Dichloromethane (CED0000830)

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-06 18:58:02 UTC

Update Date

2026-08-26 00:12:17 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000076

Identification

Common Name

Dichloromethane

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) is an exogenous organic compound with an average molecular weight of 84.93 g/mol. Dichloromethane belongs to the halomethanes, a subclass of alkyl halides within the organic compounds. At room temperature, this organohalogen compound exists as a liquid. Its industrial applications include use as a solvent (PMC5572480, PMC8671471), a refrigerant (PMC5572480, PMC8671471), and a polar aprotic solvent. Biologically, it is identified as a carcinogenic agent (PMC5572480, PMC8671471) and an antioxidant (PMC13022387). The compound is found in or released from 67 recorded sources, including electrical and electronic equipment, household cleaning and consumer products, building and construction, aquatic systems and sediments, and drinking water and water supply. It is also associated with food, food processing, and cookware. Recorded exposure routes include oral, touch, and inhalation, the latter of which is supported by literature (PMC11746923). Health effects associated with dichloromethane include nausea (PMC11746923), headache (PMC11746923), and dizziness (PMC11746923). It is linked to cancer (PMC5435304), pancreatic cancer (PMC6394840), an increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PMC5435304), and breast cancer (PMC11425761, PMC12327356, PMC5435304). Dichloromethane targets four proteins. It binds to and inhibits the estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) and estrogen receptor (ESR1), causing endocrine disruption in humans. Additionally, it targets hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) and hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA1); it is metabolized into carbon monoxide, which binds to hemoglobin to produce dose-dependent increases in carboxyhemoglobin, resulting in neurological dysfunction and reduced oxygen transport characteristic of carboxyhemoglobinemia.

Contaminant Type

Food Toxin
Household Toxin
Human Neurotoxin
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Metabolite
Organic Compound
Organochloride
PMT
Pesticide
Pollutant
Solvent
Synthetic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
Chlorure de methylene	ChEBI
DCM	ChEBI
Dichlormethan	ChEBI
Methane dichloride	ChEBI
Methylenchlorid	ChEBI
Methylene bichloride	ChEBI
Methylene chloride	ChEBI
Methylene dichloride	ChEBI
Aerothene	HMDB
Aerothene MM	HMDB
Bichloride, methylene	HMDB
CH2CL2	HMDB
Chloride, methylene	HMDB
Dichloride, methylene	HMDB
Dichloro-methane	HMDB
Dichloromethane, acs	HMDB
Dichloromethane, NF	HMDB
Distillex DS3	HMDB
Driverit	HMDB
Freon 30	HMDB
m-Clean D	HMDB
Methoklone	HMDB
Metylenu chlorek	HMDB
Narkotil	HMDB
Nevolin	HMDB
R 30	HMDB
Salesthin	HMDB
Solaesthin	HMDB
Solmethine	HMDB

Chemical Formula

CH₂Cl₂

Average Molecular Mass

84.933 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

83.953 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

1975-09-02

IUPAC Name

dichloromethane

Traditional Name

methylene chloride

SMILES

ClCCl

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/CH2Cl2/c2-1-3/h1H2

InChI Key

YMWUJEATGCHHMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as halomethanes. These are organic compounds in which at least one of the four hydrogen atoms of methane (CH4) are replaced by halogen atoms.

Kingdom

Organic compounds

Super Class

Organohalogen compounds

Class

Alkyl halides

Sub Class

Halomethanes

Direct Parent

Halomethanes

Alternative Parents

Substituents

Halomethane
Hydrocarbon derivative
Organochloride
Alkyl chloride
Aliphatic acyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aliphatic acyclic compounds

External Descriptors

one-carbon compound (CHEBI:15767 )
chloromethanes (CHEBI:15767 )
a small molecule (CPD-681 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Exogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Not Available

Applications

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

polar aprotic solvent

Organoleptic Effects

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Liquid

Appearance

Colorless liquid.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	-96.8°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	13 mg/mL at 25°C

