Carcinogenic chlorinated hydrocarbons mutagenicity

Methylene chloride is used in refrigeration, aerosol propellants, paint stripping, urethane foam-blowing agents, adhesive, and food extractants. It has low toxicity compared with other chlorinated hydrocarbons and has been show n lo be neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic toward humans. 

Properties Colorless clear vise, liq. mild odor sol. in most org. soivs., 95% ethanol, acetone, DMSO, ketones, chlorinated hydrocarbons sol. < 1 mg/ml in water insol. in aliphatic hydrocarbons m.w. 430.91 dens. 1.508 g/cm (22.2 C) vapor pressure 10.3 mm Hg (25 C) f.p. 27 C b.p. 236-237 C (5 mm) flash pt. 252 C ref. index 1.5022 Toxicology LD50 (oral, rat) 1850 mg/kg, (skin, rabbit) > 23,700 mg/kg mod. toxic by ing. may cause irritation of skin, respiratory tract cholinesterase inhibitor may cause tremors, convulsions, irritability, hypermotility, diarrhea, enzyme inhibition, change in blood/tissue levels, changes in liver/kidney wt questionable carcinogen experimental teratogen and reproductive effects mutagenic data ... 

Dichloroethane. 1,2-Dichloroethane (MEL 5 ppm 8h TWA) is one of the more toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons. It is readily absorbed through the skin, by inhalation and by ingestion and has a similar toxicity to carbon tetrachloride, with marked effects on the CNS and liver. It also causes liver tumours in lifetime animal experiments and (unlike carbon tetrachloride and chloroform) displays mutagenic activity in vitro, suggesting a direct genotoxic mechanism of action. For this reason, it must be assumed that repeated over-exposure in humans could also lead to carcinogenic effects. 

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