"Would YOU drink it, sir?" Primary component is of unknown toxicity: 4-methylcyclohexane methanol

[Fred Sanders]

Question for Jeff McIntyre, president of West Virginia American Water who said Friday:

"We don't know that the water's not safe. But I can't say that it is safe."

4-methylcyclohexane methanol:

Little is known about the safety implications for 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, according to the state's Poison Control director Dr. Elizabeth Scharman because it hasn't been adequately studied.

The Material Safety Data Sheet, mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and provided by the chemical's manufacturer, says, "No specific information is available in our data base regarding the toxic effects of this material for humans.

And why are chemical storage tanks perched on a high bank above a major river???:



http://www.etowahriverterminal.com/default2.htm

[El_Johns]

1. I'm not a chemistry whiz, but it's a form of methanol, right? Methanol kills.

Methanol is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, that of ethanol (drinking alcohol).[5] At room temperature, it is a polar liquid, and is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol.

Methanol ingested in large quantities is metabolized to formic acid or formate salts, which is poisonous to the central nervous system, and may cause blindness, coma, and death. Because of these toxic properties, methanol is frequently used as a denaturant additive for ethanol manufactured for industrial uses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol


Jeff McIntyre is, I would wager, an ass.

Try the google Jeff.

CASE REPORTS/ After examining several workers who had been exposed to cellulose solvent containing methylcyclohexanol ... /it was/ concluded that few of them had slightly but significantly diminished total number of leukocytes in peripheral blood streams, while 1 had a slight relative lymphocytosis.
[Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982., p. 4652] **PEER REVIEWED**

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Toxic by ingestion.
[Lewis, R.J. Sr.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 15th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY 2007., p. 824] **PEER REVIEWED**


Skin, Eye and Respiratory Irritations:
Exposure to vapors can produce irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Methyl cyclohexanol is easily detected at airborne concn of 500 ppm, a concn that can produce irritant effects. /From table/
[Sullivan, J.B. Jr., G.R. Krieger (eds.). Hazardous Materials Toxicology-Clinical Principles of Environmental Health. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins, 1992., p. 1107] **PEER REVIEWED**

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+2910

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Not like methanol - in fact this is an incorrect listing of the subtance. The media gets it wrong.

it is specifically 4-Methyl-1-cyclohexanemethanol - a much less volatile compound - it is an organic alcohol in that it has a hydroxy group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-methyl-1-cyclohexanemethanol

It is a very different substance than simply methanol, in many ways.

(I have my PhD in organic chemistry)

[Demo_Chris]

5. In your opinion, based on the limited information available....

How difficult might this be to clean out of the water system, and...

What sorts of long term impact might this have?

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. the quantity that was spilled won't be easy to clean out of the water system -

it is not particularly volatile (boiling point is 167 degrees), or miscible (soluble in water) - it is less dense and will tend to float at the surface in either bubbles or a top layer. I think it depends if it is absorbed into anything that is in contact with the flowing water - and leeches slowly outward.

I've not looked at the materials safety data sheet, but from what I've read, not sure how many specific toxicity tests have been run - the info coming out seems really vague, though the info in this new entry seems pretty comprehensive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Elk_River_chemical_spill (just saw it, haven't read it all).

[Demo_Chris]

9. Thanks. nt

[onethatcares]

14. the question that runs through my head

is; Are the water supply pipes in the Charleston area made of galvanized pipe, and if they are, will the chemical stay in the nooks and crannies of the rust that inhabits that type of piping? I guess I'm just presuming they don't use stainless steel or cpvc piping in that area of the country for their utilities.

[El_Johns]

8. Whatever it is, according to the references I saw, it can cause death.

Methylcyclohexanol
CASRN: 25639-42-3
Chemical structure for Methylcyclohexanol
For more information, search the NLM HSDB database.

Human Health Effects:


Human Toxicity Excerpts:
/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Short term exposure: Methylcyclohexanol can affect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin. Irritates the eyes and the skin. High levels of the vapor may cause irritation of eyes and upper respiratory tract. Repeated or prolonged exposure can cause headaches, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and can also cause a skin rash. High exposures from skin contact or inhalation may cause damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs, and may result in death. Long term exposure: repeated or prolonged contact with skin may cause skin rash.
[Pohanish, R.P. (ed). Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemical Carcinogens 5th Edition Volume 1: A-H,Volume 2: I-Z. William Andrew, Norwich, NY 2008, p. 1687] **PEER REVIEWED**

