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Appendices 1-18 to: Report on the Health Effects of Selected Pesticide Coformulants

18   Human toxicity

18.1   Single dose toxicity

18.1.1   Inhalation

Only two very old studies describing the effects of DME to humans have been found.

DME concentrations of 50 % were inhaled by humans in the laboratory (around 500000 ppm (960000 mg/m³) according to the citation in IUCLID). The gas was most unpleasant to inhale (being distinctly suffocating, even when taken with a high percentage of oxygen). (Brown 1924 - quoted from Kirwin & Galvin 1993, IUCLID 2000).

In human subjects, 50000 and 75000 ppm (96000 and 143000 mg/m³) of DME caused feelings of mild intoxication after 12 minutes exposure. At 82000 ppm (157000 mg/m³) some incoordination developed after 21.5 minutes, and a complaint was made of indistinct vision. At 100000 ppm (191000 mg/m³), no objective symptoms occurred during the first 15 minutes. Distinct signs of incoordination developed after 21 minutes of exposure. The experiment continued for 64 minutes, with the subject being unable to do simple tasks. At 144000 ppm (275000 mg/m³), symptoms first occurred after 7 minutes with the subject loosing consciousness after 26 minutes. Inhalation of 200000 ppm (382000 mg/m³) caused unconsciousness within 17 minutes. (Davidson 1925 - quoted from IUCLID 2000).

18.1.2   Oral intake

No data have been found.

18.1.3   Dermal contact

Liquid DME will cause severe frostbite if spilled on the skin (IUCLID 2000).

18.2   Repeated dose toxicity

No data have been found.

18.3   Toxicity to reproduction

No data on reproductive or developmental effects in humans related to DME exposure have been found.

18.4   Mutagenic and genotoxic effects

No data on mutagenic or genotoxic effects in humans related to DME exposure have been found. 

18.5   Carcinogenic effects

No data on carcinogenic effects in humans related to DME exposure have been found.

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