Ethyl chloroformate

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Ethylchloroformate is corrosive and damages skin and eyes

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed (corrosive)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed (irritating)

Additional information

In a Draize Test consistent with OECD TG 404, 0.5 mL neat EtCF was applied onto the shaved intact or abraded skin of six New Zealand White rabbits each. The semi-occlusive dressings were removed after 24 hours. Necrosis was observed in all animals. Therefore, erythema and edema was not evaluated in the study (Griscom, 1972).

In a guideline study (OECD TG 404), undiluted ethylchloroformate (0.5 mL) was applied to the shaved intact skin of six New Zealand White rabbits under semi-occlusive conditions for 1 and 4 hours (BASF AG, 1982). The animals were scored for erythema, edema and necrosis at 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours and 7 days after removal of the patch. Animals were subjected to gross pathology at the end of the study. If there were signs of necrosis, these were confirmed by gross pathological examination after incision of the skin. The maximum irritation (erythema plus edema) score of 5.5/8.0 was obtained for the 4 h exposure at the Day 7 observation period. Erythema, edema, and superficial necrosis were present at the end of the observation period at Day 7. The absence of full thickness necrosis was verified by a pathologist. ethylchloroformate was extremely irritating but not corrosive in this study. The result, however, is a borderline result.

Vienna White rabbits (4/study) were instilled with 50µL undiluted ethylchloroformate into the conjunctival sac of one eye. Severe eye irritation and corneal opacification were seen 1 h after application and persisted until the end of the observation period (day 8). Effects observed included iritis, hemorrhage, suppuration and staphyloma formation. After 8 days, mean scores for corneal opacity, iritis, erythema and chemiosis were 3.0/4, 2.0/2, 2.0/4, and 1.0/4. The results indicate the risk ofirreversible damage (Corrosive) to the eye(BASF AG, 1970)

Effects on skin irritation/corrosion: corrosive

Effects on eye irritation: corrosive

Justification for classification or non-classification

Corrosive effects cased by ethyl chloroformate have been observed in animal studies. A classification as caustic (R34; Skin irr/corr Cat 1b eye damage cat 1) according to EU Regulation 1272/2008 and EU Regulation 67/548 is warrented therefore.