Product Name: Diethylcarbamazine Citrate
Chemical Formula: C10H21N3O·C6H8O7
CAS Number: 1642-54-2
Synonyms: DEC, Hetrazan, Banocide
Recommended Use: Pharmaceutical treatment for filarial infections
Manufacturer Information: Manufacturer’s contact details, including address and emergency phone number, are listed on primary packaging.
Emergency Contact: National emergency hotlines remain open 24/7 for chemical exposure.
Product Code: Internal inventory codes differ by supplier.
GHS Classification: Eye irritation Category 2A, specific target organ toxicity (single exposure)
Signal Word: Caution
Hazard Statements: May cause eye and skin irritation; may trigger headaches, nausea, dizziness.
Pictograms: Exclamation mark, health hazard
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing dust; wash hands after handling; use personal protective equipment as required.
Routes of Exposure: Skin, eyes, inhalation, ingestion
PPE Recommendations: Gloves, lab coat, safety goggles.
Chemical Identity: Diethylcarbamazine Citrate
Content: Pure, pharmaceutical grade (commonly ≥97%)
Impurities: May contain trace amounts of manufacturing by-products, verified by certificate of analysis
Component Structure: Two main portions: diethylcarbamazine base and citric acid salt.
Other Ingredients: Filler and excipient details appear on finished medicinal product labeling right after main ingredients.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with plenty of water for 15 minutes; consult a medical professional if redness, irritation, or vision changes persist.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; wash skin thoroughly with soap and water; seek help for persistent irritation.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air immediately; support breathing if required; call a doctor if symptoms like sore throat, coughing, or headache persist.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth; do not induce vomiting; call poison control or a physician without delay.
Advice for Doctors: Symptomatic and supportive treatment recommended for accidental exposures.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical powder, foam, carbon dioxide
Unsuitable Media: High pressure water jets may spread powder or dust
Hazardous Combustion Products: Emits toxic fumes like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide upon burning
Special Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus
Special Remarks: Cool containers with spray to prevent pressure buildup or explosion.
Personal Precautions: Put on gloves, goggles, and a dust mask; ventilate area; keep untrained people away.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent powder from entering drains, soil, or water systems.
Methods for Cleaning Up: Collect the spill with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter or sweep up gently; use damp cloth on residual powder; dispose of waste as per hazardous material regulations.
Containment: Surround area with absorbent materials if large spill occurs, minimize dust formation.
Disposal: Place collected material in a suitable, labeled waste container for disposal according to national and local guidelines.
Safe Handling Guidelines: Handle in well-ventilated areas; avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing; do not eat, drink, or smoke when handling.
General Hygiene Practices: Wash hands thoroughly after use; remove contaminated clothing and protective equipment before leaving area.
Storage Conditions: Store tightly closed in original or compatible container away from moisture, direct sunlight, high temperature, and incompatible materials such as strong acids and oxidizers.
Storage Temperature: Room temperature, around 15–30°C; avoid freezing.
Incompatibilities: Avoid storing with strong acids, strong oxidizing agents.
Shelf Life: Check packaging for expiry or retest date; maintain log for audit.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation or laboratory fume hood to minimize dust exposure.
Eye Protection: Wear safety goggles meeting EN166 or ANSI standards.
Hand Protection: Use chemically resistant gloves, such as nitrile or latex.
Skin and Body Protection: Wear lab coat or apron; full protective clothing in case of large volume work.
Respiratory Protection: Use mask or respirator if dust formation is likely; follow risk assessment for longer exposure.
Exposure Limits: No established occupational exposure limit values; handle as pharmaceutical, minimize exposure at all times.
Other Protective Measures: Eye wash stations and emergency showers should remain accessible in work areas.
Appearance: White or off-white, crystalline powder
Odor: No significant odor
Molecular Weight: 426.49 g/mol (citrate form)
Melting Point: 244–246°C (citrate salt)
Solubility: Freely soluble in water; slightly soluble in alcohol
pH (1% solution): 4.0–6.0
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Vapor Pressure: Not available (practically non-volatile at room temperature)
Density: About 1.4 g/cm³
Flash Point: Not determined, non-flammable under standard conditions
Partition Coefficient (log Kow): Approximately -0.07
Stability in Light: Stable in dark, decomposes slowly under intense light
Other Information: Generates static easily in powder form; handle with care.
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage and handling conditions.
Reactivity: Not reactive under normal laboratory or warehouse conditions.
Conditions to Avoid: High temperatures, direct sunlight, moisture
Materials to Avoid: Strong acids, oxidizers
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Thermal decomposition generates carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, toxic organic vapors.
Polymerization: Does not undergo hazardous polymerization.
Other Hazards: Fine dust lingering in air may lead to static discharge.
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (rat): about 3,300 mg/kg; estimated similar in mouse with slightly lower tolerance.
Skin Irritation: Mild, transient (based on animal models); rare allergic reactions.
Eye Irritation: May produce mild pain, redness, tearing lasting several hours.
Respiratory Sensitization: Dust may irritate airways, nose, and throat.
Chronic Toxicity: No indication of mutagenicity or carcinogenicity at pharmaceutical doses; prolonged unregulated exposure can trigger organ effects.
Reproductive Toxicity: Insufficient evidence in humans, rare teratogenicity reported in high-dose animal studies.
Other Information: No evidence of skin sensitization in laboratory animals, but caution is always recommended in large scale use.
Ecotoxicity: Low acute aquatic toxicity, but pharmaceutical substances may disrupt aquatic ecosystems if released in large amounts.
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegrades in soil and water, estimated half-life in fresh water: 2–10 days.
Bioaccumulation: Low potential for bioaccumulation (log Kow -0.07); does not accumulate in fish or wildlife tissues.
Mobility in Soil: Moderate; migrates in moist soil but binds reversibly.
Other Hazards: Discharge in significant volume could affect microbial fauna in treatment plants.
Advice: Prevent release to environment outside controlled pharmaceutical or medical use.
Product Disposal: Unused powder and contaminated packaging must go to approved hazardous waste incineration or landfill facility according to local regulations.
Container Disposal: Rinse empty containers and mark as hazardous; do not reuse for any other purpose.
Environmental Impact: Avoid any uncontrolled dumping or disposal in waterways, public sewers or regular trash.
Methods of Disposal: Licensed chemical waste contractor preferred; keep logs of all waste disposal for audit.
UN Number: Not classified as dangerous goods by road, air or sea.
Transport Hazard Class: Not regulated as hazardous material under international transport rules.
Packing Group: Not assigned.
Environmental Hazards: No.
Special Precautions During Transport: Protect against excessive moisture and physical damage, keep in original labeled packaging.
Additional Transport Notes: Follow pharmaceutical chain-of-custody requirements during bulk shipments.
International Chemical Listing: Listed under WHO Essential Medicines; appears on many national pharmaceutical registries.
OSHA Classification (USA): Not classified as hazardous.
EU Classification: Complies with requirements for controlled pharmaceutical substances; not CMR.
Canada WHMIS: Not subject to WHMIS; handled as prescription drug.
REACH Status: Exempt as medicinal product.
Other Country-Specific Regulations: Subject to medical, pharmaceutical, or veterinary prescription and handling requirements, strict tracking in supply chain.
Labeling: Require hazard information for bulk containers, patient information leaflets for final medicinal products.
