Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

URACIL MUSTARD

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Antineoplastic agent, derived from mustine, which has largely been replaced by more
effective agents. Given by mouth in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and
malignant lymphomas; occasionally used in mycosis fungoides, polycythaemia vera,
thrombocytosis and as an adjunct in carcinoma of the ovary and lung.

SYNONYMS

C8-H11-Cl2-N3-O2, "5-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-2, 4(1H, 3H)-pyrimidinedione", "5-[bis(2-
chloroethyl)amino]-2, 4(1H, 3H)-pyrimidinedione", 5-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]uracil, 5-
[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]uracil, "aminouracil mustard", demethyldopan, desmethyldopan,
"dopan, demethyl-", Chloethaminacil, ENT-50439, Nordopan, U-8344, Uracillost, Uramustin,
Uramustine, "RCRA U237", "antineoplastic/ cytotoxic/ immunosuppressive"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Very toxic if swallowed.
Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Severely toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 5 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Ingestion may result in nausea, abdominal irritation, pain and vomiting.  Absorption of nitrogen mustards from the gastrointestinal tract may produce systemic poisoning. The effects may include prolonged tremor, inco-ordination, and convulsions.  The killing action of antineoplastic drugs used for cancer chemotherapy is not selective for cancerous cells alone but affect all dividing cells. Acute side effects include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, allergic reaction (skin rash, itch, redness, low blood pressure, unwellness and anaphylactic shock) and local irritation. Gout and renal failure can occur.  

EYE

  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Nitrogen mustards are severely irritating to the eyes and may produce corneal damage and injury to the iris and lens.  

SKIN

  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material.  Nitrogen mustards can cause serious blisters and burns of the skin, causing deep, slow-  healing ulcers. High quantities can also cause internal toxic effects.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  If nitrogen mustard vapors or aerosols are inhaled, there may be irritation of mucous membranes and swelling of the lungs may occur later. They may be absorbed into the body from the lungs, causing effects such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, headache, hair loss, bone marrow impairment, damage to the lymph nodes, loss of white blood cells, period irregularities and reduced male fertility. High concentrations can cause damage to the nervous system.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  

  Principal routes of exposure are by accidental skin and eye contact andinhalation of generated dusts.  Following intraperitoneal injection in mice and rats, uracil mustard  produced a dose-related increase in the incidence of lung tumours in mice  and a variety of tumours in both mice and rats.  Doses of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg administered to female rats on day 12 of  gestation produced malformation in surviving offspring.  Exposure to small quantities may induce hypersensitivity reactions characterized by acute bronchospasm, hives (urticaria), deep dermal wheals (angioneurotic edema), running nose (rhinitis) and blurred vision . Anaphylactic shock and skin rash (non-thrombocytopenic purpura) may occur. An individual may be predisposed to such anti-body mediated reaction if other chemical agents have caused prior sensitization (cross-sensitivity).  · CAUTION: May produce immunosuppression in individuals occupationally exposed to the material.  Exposure to immunosuppressives may aggravate infectious diseases.  Chronic exposure to therapeutic doses of compounds which produce immunosuppression has been associated with development of lymphomas (occasionally malignant) and mammary tumours. These may be secondary effects induced by activation of endogenous retroviruses.  Increased incidences of neoplasms, in mice and humans, have been reported after long-term immunosuppression by azathioprine and cyclosporin. Cyclosporin has been classified as a human carcinogen, by IARC, based on development of lymphomas after repeated and prolonged exposures to therapeutic doses.