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Headaches and irritation of eye and upper respiratory tract may result from prolonged exposure to vapor. Prolonged contact of liquid with skin results in irritation...
[International Labour Office. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Vols. I&II. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 1983., p. 111] **PEER REVIEWED**

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Headache and irritation of the ocular and upper respiratory membranes may result from prolonged exposures at excessive concentrations.
[American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices. 5th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 1986., p. 385] **PEER REVIEWED**

/CASE REPORTS/ After examining several workers who had been exposed to cellulose solvent containing methylcyclohexanol ... /it was/ concluded that few of them had slightly but significantly diminished total number of leukocytes in peripheral blood streams, while 1 had a slight relative lymphocytosis.
[Clayton, G. D. and F. E. Clayton (eds.). Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology: Volume 2A, 2B, 2C: Toxicology. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley Sons, 1981-1982., p. 4652] **PEER REVIEWED**

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Toxic by ingestion.
[Lewis, R.J. Sr.; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 15th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY 2007., p. 824] **PEER REVIEWED**


Skin, Eye and Respiratory Irritations:
Exposure to vapors can produce irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Methyl cyclohexanol is easily detected at airborne concn of 500 ppm, a concn that can produce irritant effects. /From table/
[Sullivan, J.B. Jr., G.R. Krieger (eds.). Hazardous Materials Toxicology-Clinical Principles of Environmental Health. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins, 1992., p. 1107] **PEER REVIEWED**


Probable Routes of Human Exposure:
Occupational exposure to methylcyclohexanol may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where methylcyclohexanol is produced or used. Monitoring and use data indicate that the general population may be exposed to methylcyclohexanol via ingestion of drinking water and dermal contact with consumer products containing methylcyclohexanol. (SRC)
**PEER REVIEWED**


Emergency Medical Treatment:


Emergency Medical Treatment:
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The following Overview, *** CYCLOHEXANOL ***, is relevant for this HSDB record chemical.
Life Support:

o This overview assumes that basic life support measures
have been instituted.

Clinical Effects:

0.2.1 SUMMARY OF EXPOSURE
0.2.1.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Exposure may occur by inhalation, ingestion, or
percutaneous routes. Data on toxic effects in humans
are limited. Cyclohexanol is an eye, nose, throat, and
skin irritant. Central nervous system depression may
occur.
B) Signs and symptoms of exposure may include seizures,
ataxia, lacrimation, corneal necrosis, salivation,
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Kidney, liver, and
vascular injury and myocardial necrosis have been
reported in experimental animals.
0.2.3 VITAL SIGNS
0.2.4 HEENT
0.2.4.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Conjunctivitis, lacrimation, and irritation of mucous
membranes may occur.
0.2.5 CARDIOVASCULAR
0.2.5.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Myocardial necrosis was observed in animals.
0.2.7 NEUROLOGIC
0.2.7.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Headache, tremor, and CNS depression may occur.
0.2.8 GASTROINTESTINAL
0.2.8.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Nausea and vomiting have been reported.
0.2.9 HEPATIC
0.2.9.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Liver damage was observed in animals.
0.2.10 GENITOURINARY
0.2.10.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Kidney damage was observed in animals.
0.2.14 DERMATOLOGIC
0.2.14.1 ACUTE EXPOSURE
A) Irritation and defatting of the skin may occur.
0.2.20 REPRODUCTIVE HAZARDS
A) Fertility was reduced in male rats and gerbils following
daily ingestions of cyclohexanol.
0.2.21 CARCINOGENICITY
0.2.21.1 IARC CATEGORY
A) IARC Carcinogenicity Ratings for CAS108-93-0 (IARC
Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks
to Humans, 2006; IARC Working Group on the Evaluation
of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 2007; IARC Working
Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to
Humans, 2010; IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of
Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 2010a; IARC Working Group
on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans,
2008; IARC, 2004):
1) Not Listed
0.2.22 GENOTOXICITY
A) When tested in several strains of Salmonella
typhimurium, cyclohexanol was NOT mutagenic in
concentrations of 500 mcg/plate, either in the presence
or absence of a rat liver homogenate activation system
(HSDB , 2002).
B) A cytogenetic effect was reported in human leukocyte
cells with a cyclohexanol dose of 100 mcmol/L (RTECS,
2002).

Laboratory:

A) Monitor kidney, liver, and cardiac function.

