background image
MATERIAL
SAFETY
DATA
SHEET
September
12,
2007
DIMETHYL
SULFOXIDE
(DMSO)
MSDS
GCC1-9
4
Stability:
Stable
Conditions to avoid:
Prolonged heating above 150
o
C (302
o
F) can cause rapid,
exothermic decomposition
Materials to avoid:
Organic and inorganic acid chlorides, strong oxidizing agents,
alkali metals, hydrobromic acid, acidic solutions of alkali bromides
Hazardous decomposition products: Sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl
sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and bis (methylthio) methane
Hazardous polymerization:
Will not occur. No stabilizers are needed or present.
Data for Dimethyl Sulfoxide:
Acute Toxicity Data:
Oral LD-50 (male rat):
14,500-28,300 mg/kg
Inhalation (rat):
No mortality rate @ 2,900 mg/m
3
(900 ppm)/ 24 hrs.
Dermal LD-50 (rat):
40,000 mg/kg
Skin irritation (human):
Mild
Repeated skin application (human): Slight irritation
Skin sensitization (human):
None by EC protocols
Eye irritation (human):
None by EC protocols
Subchronic Toxicity Data:
**
Oral study (13 weeks, rat): LOEL = 8800 mg/kg/day (minor target organ effects: liver)
(reduced body weight gain): NOEL = 1100 mg/kg/day
Inhalation study (13 weeks, rat):
NOAEL = 0.964 mg/L (302 ppm)
** Note - definitions for data:
LOEL = lowest observed effect level
NOAEL = no observed adverse effect level NOEL = no observed effect level.
Developmental Toxicity Data:
DMSO is not considered to be directly embryotoxic and has been shown to be a successful
cryoprotectant for mammalian semen and embryos.
A mouse teratology NOEL of 12 g/kg/day has been established based on research with a 50%
DMSO solution administered orally. Teratology data suggests that:
1. DMSO is not a teratogen to mammals when administered via oral and dermal routes at dose
level that do not produce overt maternal toxicity.
2. DMSO is not a teratogen at low dose levels regardless of the route of administration.
3. The teratogenic potential of DMSO is dependent on route of administration, the dose level
and the gestational time of exposure, but in all cases is extremely low or non-existent.
Mutagenicity/Genotoxicity Data:
Salmonella typhimurium assay (Ames test): negative (+/- activation). DMSO is used as a
neutral solvent in the Ames mutagen test.
Introduction:
This environmental effects summary is written to assist in addressing emergencies created by
an accidental spill which might occur during shipment or handling of this material. It is not
meant to address discharges to sanitary sewers or publicly owned treatment works.
Aquatic Toxicity:
The LC
50
(96 hrs.) for ten species of fish range from 32,500 to 43,000 ppm. The LC
50
for two
species of protozoans are 32,000 and 38,000 ppm. The concentration required to inhibit
growth (EC
50
) for five species of blue-green algae and one green algae species ranged from 0.4 to
4.0%. DMSO is non-bio-accumulating since the log of the octanol/water partition coefficient is
­2.03.
10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION