Methanesulphonyl chloride

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1987

Report date:

1987

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 403 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity)

GLP compliance:

yes

Test type:

standard acute method

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methanesulphonyl chloride

EC Number:

204-706-1

EC Name:

Methanesulphonyl chloride

Cas Number:

124-63-0

Molecular formula:

CH3ClO2S

IUPAC Name:

methanesulfonyl chloride

Details on test material:

Test article name : Methane sulfonyl chloride
Cas n°: 124-63-0
Origin: Pennwalt Corporation
Batch: D3G
Purity > 95%.

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Age: 6-8 weeks old
- Weight at dosing: ca. 200 g
- Source: Charles River UK Lim., Margate, Kent UK
- Acclimation period: at least 5 days
- Diet: Labsure LAD 1, ad libitum
- Water: Tap water, ad libitum
- Housing: Animals were housed in groups by sex in propylene cages

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
- Temperature: 20.3-24.9°C
- Humidity: 52 +/- 6.6%
- Air changes: no data
- Photoperiod: no data

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: vapour

Type of inhalation exposure:

whole body

Vehicle:

other: unchanged (no vehicle)

Details on inhalation exposure:

Three groups of 5 male and 5 female rats were exposed continuously for 4 hours to test atmosphere containing methane sulfonyl chloride vapors generated at 50°C.

Exposure system:
- Vapor generator:
The test substance was supplied to the generator from a syringe driven by a syringe pump. The compressed air supply to the generator was dried, filtered and oil-free (flow rate of 25 litres per minute).
- Exposure chambers:
The whole-body exposure chambers used for the exposures were of square section and were fitted with pyramidal tops. The chambers were made of perspex and had an internal volume of approximately 115 litres.
- Procedure:
The rats to be exposed were placed into separate compartments of the exposure chamber.
The syringe pump was switched on and the exposure timed for 4 hours, following a 10.5 minute equilibration period.
After 4 hours the supply of test substance was discontinued and the exposure chamber was allowed to clear before the rats were removed for examination.
The control group was treated similarly but exposed to air only.

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

yes

Remarks:

Five air samples were taken from the chamber during each exposure and analysed by GC/FID to determine the concentration of methane sulfonyl chloride in the chamber air.

Duration of exposure:

4 h

Concentrations:

95.5, 130.6 and 251.6 mg/m3

No. of animals per sex per dose:

5

Control animals:

yes

Details on study design:

Observations Clinical signs:
The rats were observed continuously for signs of reaction to the test substance during exposure and at least twice daily throughout the observation period.

Bodyweight:
All rats were weighed daily from the day of delivery until the end of the observation period.

Food and water consumption:
The amount of food and water consumed by each cage of rats was measured daily.

Terminal studies:
All rats that died as a result of exposure and those killed at the end of the observation period were subjected to a detailed macroscopic examination. The lungs were removed, dissected clear of surrounding tissue and weighed and preserved for microscopic examination.

Statistics:

The LC50 was calculated by the log probit method of Miller and Tainter.

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Sex:

male/female

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect level:

111.7 mg/m³ air (analytical)

Exp. duration:

4 h

Remarks on result:

other: Standard error: 12.7 mg/m3

Mortality:

Group Exposure Number dead/number exposed
level
(mg/m3) Males Females Total
1 Control 0/5 0/5 0/10
2 95.5 1/5 0/5 1/10
3 251.6 5/5 5/5 10/10
4 130.6 4/5 5/5 9/10

Clinical signs:

other: (a) During exposure: Signs observed in rats exposed to METHANE SULFONYL CHLORIDE, included closing or partial closing of the eyes, wet fur around mouth, disturbances of the respiratory pattern and adoption of a hunched body posture. (b) During the ob

Body weight:

Bodyweight:
The rats that survived exposure to METHANE SULFONYL CHLORIDE lost weight or gained at a reduced rate for up to 2 days following exposure. Subsequently the rate of bodyweight gain was similar to that of the control rats.

Food and water consumption:
In groups with rats surviving to Day 14 following exposure there was a marked to moderate
reduction in food consumption for up to 1-2 days and slightly reduced consumption for 2-3 further days. There was a marked to moderate reduction in water consumption for up to 4 days in groups exposed at 95.5 or 130.6 mg/m3.

Gross pathology:

Lung weight to bodyweight ratio:
The ratio was higher than normal for most decedent rats.

Macroscopic pathology:
Lung congestion and damage to the corneal surface of the eyes seen in a high proportion of the decedents were considered to be treatment-related findings.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:

Toxicity Category I

Remarks:

Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: other: REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 December 2008

Conclusions:

The LC50 for combined males and females was 117.7 mg/m3 with a standard error of 12.7 mg/m3. There was no obvious difference in level of toxicity between the sexes.

Executive summary:

In an acute inhalation toxicity study performed according to the OECD guideline #403 and to the GLP, 3 groups of 5 male and 5 female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to methanesulfonyl chloride (purity > 95%) vapor for 4 hours at mean analytical levels of 95.5, 130.6 and 251.6 mg/m³, respectively (Hardy & Jackson, 1987). Clinical signs observed during exposure included closing or partial closing of the eyes, wet fur around mouth, disturbances of the respiratory pattern and adoption of a hunched body posture. During the post-exposure period, clinical signs included lethargy and disturbances of the respiratory pattern, Signs indicative of an effect on the respiratory tract persisted for several days in rats that survived exposure. Lung congestion and damage to the corneal surface of the eyes seen in a high proportion of the decedents were considered to be treatment-related findings. The LC50 for combined males and females was 117.7 mg/m³with a standard error of 12.7 mg/m³. There was no obvious difference in level of toxicity between the sexes.