Treatment Overview:

0.4.2 ORAL EXPOSURE
A) Emesis is NOT indicated due to risk of CNS depression.
B) ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: Administer charcoal as a slurry (240
mL water/30 g charcoal). Usual dose: 25 to 100 g in
adults/adolescents, 25 to 50 g in children (1 to 12
years), and 1 g/kg in infants less than 1 year old.
C) DILUTION: Immediately dilute with 4 to 8 ounces (120 to
240 mL) of water or milk (not to exceed 4 ounces/120 mL
in a child).
D) SEIZURES: Administer a benzodiazepine IV; DIAZEPAM
(ADULT: 5 to 10 mg, repeat every 10 to 15 min as needed.
CHILD: 0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg, repeat every 5 min as needed)
or LORAZEPAM (ADULT: 2 to 4 mg; CHILD: 0.05 to 0.1
mg/kg).
1) Consider phenobarbital or propofol if seizures recur
after diazepam 30 mg (adults) or 10 mg (children > 5
years).
2) Monitor for hypotension, dysrhythmias, respiratory
depression, and need for endotracheal intubation.
Evaluate for hypoglycemia, electrolyte disturbances,
hypoxia.
0.4.3 INHALATION EXPOSURE
A) INHALATION: Move patient to fresh air. Monitor for
respiratory distress. If cough or difficulty breathing
develops, evaluate for respiratory tract irritation,
bronchitis, or pneumonitis. Administer oxygen and assist
ventilation as required. Treat bronchospasm with inhaled
beta2 agonist and oral or parenteral corticosteroids.
0.4.4 EYE EXPOSURE
A) DECONTAMINATION: Irrigate exposed eyes with copious
amounts of room temperature water for at least 15
minutes. If irritation, pain, swelling, lacrimation, or
photophobia persist, the patient should be seen in a
health care facility.
0.4.5 DERMAL EXPOSURE
A) OVERVIEW
1) DECONTAMINATION: Remove contaminated clothing and wash
exposed area thoroughly with soap and water. A
physician may need to examine the area if irritation or
pain persists.

Range of Toxicity:

A) TLV-TWA - 50 ppm (200 mg/m(3))

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. depends upon dose, exposure type, etc - though essentially everything is a chemical

(on some level), this clearly is not a chemical that should be in a water supply. And like all chemicals, its reaction in people will vary depending how they metabolize it.

[Gman]

12. This is nothing like methanol.

Methanol is an alcohol with one carbon atom. This has 6 carbons in a ring so they're not even close.

If anything, it's not like benzene or Toluene with their double bonds such are characteristic of carcinogens. This stuff may make you sick, but I suspect it's not a strong carcinogen.

[El_Johns]

13. According to the write-up, it's toxic if ingested, causes liver & kidney damage & neurological

damage, iow it will probably kill you before you could get cancer.

[Drew Richards]

16. No no no!..youre focusing on the wrong part of the molocule...cyclohexene ...

Think benzene...cyclohexene will strip or destroy virtually anything and everything it is a super industrial solvent...and methycyclohexene floats like oil as it slowly dissipates and settles to the riverbed...it will KILL everything it touches....

Grass, worms, fish, snails, plants, birds, bugs, microbes....people.

It is a LONG TERM KILLER as it gets deposited on the banks and riverbeds. When it is transferred between tanks you are required by OSHA rules to wear level 4 mock gear same as for ANY industrial solvent.

This is some serious shit and should NEVER have been stored near any aquafir or water source.

[jsr]

3. Ask him if he would let his wife and kids drink it for a week.

[stg81]

4. because the chemical company will put its tanks wherever the fuck it wants!

because 'Murika! Regulation is socialism!

[jsr]

7. Because America Is Freedom

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Well, they DO have a Bald Eagle on their logo. Cut them some slack.

[Cha]

15. Sounds like a Chris Christie answer.

[theHandpuppet]

17. You ask, "And why are chemical storage tanks perched on a high bank above a major river???"

For the same reason you see chemical & gas storage tanks along good portions of the Ohio -- a lot of that stuff, at some point in time, gets transported by barge or rail. In some parts of the country, it's a matter of geography that determines where things get built. Most of West Virginia is so rugged there's nowhere else to build, practically speaking, than along narrow strips of flat land next to waterways. Valleys won't do because then you've still got to truck it out. Rivers give you access to rail, roads and barges.
Most of those plants along the Kanawha have been there even before WV had its limited interstate system and without some major financial impetus to do so, they're not likely to pack up and move shop.
Of course, one could ask why so many nuclear power plants are built next to major fault lines, That I really can't explain.