Product Name: 2,4-Dinitro-o-cresol
Synonyms: DNOC, Dinitroorthocresol, Dinitrocresol, 4-Methyl-2,6-dinitrophenol
CAS Number: 534-52-1
Recommended Use: Pesticide, Fungicide, Herbicide, Industrial chemical
Manufacturer: Chemical and agrochemical supply companies
Contact Numbers for Emergency: Local poison control, fire department, chemical spill response
Classification: Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation, category 2), Eye damage, Skin irritation, Environmental toxicity
Label Elements: Danger Signal word, Toxic Skull & Crossbones pictogram, Exclamation mark, Environment pictogram
Hazard Statements: Poisonous by ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. May cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Strong potential for fatal outcomes at high doses. Risk of environmental harm to aquatic life.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid all contact. Do not breathe dust or fumes. Use only with suitable protective equipment. Wash thoroughly after handling. Seek medical attention for exposure symptoms.
Chemical Name: 2,4-Dinitro-o-cresol
Purity: Typically 98-99%
Impurities: Minor percentages of related phenolic compounds, residual solvents from manufacturing, and water.
Molecular Formula: C7H6N2O5
Molecular Weight: 198.14 g/mol
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air quickly and keep patient at rest. Medical attention is vital as symptoms may develop slowly. Breathing support and supplemental oxygen as needed.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash skin thoroughly with copious amounts of water and mild soap. Seek immediate medical help for any burning, redness, or persistent irritation.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes under running water for at least 15 minutes, lifting eyelids occasionally. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do so. Immediate ophthalmologic examination is important.
Ingestion: Never induce vomiting. Rinse mouth if conscious. Give water or milk if able to swallow. Immediate transportation to the nearest medical facility for supportive therapy is critical.
Symptoms of Overexposure: Headache, confusion, sweating, vomiting, muscle twitching, fever, rapid breathing, seizures, collapse. Dinitrophenolic compounds are strongly uncoupling agents for oxidative phosphorylation and symptoms can escalate quickly.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, foam, sand. Do not use water directly due to contamination risk.
Fire Hazards: Toxic and irritating gases including nitrogen oxides and phenol derivatives will be released. Risk of dust explosion in confined spaces.
Protective Equipment: Full-face self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and chemical protective suit.
Special Procedures: Approach fire from upwind to avoid hazardous gases. Use large amounts of water spray only for major storage area cooling, not directly on product. Remove containers from fire area where safe.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area, ventilate, keep unprotected personnel away. Wear full chemical protective gear including gloves, respirator, goggles, and coveralls.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent the chemical from entering sewers, surface or groundwater, and soil.
Spill Cleanup: Use non-sparking tools to sweep up and collect in suitable closed containers for disposal. Dampen powder to minimize dust creation. Dispose of debris and contaminated equipment in compliance with regulations.
Notification: Report significant releases to local authorities as required by national and regional chemical safety regulations.
Safe Handling: Use in well-ventilated areas, under local exhaust systems if possible. Avoid all forms of contact and wash after manipulation. Prohibit eating, drinking, and smoking in work area. Keep containers tightly closed and clearly labeled.
Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, ventilated, secure chemical storage facility in original sealed packaging. Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, sunlight, and incompatible materials like strong oxidizers and reducing agents.
Special Considerations: Segregate from acids, alkalis, reducing agents, combustibles, and foodstuffs. Keep container upright to avoid leaks. Regularly inspect storage area for container integrity and environmental controls.
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL and ACGIH TLV: 0.2 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA) for dinitrocresols
Engineering Controls: Use closed system transfers and well-designed local exhaust ventilation. Emergency showers and eyewash stations required.
Respiratory Protection: Approved cartridge respirator for organic vapors and particulates or supplied-air respirators for high concentrations.
Skin Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene), complete chemical suit, and boots. Avoid permeable natural materials.
Eye/Face Protection: Tight-fitting chemical safety goggles and face shield. Contact lenses may increase risk.
Hygiene Measures: Remove all contaminated clothing immediately. Shower at work's end and before breaks, segregate work and street clothing, routine medical examination for exposed staff.
Appearance: Yellow-brown crystalline solid or powder
Odor: Phenolic, pungent
Melting Point: 87–89°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes on heating
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; readily soluble in organic solvents such as acetone, ethanol, and ether
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Density: 1.695 g/cm³
pH: Weakly acidic in aqueous suspensions
Flash Point: Not readily flammable in standard conditions
Partition Coefficient (Log Kow): 1.24
Chemical Stability: Stable in cool, dry, shaded conditions but can be sensitive to high heat, fire, and ultraviolet light.
Reactivity: Incompatible with strong acids, alkalis, and oxidizing or reducing agents, generating hazardous or explosive byproducts.
Decomposition Products: Yields toxic gases like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and dinitrophenol vapors when heated to decomposition.
Polymerization: No hazardous polymerization.
Acute Toxicity: Highly toxic by oral (LD50 humans ~5-50 mg/kg), dermal, and inhalation routes
Target Organs: Central nervous system, liver, kidneys, eyes, mucous membranes
Potential Effects: Headache, sweating, dizziness, rapid heart rate, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsions, unconsciousness, and death at high doses
Chronic Exposure: Weight loss, skin sensitization, central nervous system depression, general debility
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity: No conclusive evidence for carcinogenicity in humans; mutagenicity remains under study
Other Hazards: Repeated exposure can damage the skin, eyes, and may lead to systemic toxicity due to dinitrophenol structure uncoupling ATP production.
Routes of Exposure: All routes—especially skin and mucous membrane contact due to high absorption rates; inhalation of dust or aerosols poses rapid systemic risk.
Acute Aquatic Toxicity: Very toxic to aquatic organisms—fish LC50 values below 1 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Moderate environmental persistence, slow degradation in aquatic and terrestrial settings
Bioaccumulation Potential: May accumulate in aquatic organisms and enter food chains
Soil Mobility: Slight mobility in most soils, with potential for seeping into groundwater under certain conditions
Environmental Hazards: Strong potential for bioaccumulation and long-term harmful effects on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
Further Information: Small amounts can cause large-scale ecological damage, especially in poorly managed spill or waste sites.
Waste Disposal Methods: Collect as hazardous waste. Incinerate in a licensed, high-temperature chemical incinerator with afterburner and scrubber. Never discard with municipal waste or landfill unsupervised.
Container Disposal: Rinse thoroughly, destroy or recycle in accordance with local hazardous waste legislation.
Precautions: Follow all local, regional, and national environmental and health regulations. Never flush into sewers or drains. Experienced contractors should oversee disposal.
UN Number: UN 2767
Shipping Name: Dinitrocresols, Solid, Toxic
Transport Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)
Packing Group: I
Labels Required: Toxic (Skull and Crossbones), Environment
Special Precautions: Carry in sealed, secure, unbreakable containers. Notify receiving facilities in advance. Follow all international and national transport protocols (ADR, IMDG, IATA, DOT, etc.)
Chemical Inventory Status: Listed on national inventories such as TSCA, EINECS, and similar worldwide registers
Restrictions: Classified as a highly hazardous substance; severe use limitations in agriculture and manufacturing under environmental protection laws
Workplace Control: Subject to OSHA worker protection standard, EPA hazardous waste regulations, REACH registration for European Union
Labelling Requirements: GHS-compliant labeling with clear hazard pictograms, risk, and safety phrases in official language of jurisdiction.
Further Regulation: Release and waste management governed by Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA, and globally by Basel Convention for transboundary hazardous substances.
