Product Name: 2,6-Dinitro-p-Cresol
Chemical Formula: C7H6N2O5
Synonyms: DNOC, 4-methyl-2,6-dinitrophenol, Dinitrocresol yellow
CAS Number: 534-52-1
Intended Use: Herbicide, insecticide, research chemical
Manufacturer: Industrial and laboratory suppliers distribute this compound routinely.
Contact Information: Emergency phone numbers for chemical incidents align with country-specific poison centers. Suppliers usually provide a dedicated hotline.
Classification: Acute toxicity (Oral, Dermal, Inhalation); Eye irritation; Environmental hazard (Aquatic chronic)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin, or if inhaled. Causes serious eye irritation. Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones; Exclamation point; Environment.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid all contact and wear suitable chemical protective gear. Prevent release to waterways and avoid accidental inhalation.
Symptoms of Exposure: Symptoms may include headache, vomiting, sweating, fever, dizziness, rapid breathing, confusion, skin and eye irritation, potential for convulsions and collapse in severe exposures.
Chemical Identity: 2,6-Dinitro-p-Cresol
Concentration: Usually supplied as pure solid or technical-grade blends
Impurities: Minor trace nitro derivatives or cresol-based byproducts present in technical grade
Other Components: In formulated products, inert ingredients, surfactants, or diluents may be present. These do not significantly alter hazard classification but must be listed in commercial use mixtures.
General Instructions: Take the victim away from exposure zone immediately. Rescuers should use chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and respiratory protection.
Inhalation: Move to a source of fresh air without delay. Provide oxygen, artificial respiration, or CPR if breathing has stopped. Immediate hospital treatment remains critical.
Skin Contact: Remove all affected clothing and rinse the skin thoroughly with water. Use soap generously. Seek medical attention for irritation or if large areas contact the chemical.
Eye Contact: Rinse continually with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes. Make sure to lift eyelids and ensure thorough flushing. Seek specialist eye care.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting under any circumstances. Rinse mouth thoroughly with water and get medical attention as quickly as possible. Keep the affected person still and warm.
Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical powder, or carbon dioxide. Avoid direct water jets.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Nitrous gases, phenolic vapors, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide can form once the chemical burns.
Advice for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective suit. Contain runoff water to prevent contamination.
Explosion Risk: High dust concentrations may form explosive mixtures in air. Keep dust to a minimum.
Personal Precautions: Put on suitable chemical splash goggles, gloves, and coveralls right away. If dust clouds or vapors form, ensure respiratory protection.
Environmental Precautions: Block chemical from entering drains, surface waters, and the soil.
Containment: Shake or shovel up solid spills gently, do not raise dust. Use absorbent material for small quantities or fine residues.
Cleanup Procedures: Transfer collected material in containers for disposal. Ventilate and wash the area with water and detergent.
Handling: Handle only in areas with proper exhaust ventilation. Always use non-sparking tools. Wash hands and face thoroughly after working with this chemical. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use.
Storage: Store in tightly closed original containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Protect against physical damage and separate from incompatible substances like strong acids and bases, cyanides, and reducing agents.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to limit exposure. High-efficiency particulate air filtration helps if dust or fumes become airborne.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemically resistant gloves, lab coat or coveralls, full-length eye protection, and certified respiratory masks if ventilation is poor.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Workplace standards in many regions set recommended limits around 0.2 mg/m³ (TWA, 8 hours). Specific regulations may apply for different countries.
Hygiene Measures: Remove contaminated clothing and wash regularly. Keep clean workspaces and separate from food, drink, or smoking areas.
Physical State: Yellow crystalline solid
Odor: Mild phenolic odor
Melting Point: 87-89°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility in Water: Slightly soluble
Solubility in Organic Solvents: Good solubility in acetone, ethanol, and ether
pH: Not available
Vapor Pressure: Low
Density: Approximately 1.68 g/cm³
Partition Coefficient (log Kow): Around 2.3-3.0, indicating moderate bioaccumulation potential
Flash Point: Not available (solid decomposes on heating)
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions and dry air.
Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to excess heat, open flames, strong light, incompatible chemicals.
Incompatible Substances: Avoid mixing with strong acids, bases, reducing agents, cyanides, oxidizing agents.
Decomposition Products: Under heating or fire, toxic gases such as nitrogen oxides, phenols, and carbon monoxide may evolve.
Polymerization Hazard: Not expected to undergo uncontrolled polymerization.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact
Acute Effects: Highly toxic. Fatal doses in humans range from 1-2 grams. Acute symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid heart rate, and convulsions.
Chronic Effects: Repeat exposure can damage the liver, kidney, and nervous system. Prolonged contact causes chronic dermatitis and may disrupt metabolic processes.
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as a human carcinogen by IARC or US EPA.
Mutagenicity / Reproductive Toxicity: Studies flagged rare reproductive effects in animal models, although results stay inconclusive.
Other Data: Metabolism mainly occurs via liver, producing nitrophenol derivatives that increase systemic toxicity.
Environmental Fate: 2,6-Dinitro-p-cresol does not degrade swiftly in nature. It persists in soil and aquatic environments for many weeks.
Bioaccumulation: Tends to persist in fish, aquatic plants, and sediment, carrying risks to the ecosystem.
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates; LC50 (96-hr, fish) between 0.2 - 2.0 mg/L.
Other Environmental Risks: Moderately mobile in soil. Potential for groundwater contamination exists where improper disposal happens.
Disposal Methods: Incinerate at approved hazardous waste facilities whenever possible. Do not dispose in regular landfill or water systems.
Special Precautions: Contaminated packaging must undergo decontamination before recycling or disposal as hazardous waste.
Legal Requirements: Disposal must align with regional, national, and local environmental laws.
UN Number: 2767
Proper Shipping Name: Dinitrocresols, solid
Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic Substances)
Packing Group: II
Labels: Toxic substance (Skull and crossbones), Environment where applicable.
Special Precautions: Avoid mechanical shocks; ensure containers are tightly sealed and marked with danger warnings. Follow all transport safety guidelines.
EU/REACH: Listed as a substance of very high concern under EU chemicals regulation; subject to strict marketing and use restrictions.
US EPA: Classified as an extremely hazardous substance; subject to reporting requirements and use limits under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
OSHA: Regulated as a hazardous chemical with occupational exposure standards.
Other International Regulations: Transport and disposal require compliance with Basel Convention guidelines; country-specific pesticide regulations further tighten usage controls.
Labeling Requirements: Warnings must feature hazard pictograms, risk statements, and safety precautions for workers, emergency responders, and environmental safety.
