Bis(chloromethyl) ether

Bis(chloromethyl) Ether (BCME) is a colorless, flammable, carcinogenic liquid with an extremely suffocating odor. It is a dimethyl ether in which one of the hydrogens attached to each of the methyl group is replaced by a chlorine. It does not occur naturally and is easily miscible in water; degrades rapidly and quickly evaporates into air. BCME is used in industry as an alkylating agent, a chemical intermediate, a monitoring indicator for the presence of chloromethyl ether, and as a laboratory reagent. It was mostly used in manufacturing polymers, resins, and textiles, but only a small quantity is produced now in the US in enclosed systems to make other chemicals. It has been reported that small quantities of BCME may be formed as an impurity during the production of another chemical, chloromethyl methyl ether. BCME is irritating to eyes and mucous membranes and emits toxic vapors of HCl and other chlorinated compounds when heated to decomposition. Exposure to BCME is associated with higher risk of developing small cell lung cancer and the risk increases with increasing duration and cumulative exposure. The hydrolysis products of BCME are HCHO and HCL. In order to prevent humans and other organisms from the potential carcinogenic effects of BCME via ingestion of contaminated water, the ambient water concentrations should be zero, based on the non-threshold assumption for this chemical. Estimates indicate that zero level may not be attainable at the present time. Human overexposure studies have shown that potential symptoms of poisoning may include irritation of the eyes, skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory system, as well as pulmonary congestion, edema, corneal damage, necrosis, coughing, dyspnea and wheezing, blood-stained sputum, and bronchial secretions. There is no antidote for this compound and poisoned patient should receive supportive medical care.