Dimethyl carbonate

Endpoint summary

Additional information

In the Ames test and in a chromosome aberration test the substance 'dimethyl carbonate' did not induce genotoxic activity (SDS Merck, 2011).

Moreover, Song et al. (2002) tested three gasoline oxygenates, dimethyl carbonate, ethanol anhydrous, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay in L-929 mouse fibroblasts. They reported that dimethyl carbonate did not cause DNA damage in the

assay (MTBE was positive in the assay). [source: APPENDIX B. OEHHA FINAL REVISED HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR DIMETHYL CARBONATE. 18 November 2010].

Since dimethyl carbonate breaks down to methanol and carbon dioxide, and methanol is metabolized to formaldehyde and formic acid, a review of the gentic toxicity of the metabolites is reasonable:

The first metabolite, methanol, is not genotoxic. The subsequent metabolites include formate, which is not genotoxic, and formaldehyde which is ambiguous. However, according to EU classification there is limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect. Moreover, the genotoxicity of formaldehyde when it is generated internally is probably only important in high dose situations, in view of its role in intermediary metabolism and the generally negative profile of various compounds of which it is a metabolite, including methanol.

Short description of key information:
In an Ames test and in a chromosome aberration test the substance 'dimethyl carbonate' did not induce genotoxic activity (SDS Merck, 2011).
In a single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay in L-929 mouse fibroblasts the substance did not cause DNA damage (Song et al., 2002).

Endpoint Conclusion: No adverse effect observed (negative)