Key Points

Fire

• Combustible
• Reacts violently with metals such as aluminium powder, magnesium powder, strong bases and strong oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard.
• Emits toxic fumes of phosgene, carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride when heated to decomposition or involved in combustion.
• In the event of a fire involving dichloromethane, use fine water spray and normal fire kit with breathing apparatus

Health

• Toxic by ingestion, inhalation or dermal contact
• CHIP: Possible carcinogen
• Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal burns, haemorrhage, and necrosis.
• Inhalation causes dyspnoea, cough and pneumonitis with bilateral exudative pleural effusions
• Dermal contact causes a burning sensation, numbness, coldness and pain.
• Ingestion, inhalation and extensive or prolonged dermal contact can cause systemic effects including headache, light-headedness, blurred vision, fatigue, disorientation, confusion, drowsiness, agitation, ataxia, rash, skin flushing and diaphoresis
• Eye contact with vapour can cause irritation. Contact with liquid methylene chloride may cause corneal burns

Environment

• Avoid release into the environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial incidents

 

All sections are available to download in PDF format.

• Incident Management (PDF, 61 KB)
  Dichloromethane - Incident Management
  Added/updated: 25 May 2011