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Overview

Benzotrichloride is a colourless to yellow oily liquid with a pungent odour. It is a member of a chemical group known as chlorinated toluenes.

Uses of benzotrichloride

Benzotrichloride is mainly used as an intermediate in the production of dyes and in the industrial production of other chemical intermediates such as benzoylchloride聽and聽benzotrifluoride. These chemical intermediates are used in the production of pesticides and pharmaceuticals.

How benzotrichloride gets into the environment

It may be released into the environment during its production and use. However, it does not persist as it is rapidly broken down in the environment.

Exposure to benzotrichloride

Exposure to聽benzotrichloride聽can occur via breathing in the vapours, ingestion or via skin contact. For the聽general public聽the potential for exposure to聽benzotrichloride聽is likely to be low as it does not persist in the environment.

Exposure is more likely to occur in the workplace.

How exposure to benzotrichloride can affect your health

The presence of聽benzotrichloride聽in the environment does not always lead to exposure.聽In order for聽it to cause any adverse health聽effects you聽must come into contact with it. You may be exposed to聽benzotrichloride聽by breathing or drinking it, or by skin contact. Following exposure to any chemical, the adverse health聽effects you聽may encounter depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way you are exposed, the duration of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you were exposed to any other chemicals.

Breathing in聽benzotrichloride聽vapours can cause irritation to the nose and throat. In severe cases lung damage can occur.

Ingestion of聽benzotrichloride聽can cause stomach upset. Digestive tract burns can occur in severe cases.

Skin contact with聽benzotrichloride聽can cause irritation and burns.

Eye exposure to聽benzotrichloride聽may result in irritation. In severe cases damage to the eye can occur.

Benzotrichloride and cancer

Studies show that聽benzotrichloride聽causes cancer in experimental animals but there is not enough data available to assess the ability of聽benzotrichloride聽alone to cause cancer in humans. However, studies in workers have shown that combined exposures to chlorinated toluenes (such as聽benzotrichloride) and another chemical called benzoyl chloride may cause cancer in humans. This mixture of chemicals is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as probably having the ability to cause cancer in humans. Exposure to these chemicals is most likely to occur in the workplace.

Pregnancy and the unborn child

There is limited data available on the direct effects of exposure to benzotrichloride during pregnancy. Therefore, it鈥檚 not possible to draw any definitive conclusions. Effects on the unborn child are more likely to occur if the exposure to benzotrichloride causes the mother to become unwell.

Vulnerable people

Individuals with breathing problems such as asthmatics may be more sensitive to the effects of inhaling benzotrichloride. This is because it can cause irritation of the airways leading to chest tightness, wheezing and breathlessness.

Children

Children exposed to聽benzotrichloride聽would be expected to show the same symptoms as adults.

What to do if you are exposed to benzotrichloride

It is very unlikely that the general population will be exposed to a level of聽benzotrichloride聽high enough to cause adverse health effects.聽However, if you have any health concerns regarding exposure to benzotrichloride seek guidance from your GP or contact NHS 111.

Additional sources of information

NHS.UK has more information about:

The information contained in this document from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Radiation, Chemicals and Environment Directorate is correct at the time of its publication.

If you have any questions about this guidance, email [email protected] or [email protected]