Carbonodithioic acid, O-(3-methylbutyl) ester

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed (corrosive)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed (irritating)

Respiratory irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

The dermal LD₅₀was <1000 mg/kg

Sodium isopentyl xanthate (CAS#2540 -36 -5), sodium ethyl xanthate (CAS# 140 -90 -9) or sodium isobutyl xanthate (CAS # 25306-75-6) can be assessed as a substances strongly irritating skin of rabbits – IIPC factor accordingly 6.2 or 7.0.(The Institute of Organic Industry Branch of Pszczyna Toxicology Department, March 1998)

Sodium or potassium xanthates dissolved in water undergoes hydrolysis giving alkaline reaction. When xanthates are produced as a water solutions exes of alkali hydroxide is kept (pH >10) as a decomposition inhibitor.

Human information

Harmful and irritating in contact with skin. Contact may result in defatting of the skin, rash and dermatitis. Water solution containing sodium hydroxide may cause skin corrosion. Prolonged or repeated contact may result in burns. May be absorbed through skin with toxic effects.(Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety , CHEMINFO sodium ethyl xanthate, 03.08.2004)

A single case was reported of a worker exposed to xanthate powder and water solution by extensive skin contamination during mixing process of the flotation chemicals. Extensive skin contamination of the worker's skin was evident, from the chest down his skin stained green. The worker experienced abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache and felt faint, the illness began twenty hours after exposure and lasted for three days. He did not experience skin irritation except for some mild pruritus at the wrists. TTCA (2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxilic acid), a metabolite of carbon disulfide, was detected in his urine sample.(Donoghue A.M., 1998, Occup. Med. vol. 48, No 7, pp469-470)

Mild dermatitis of sodium ethyl xanthate(CAS# 140-90-9) is the only lesion observed to date in man.(Gosselin R.E.at all, Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkinson, 1976 , II-211; http:// toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp )

Sodium isopropyl xanthate(CAS# 140-93-2)irritating to skin, eyes, mucous membrane, respiratory tract(The Merck Index , 9th ed., Merck & Co., Inc., 1976 , p. 1116; http:// toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp )

 

Skin irritation/corrosion

Sodium ethyl xanthate or sodium isobutyl xanthate can be assessed as a substances strongly irritating skin of rabbits – IIPC factor accordingly 6.2 or 7.0.

An assessment of acid or alkali reserve.Sodium or potassium xanthates dissolved in water undergoes hydrolysis giving alkaline reaction. When xanthates are produced as a water solutions exes of alkali hydroxide is kept (pH >10) as a decomposition inhibitor.

A 32 year old male during a xanthate solution preparing became cover in xanthate powder and water solution staining his skin green from the chest down. Twenty hours later ,he experienced abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache and fatigue, and had mild itchiness at the wrists only. His symptoms resolved within 4 days. Many of the reported symptoms are consistent with carbon disulfide toxicity. A metabolite of carbon disulfide was detected in his urine.(Donoghue A.M. , Occupational Medicine, Vol. 37, no. 7, 1998, p. 469-470)

Skin irritation or skin corrosion

Effect level:

Test animal: rabbit

10% water solution: 1cm³/kg b.w. or 100mg/kg b.w. – no skin irritation

36,3% water solution: 0.175 cm³/kg b.w. or 73mg/kg b.w. – skin corrosion

Paste : 83.3mg/ cm²or 172.4mg/kg b.w. – skin corrosion

Discussion:

Skin irritation/corrosion

No skin irritation of tested rabbits, after application of 1 cm³/kg of 10% water solution of sodium ethyl xanthate (CAS# 140-90-9) (pH 10.5 – 11) pro shaved skin.

Application of 0.5 cm³of 36.3% water solution of sodium ethyl xanthate(CAS# 140-90-9) or sodium isobutyl xathate(CAS # 25306-75-6) pro 6.25 cm²patch of shaved skin of rabbits(4 hours exposure) cause skin corrosion.

Also skin corrosion was the result of application of 500 mg of potassium isobutyl xanthate (CAS# 13001-46-2) as a paste pro 6 cm³patch of rabbits skin.

Conclusion:

Solid xanthates or concentration solution of the compounds can be consider as substances causing skin corrosion.

Carbon disulphide vapour is a severe eye irritant.

Eye irritation/corrosion

An assessment of acid or alkali reserve.

Sodium or potassium xanthates dissolved in water undergoes hydrolysis giving alkaline reaction. When xanthates are produced as a water solutions exes of an alkali hydroxide is kept (pH >10) as a decomposition inhibitor.

Eye irritation/ corrosion

Effect level:

Test animal: rabbit

• 10% water solution, pH 10.5: 5mg/eye – Mild irritation occurred immediately after  instillation. After 1h the eyes appeared normal.
• 36,3% water solution, pH 10.0: 42,5 mg/eye – the concentration solution of the compounds can be consider as substances causing eye corrosion

Discussion/conclusion:

Eye irritation/corrosion

42.4 mg/eye as water solution (pH=10.0), containing 424,1g/dm³of sodium ethyl xanthate (CAS# 140-90-9) or 45.6 mg/eye as water solution pH=10.1, containing 456,1g/dm³of sodium isobutyl xathate (CAS # 25306-75-6), was introduced into the conjunctival sacs of the right rabbit eyes.

Sodium ethyl xanthate (CAS# 140-90-9) or sodium isobutyl xathate (CAS # 25306-75-6) should be consider as seriously injured substance of the rabbit eyes.

Effects on skin irritation/corrosion: corrosive

Effects on eye irritation: corrosive