Is Dimethyl sulfate safe for babies and kids?
Context-dependent for kids(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Dimethyl sulfate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
What is dimethyl sulfate?
Also known as: dimethylsulfate, Dimethyl sulphate, Dimethyl monosulfate, Sulfuric acid, dimethyl ester.
- IUPAC name
- dimethyl sulfate
- CAS number
- 77-78-1
- Molecular formula
- C2H6O4S
- Molecular weight
- 126.13 g/mol
- SMILES
- COS(=O)(=O)OC
- PubChem CID
- 6497
Risk for babies
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Dimethyl sulfate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Dimethyl sulfate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
20 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Dimethyl sulfate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 1974 | Group 2A | |
| US EPA | 1991 | probable human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / NIOSH | — | potential occupational carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | B2 (Probable human carcinogen - based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals) | |
| EPA CTX / NTP RoC | — | Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans | |
| EPA CTX / CalEPA | — | Known human carcinogen | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 23 positive / 2 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 23 positive / 2 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin Corr. 1B (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Skin Sens. 1 (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 1 (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 1 (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 1A-1C (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Category 8.3A (Category 1) (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 8.2C (Category 1C) (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Sensitization: Category 6.5B (Category 1) (score: moderate) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): High Frequency of Sensitization (score: high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | eye irritation: in vivo: Corrosive or Irritation Persists for > 21 days (score: very high) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin irritation: in vivo: Corrosive (score: very high) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where kids encounter dimethyl sulfate
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Dimethyl sulfate:
-
Process redesign to avoid hazardous intermediates
Trade-offs: May require significant R&D investment. Not always feasible.Relative cost: 2-5×
Frequently asked questions
What products contain dimethyl sulfate?
Dimethyl sulfate appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
Why do regulators disagree about dimethyl sulfate?
Dimethyl sulfate has been classified by 20 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Dimethyl sulfate in the baby app
Look up products containing dimethyl sulfate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (3)
- IARC Monographs Volume 4 / Supplement 7: Dimethyl Sulfate — Group 2A; Local and Systemic Tumors in Rodents; Potent Alkylating Agent; Limited Human Epidemiology (1974) — iarc_monograph
- NIOSH: Dimethyl Sulfate — REL 0.1 ppm; Vesicant; Delayed Pulmonary Edema; Carcinogen Designation; Emergency Response Guidelines (1976) — regulatory
- ATSDR Toxicological Profile: Dimethyl Sulfate — Acute Fatality Risk, Delayed Onset Toxicity, DNA Methylation Mechanism, Occupational Case Reports, Emergency Planning (1992) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →