Hexamethylenediamine

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

No key information was available.

Additional information

- Skin sensitization:

Only one study was available. The sensibilisation potential of HMD was assessed using the Graul und Kalkhoff method, following a dermal irritation test. No data are provided about the test conditions. Hexamethylene diamine showed no sensitizing properties on human skin. Few data are available, no details were reported, therefore no conclusion can be made.

- Other data:

In one study (Gallo and Ghiringhelli, 1958), Hexamethylene Diamine concentration in the air was determined in a plant for the synthesis of this compound for hydrogenation of adipic nitryl and in a plant of production of the same compound for hydrolysis of nylon shreds. In normal conditions, the observed values were 2mg/mc in the first plant and 5.5 mg/mc in the second plant. During autoclave discharging in the adipic nitryl hydrogenation plant and during autoclave filling in the shreds hydrolysis plant, the average concentrations were 32.7 mg/mc and 131.5 mg/mc respectively. 20 workers from these plants were examined: 8 showed a moderate irritation of the conjunctivae and the upper respiratory tract; 7 complained of dispeptic trouble. One worker suffered of acute hepatitis followed by an eczema due to hypersensitivity to hexamethylene diamine, while conjunctival and upper respiratory tract irritation was attributed to irregularity of meals due to shift work. Blood test and other laboratory tests on the mentioned 20 workers gave normal results. It is concluded that hexamethylene diamine, although highly caustic, has a low toxicity because its vapours are rapidly neutralized by CO_²of the air, with formation of hexamethylene diamine carbamate, a stable non-irritating salt. These Human data can be used as a suplement for animal data.

In the other studies, the workers were exposed at severall substances (co-exposition). Therefore, no conclusion can be made.