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	17.5 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	1.12	ALOGPS
logP	1.29	ChemAxon
logS	-0.69	ALOGPS
Physiological Charge	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	0	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	16.44 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	6.53 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	Yes	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	Deposition Date	View
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum	splash10-0002-9000000000-fea8e21d8ce299fd6c73	Not Available	View Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum	splash10-000t-9000000000-3c727a0b79ead1d0afc9	Not Available	View Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum	splash10-0002-9000000000-fea8e21d8ce299fd6c73	Not Available	View Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum	splash10-000t-9000000000-3c727a0b79ead1d0afc9	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-a20182f85c9e395e5511	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum	Not Available	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-9fdeb81f96b30affd700	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-9fdeb81f96b30affd700	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-9fdeb81f96b30affd700	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-3641e00693a6eab28168	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-3641e00693a6eab28168	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-3641e00693a6eab28168	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-cd27483dddc3a8ea1a54	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-cd27483dddc3a8ea1a54	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-cd27483dddc3a8ea1a54	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-fddbf58cbca8e803abce	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001i-9000000000-fddbf58cbca8e803abce	Not Available	View Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum	splash10-001j-9000000000-ed36dd35150f69631b13	Not Available	View Spectrum
MS	MS Spectrum	splash10-000t-9000000000-6ce0b546ffcfe5b5cf7e	Not Available	View Spectrum
1D NMR	¹H NMR Spectrum (1D, D₂O, predicted)	Not Available	Not Available	View Spectrum
1D NMR	¹³C NMR Spectrum (1D, D₂O, predicted)	Not Available	Not Available	View Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Mechanism of Toxicity

Methylene chloride targets the lungs, blood system, and nervous system. In the lungs its metabolites damage Clara cells. It is also metabolized into carbon monoxide, which binds to hemoglobin to produce dose-dependent increases in carboxyhemoglobin. This results in the reduced oxygen transport and neurological dysfunction characteristic of carboxyhemoglobinemia (carbon monoxide poisoning). Methylene chloride is also believed to cause neurotoxicity by interfering with signal transmission in a manner similar to general anesthetics. Certain metabolites, such as formaldehyde, may result in carcinogenic effects by causing DNA single strand breaks, DNA-protein crosslinks, and other mutations. (11, 8)

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

2A, probably carcinogenic to humans. (7)

Minimum Risk Level

Acute Inhalation: 0.6 ppm (6) Intermediate Inhalation: 0.3 ppm (6) Chronic Inhalation: 0.3 ppm (6) Acute Oral: 0.2 mg/kg/day (6) Chronic Oral: 0.06 mg/kg/day (6)

Symptoms

Breathing large amounts of methylene chloride causes dizziness, nausea, tingling or numbness of the finger and toes, loss of concentration, and reduced hand-eye coordination. Very high concentrations can lead to unconciousness, coma, and death. Skin contact with methylene chloride causes burning and redness of the skin. (8, 9)

Treatment

Treatment of methylene chloride exposure is mainly symptomatic. Ingested methylene chloride may be removed by emesis and/or gastric lavage, and activated charcoal. Hyperbaric oxygen may be used to treat the carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from inhalation of methylene chloride. (10)

Toxicity Values

Toxicity Value	Unit	Value Range	Organism	Dose Descriptor	Route of Exposure	Predicted or Experimental	Reference
437.0	mg/kg	Not Available	Mouse	LD50	Intraperitoneal	experimental	T14
6460.0	mg/kg	Not Available	Mouse	LD50	Subcutaneous	experimental	T14
1600.0	mg/kg	Not Available	Rat	LD50	Oral	experimental	T32
14400.0	ppm	Not Available	Mouse	LC50	Inhalation (7 hours)	experimental	T14

Health Effects

Health Effect	Relationship	Direction	Reference
cancer	associated_with	Not Available	PMC5435304
dizziness	associated_with	Not Available	PMC11746923 , PMC11746923
breast cancer	associated_with	Not Available	PMC11425761 , PMC11425761 , PMC12327356
breast cancer	associated_with	increase	PMC5435304
headache	associated_with	Not Available	PMC11746923
nausea	associated_with	Not Available	PMC11746923
pancreatic cancer	associated_with	Not Available	PMC6394840
non-Hodgkin lymphoma	associated_with	increase	PMC5435304

