Dimethyl sulphate: carcinogenicity

Alkylating agents including methyl iodide, dimethyl sulphate (carcinogenic)... 

Alkylation Hazards arise from the alkylating agents, e.g. dimethyl sulphate (suspected human carcinogen), hydrogen fluoride (highly toxic irritant gas) Thermal alkylation processes require higher temperatures and pressures, with associated problems... 

Lawley, P.D.. Orr, D.J. Shah. S.A. (1972) Reaction of alkylating mutagens and carcinogens with nucleic acids N3 of guanine as a site of alkylation by V-methyl-V-nitrosourca and dimethyl sulphate. Chem.-biol. Interact., 4, 431-434... 

Metabolism of foreign compounds is not necessarily detoxication. This has already been indicated in examples and will become more apparent later in this book. This may involve activation by a phase 1 or phase 2 pathway or transport to a particular site followed by metabolism. Thus, sulphate conjugation and acetylation may be involved in the metabolic activation of /V-hydroxy aromatic amines, glutathione conjugation may be important in the nephrotoxicity of compounds, methylation in metal toxicity, glucuronidation in the carcinogenicity of /1-naphthylamine and 3, 2 -dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl. 

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