Chemical Sampling Information
	Dimethyl disulfide
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Dimethyldisulfide; Methyl disulfide OSHA IMIS Code Number: D651 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 624-92-0 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: JO1927500 Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 2381 130 [27 KB, PDF] Chemical Description and Physical Properties: liquid with a characteristic odor molecular formula: C2H6S2 molecular weight: 94.2 boiling point: 110°C vapor pressure: 3.8 kPa @ 25°C melting point: -85°C Potentially hazardous incompatibilities: Highly flammable. Reacts violently with oxidants Exposure Limits American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.5 ppm, 1.9 mg/m3 TWA; Skin Health Factors Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes and skin; cough, sore throat; nausea; weakness. Health Effects: Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16); Disagreeable odor (HE20). Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system Notes: OSHA does not have a PEL for dimethyl disulfide, which is one of the volatile compounds identified with human fecal odor. Vapor/air mixtures of dimethyl disulfide above 24°C may be explosive. Dimethyl disulfide (methyl disulfide) is listed by the FDA as a synthetic flavoring substance that is permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption (21 CFR 172.515), and it occurs naturally in certain foods (e.g., cabbage, brussels sprouts, garlic, onions). Hematological health effects of organic sulfide exposure on employees at a pulp and paper plant have been studied, but the role of dimethyl disulfide in these effects is unknown. In subchronic inhalational toxicity studies with rats in concentrations of dimethyl disulfide up to 125 ppm (6 hours/ day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks), the NOAEL was 5 ppm in males and 25 ppm in females. In 24-hour whole-body exposure studies, the LC50 of dimethyl disulfide in mice was estimated to be 1.5 µl/l of air, which was close to the concentration needed for 100% lethality in cockroaches (1.66 µl/l of air). Date Last Revised: 02/15/2007 Literature Basis: International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Dimethyldisulfide. Dugravot, S., et al.: Dimethyl disulfide exerts insecticidal neurotoxicity through mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of insect KATP channels. J. Neurophysiol. 90(1): 259-270, 2003. Kim, H.Y., et al.: Evaluation of subchronic inhalation toxicity of dimethyl disulfide in rats. Inhal. Toxicol. 18(5): 395-403, 2006. Klingberg, J., Beviz, A., Ohlson, C.G. and Tenhunen, R.: Disturbed iron metabolism among workers exposed to organic sulfides in a pulp plant. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 14(1): 17-20, 1988. Moore, J.G., Jessop, L.D. and Osborne, D.N.: Gas-chromatographic and mass-spectrometric analysis of the odor of human feces. Gastroenterology 93(6): 1321-1329, 1987. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Dimethyl Disulfide. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 923-24. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh) analytical solvent: Methylene Chloride maximum volume: 10 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FPD method reference: OSHA SLTC In-House File method classification: Partially Validated All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.