1,1-Dichloroethane

Chlorinated aliphatics as a class are known to cause central nervous system (CNS) depression and respiratory tract and dermal irritation when humans are exposed by inhalation to sufficiently high concentrations. In the past, 1,1-dichloroethane was used as an anesthetic; however, this use was discontinued due to the risk of induction of cardiac arrhythmia in humans. Crystal precipitations and obstruction in the renal tubule lumina and increases in serum urea and creatinine were observed in cats exposed to this compound for weeks. However, these effects were not observed in rats, guinea pigs, or rabbits. However, kidney effectswere observed inmice administered a lethal intraperitoneal injection; the effects included increased glucose and protein in the urine and tubular swelling. The toxicological significance of the nephrotoxicity observed in cats and the mice with regard to human health is not known given the small number of animals tested (cats).The detectionof 1,1-dichoroethane or itsmetabolites in blood and urine cannot predict the type of health effects that might develop from that exposure; because 1,1-dichloroethane and its metabolites leave the body fairly rapidly, the tests need to be conducted within hours to days after exposure.