Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation 5.1 Experimental data Benzyl chloride was tested in mice by skin application and in rats by subcutaneous injection. Sarcomas at the injection site were observed in rats. A few skin carcinomas were observed in a limited number of mice, but their incidence was not statistically significant.
Benzyl chloride is a direct-acting mutagen to bacteria.
It induces mitotic recombination in yeast and transforms hamster embryo cells. The available data are inadequate to assess the teratogenicity of this compound to experimental animals. No data were available to assess the mutagenicity or teratogenicity of this compound to man. No case report or epidemiological study involving exposure to benzyl 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 benzyl chloride.