Exposure Sources

Source ID	Source	Sector	Reference
3	Irrigation water	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
10	Insecticides	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
27	Water Coolers	Appliances, HVAC & refrigerants	Not Available
43	Water heaters	Appliances, HVAC & refrigerants	Not Available
50	Groundwater	Aquatic systems & sediments	Not Available
51	Surface water	Aquatic systems & sediments	Not Available
52	Seawater	Aquatic systems & sediments	Not Available
53	Freshwater	Aquatic systems & sediments	Not Available
70	Stormwater runoff	Automotive & urban infrastructure	Not Available
88	Waterproofing sprays	Building & Construction	Not Available
115	Drinking water	Drinking water & water supply	Not Available
116	Tap water	Drinking water & water supply	Not Available
117	Bottled water	Drinking water & water supply	Not Available
118	Desalinated water	Drinking water & water supply	Not Available
181	Ballast water	Marine, shipping & aquaculture	Not Available
182	Bilge water	Marine, shipping & aquaculture	Not Available
233	Brushes	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
468	Industrial wastewater	Wastewater, sanitation & biosolids	Not Available
470	Wastewater treatment effluent	Wastewater, sanitation & biosolids	Not Available
475	Mine wastewater	Wastewater, sanitation & biosolids	Not Available
477	Wastewater, unspecified	Wastewater, sanitation & biosolids	Not Available
490		Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
494	Food contact materials	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
495	Ceilings	Building & Construction	Not Available
497	Floors	Building & Construction	Not Available
501	Sunshades Awnings Or Outside Screens	Building & Construction	Not Available
502	Sunshades Awnings Or Outside Screens	Building & Construction	Not Available
504	Adjustable Resistors	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
505	Amplifiers	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
506	Antennas	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
507	Auxiliary Devices	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
508	Coils	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
510	Communication Cables Or Conductors	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
511	Conductors Or Conductive Bodies Characterised By The Conductive Materials	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
512	Contacts	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
513	Cores Yokes Or Armatures	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
514	Discharge Lamps	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
516	Electric Hearing Aids	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
517	Electric Switches	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
518	Electrically Stimulated Smoking Devices	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
519	Electrodes	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
520	Emergency Protective Devices	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
521	Fixed Capacitors And Their Manufacture	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
523	Gas Filled Discharge Tubes With Solid Cathode	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
524	Hybrid Capacitors	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
525	Line Transmission Systems	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
527	Magnets	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
529	Power Cables	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
530	Radio Transmission Systems	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
531	Relays	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
535	Superconducting Magnets And Superconducting Coils	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
536	Superconductive Or Hyperconductive Conductors Cables Or Transmission Lines	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
537	Television Systems	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
538	Thin Magnetic Films	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
539	Video Games	Electrical & Electronic Equipment	Not Available
544	Fermentation Processes For Beer	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
545	Food Preservation	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
548	Preparation Of Vinegar	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
549	Preparation Of Wine Or Sparkling Wine	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
550	Preparation Of Wort	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
551	Processing Fish	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
552	Processing Meats	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
553	Treatment Of Hops	Food, food processing & cookware	Not Available
555	Bleaching Agents	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
556	Cigar Cigarettes	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
559	Non Electric Simulated Smoking Devices	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
560	Other Smoking Requisites	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
561	Perfumes Within Detergents And Soaps	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
563	Soap Detergents	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
569	Tobacco Smoke Filters	Household cleaning & consumer products	Not Available
578	Making Cigars	Industrial manufacturing & chemical processing	Not Available
579	Manufacture Of Iron Or Steel	Industrial manufacturing & chemical processing	Not Available
580	Manufacture Preparation Of Tobacco Products	Industrial manufacturing & chemical processing	Not Available
581	Paper Making Machines	Industrial manufacturing & chemical processing	Not Available
584	Buoys	Marine, shipping & aquaculture	Not Available
592	Marine Propulsion Or Steering	Marine, shipping & aquaculture	Not Available
593	Nautical Instruments	Marine, shipping & aquaculture	Not Available
594	Ship Hulls	Marine, shipping & aquaculture	Not Available
596	Acaricides	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
597	Chemosterilants	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
598	Fertiliser Distributors	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
600	Herbicides And Algicides	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
602	Molluscicides	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
603	Nematocides	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
604	Pest Attractants	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
605	Pest Repellants	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
606	Plant Growth Regulators	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
607	Rodenticides(1)	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
608	Rodenticides	Agriculture & land management	Not Available
609	Aftershave	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
610	Aftersun Products	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
611	Anti Perspirants Or Body Deoderants	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
612	Body Washing Or Cleaning Implements	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
613	Depilatories	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
614	Essential Oils Or Perfumes	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
615	Eye Makeup Products	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
616	Face Mask Cosmetics	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
617	Lip Care Products	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
618	Lip Makeup Products	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
619	Manicure Pedicure	Personal care & cosmetics	Not Available
630	Toys	Recreation & sports surfaces	Not Available
631	Anthraquinone Dyes	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
632	Apparel	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
633	Azo Dyes	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
638	Decorating Textiles	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
639	Degreasing Leather	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
640	Embroidering And Tufting	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
642	Footwear	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
643	Headwear	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
645	Inorganic Fibres	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
647	Multicolour Dyeing	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
648	Nitro Dyes	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
650	Purses Luggage Hand Bags	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
652	Ropes	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
657	Surface Finishing Of Leather	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
658	Touch Fasteners	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
659	Transfer Printing	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available
662	Yarns Or Threads	Textiles, leather & furnishings	Not Available

