extensive information is available on the mechanism of hypersensitivity. Cross-reactivity with other isocyanates has 

been described in several publications. 

No results from repeated-dose toxicity tests are available for the oral and dermal route of exposure. Well-conducted 

short-term and long-term inhalation animal studies indicate the respiratory tract to be the target organ of respirable 

MDI aerosol. The reported NOAELs for chronic toxicity (inhalation, rat, 2 years) are 0.23 and 0.2 mg/m3 (final 

NOAEL = 0.2 mg/m3); LOAEL being 1 mg/m3. The reported NOAEL for short-term toxicity is 1.4 mg/m3; the 

LOAELs for short-term toxicity being 2 mg/m3 and 1 mg/m3; and a LOEL being 1.1 mg/m3. At present, the NOAEL 

used for short-term toxicity is 0.5 mg/m3 (for this estimation the LOAEL(acute, rat) of 0.7 mg/m3, based on a transient 

dysfunction of the pulmonary epithelial barrier, was taken into account). 

The effect of long-term exposure of MDI on the respiratory system of humans has been described in several studies. 

Long-term exposure to MDI tends to cause restriction of pulmonary function and decline in pulmonary diffusing 

capacity. In addition to reports of cases of asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pleuritis, and progressive fibrosing 

alveolitis it may be concluded that chronic exposure to even low levels (mostly undetermined or below 0.05 mg/m3) of 

MDI carries a risk of respiratory disease. 

From the body of available data it is concluded that MDI does not have genotoxic properties. Conflicting results were 

obtained in in vitro test systems. The results, from a recently performed in vivo micronucleus test, indicate that 

aerosolized, inhaled MDI at concentrations as high as 118 mg/m3 air (a concentration high enough to produce portalof-entry-specific toxic effects, including statistically significantly increased lung weights) did not induce cytogenetic 

damage in vivo. 

In a well-conducted chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity animal inhalation study tumours in the lungs were found, without 

adverse effect on the distribution and incidence of tumours apart from these lung tumours. In another long-term 

animal inhalation study a single bronchio-alveolar adenoma was found at 2.05 mg/m3

 MDI. There are two hypotheses 

concerning the oncogenesis of MDI: 1° oncogenesis on the basis of irritation through epigenetic mechanisms, 2° 

oncogenesis resulting from the formation of MDA (4,4’-methylenedianiline). A NOAEL of 0.2 mg/m3 is established 

for inflammatory and other non-neoplastic pulmonary changes. No carcinogenicity studies are available using the oral 

or dermal route of exposure. There is inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and limited evidence in 

experimental animals. 

No fertility nor multigeneration studies are available for MDI. Data from (sub)chronic toxicity studies (Reuzel et al., 

1994b, 1994a) did not reveal clear substance related and/or significant impairment of organs of the reproductive 
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system of the male and female. Taken altogether, these studies were considered too limited to allow a determination of 

a NOAEL for fertility. Pre-natal inhalation toxicity testing in rats indicates the absence of selective toxicity to the 

development (no findings indicate any specific developmental effects at exposure levels below those that caused 

maternal toxicity). The reported NOAEL(developmental) for monomeric MDI is 3 mg/m3/day and the NOAEL(developmental)

for polymeric MDI: 4 mg/m3

/day. No data on reprotoxicity are available in humans. 

Environment 

Vapour pressure is < 0.005 Pa; water solubility and log Kow could only be obtained by HPLC method due to high 

reactivity of the substance with the water; nevertheless, the values yielded are not relevant for predicting 

environmental fate. 

Atmospheric half-life is estimated to be of 1.331 days. Hydrolysis of the isocyanate group under conditions of low 

dispersion results in the formation of polyureas and polyurethanes (PUs) (i.e. both insoluble and inert compounds) and 

traces of MDI and methylenedianiline (MDA). Under conditions of high dispersion a substantial amount of MDA may 

be formed as initial breakdown product. However, MDA in the presence of MDI is rapidly transformed further to 

polyureas/PUs. Biodegradation tests with MDI and derived oligoureas showed that these substances are not 

biodegradated by micro-organisms. Two long-term studies showed that MDI is not accumulated by biota (algae, 

aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates and fish). 

A rather extensive package of environmental tests is available including acute and (sub)chronic tests on fish, aquatic 

invertebrates, algae, plants, soil dwelling organisms and microorganisms. These tests are however confounded by the 

rapid hydrolysis of MDI. 

In all these tests no effect was observed despite the high loads involved (nominal concentrations range between 100-

3000 mg/l or /kg). Absence of effect was observed with all members of substance category tested. This is obviously 

due to the fact that actual exposure of the test organisms takes place to predominantly polyureas/PUs and only traces 

MDI and MDA. One exception concerned testing where MDI had been dispersed in test medium by high speed 

shearing. The observed lethal effects on both fish and cladocerans are assumed to be due to the formation of 

substantial amounts of MDA and this study is considered irrelevant for the hazard assessment of MDI and the 

production under field conditions of its breakdown product MDA. 

Exposure 

MDI is produced in closed, industrial systems. These activities take place in a relatively small number of sites (in total 

11 in Europe for the year 1996). MDI is mainly used as industrial intermediate in the manufacture or application of 

polyurethanes. Smaller amounts are processed to ‘prepolymers’. Worldwide production was about 2,500 kilotonnes 

MDI per annum in 1996 (from which approximately 790 ktpa in Western Europe). MDIs are sold to numerous downstream users (ca. 3,600 in EU). 

MDI is used for the production of PU foams (69%) and coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (26%). Other uses 

are thermoplastic PUs and PU fibers. MDI is also used as grouting agents in rock consolidation or sealing of water 

leaks in tunnels or geotechnical construction works. There is also use in the production of particle board (bonding of 

wood) and mould cores for the foundry industry. 

In conclusion, human exposure to MDI may occur by inhalation of vapours and aerosols or through skin exposures at 

workplaces where MDI is produced, or MDI-containing products are used, or at home doing some do-it yourself jobs. 

RECOMMENDATION 

Human Health: The chemicals in this category are candidates for further work 

Environment: The chemicals in this category are currently of low priority for further work 
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RATIONALE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AND 

NATURE OF FURTHER WORK RECOMMENDED 

Environment: no further work is needed because MDI is not expected to cause harm to the environment given the 

absence of any observed effect in ecotoxicity tests. 

Human health: The chemical is a candidate for further work. Hazardous properties have been identified for this 

substance (local effects after repeated inhalation, irritation and sensitisation). In an assessment performed in the 

European Union in the context of the EU Existing Substances Regulation, both occupational and consumer exposure 

was identified. Other OECD countries may wish to perform an exposure assessment for humans and if necessary a 

risk assessment. Based on the outcome, further testing for fertility of MDI could be considered as a post-SIDS 

activity. 

Note: further metabolism/toxicokinetic/distribution studies are currently on-going.