Pathways

0 pathways

No pathways found

No metabolic pathways have been associated with this synthetic chemical

Targets

Structure	Protein	UniProt ID	Organism	Relationship	Details
Click to view 3D structure	3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 20	Q9FG87	Arabidopsis thaliana	Predicted (SEA)	11.2881
Click to view 3D structure	Putative agmatine deiminase	Q8DW17	Streptococcus mutans serotype c (strain ATCC 700610 / UA159)	Predicted (SEA)	60.1774
Click to view 3D structure	Protein RecA	P9WHJ3	Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Predicted (SEA)	7779.24
Click to view 3D structure	3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 18	Q38860	Arabidopsis thaliana	Predicted (SEA)	2645.63
Click to view 3D structure	Replicase polyprotein 1ab	P0DTD1	SARS-CoV-2	Predicted (SEA)	7783.83
Click to view 3D structure	Tyrosine-protein kinase JAK2	O60674	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.46
Click to view 3D structure	Heat shock factor protein 1	P38532	Mus musculus	Predicted (SEA)	7783.29
Click to view 3D structure	ATP-dependent molecular chaperone HSP82	C4YTQ8	Candida albicans (strain WO-1) (Yeast)	Predicted (SEA)	7783.99
Click to view 3D structure	Acetylcholinesterase	P22303	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.53
Click to view 3D structure	E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RNF4	P78317	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	6725.71
Click to view 3D structure	Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1	O75762	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7783.75
Click to view 3D structure	Sigma non-opioid intracellular receptor 1	Q60492	Cavia porcellus	Predicted (SEA)	7784.38
Click to view 3D structure	Sodium-dependent dopamine transporter	Q01959	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.61
Click to view 3D structure	Sodium-dependent serotonin transporter	P31645	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.61
Click to view 3D structure	DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 protein	P35639	Mus musculus	Predicted (SEA)	7784.38
Click to view 3D structure	X-box-binding protein 1	P17861	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.38
Click to view 3D structure	Folliculin-interacting protein 1	Q8TF40	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	6578.96
Click to view 3D structure	Large neutral amino acids transporter small subunit 1	Q63016	Rattus norvegicus	Predicted (SEA)	7076.57
Click to view 3D structure	Alpha-2C adrenergic receptor	P18825	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.61
Click to view 3D structure	Sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter	P23975	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.61
Click to view 3D structure	Histamine H3 receptor	Q9Y5N1	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.53
Click to view 3D structure	Alpha-2A adrenergic receptor	P08913	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.69
Click to view 3D structure	Sodium-dependent serotonin transporter	P31652	Rattus norvegicus	Predicted (SEA)	7784.46
Click to view 3D structure	Retinal dehydrogenase 2	O93344	Gallus gallus	Predicted (SEA)	3733.96
Click to view 3D structure	5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2C	P28335	Humans	Predicted (SEA)	7784.61
Click to view 3D structure	Estrogen receptor	P03372	Humans	Known	Causes endocrine disruption in humans by binding to and inhibiting the estrogen receptor. (A590)
Click to view 3D structure	Estrogen receptor beta	Q92731	Humans	Known	Causes endocrine disruption in humans by binding to and inhibiting the estrogen receptor. (A590)
Click to view 3D structure	Hemoglobin subunit alpha	P69905	Humans	Known	Methylene chloride is metabolized into carbon monoxide, which binds to hemoglobin to produce dose-dependent increases in carboxyhemoglobin. This results in the reduced oxygen transport and neurological dysfunction characteristic of carboxyhemoglobinemia (carbon monoxide poisoning). (L188)
Click to view 3D structure	Hemoglobin subunit beta	P68871	Humans	Known	Methylene chloride is metabolized into carbon monoxide, which binds to hemoglobin to produce dose-dependent increases in carboxyhemoglobin. This results in the reduced oxygen transport and neurological dysfunction characteristic of carboxyhemoglobinemia (carbon monoxide poisoning). (L188)