Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

07:06
Continuous Flow Chemistry: Reaction of Diphenyldiazomethane with p-Nitrobenzoic Acid
Published on: November 15, 2017
Iodomethane human health risk characterization.
Beth E Mileson1, Lisa M Sweeney, Michael L Gargas
1Technology Sciences Group, Inc., Washington, DC 20036, USA. bmileson@tsgusa.com
Inhalation Toxicology
|June 13, 2009
Summary
Iodomethane, a new soil fumigant, poses inhalation risks. A health assessment using a PBPK model found nasal degeneration is the primary concern for acute exposure in humans.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Risk assessment
- Pharmacokinetics
Background:
- Iodomethane is a newly approved pre-plant soil fumigant in the US.
- High vapor pressure necessitates evaluating human inhalation exposure risks.
- Previous assessments identified fetal loss, nasal lesions, and neurotoxicity as critical effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a quantitative human health risk assessment for iodomethane inhalation exposure.
- To develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for iodomethane.
- To derive human equivalent concentrations (HECs) for workers and bystanders.
Main Methods:
- Developed a PBPK model for iodomethane to estimate internal dose.
- Calculated HECs from animal no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) using chemical-specific parameters.
- Assessed acute exposure endpoints including developmental toxicity, nasal lesions, and neurotoxicity.
Main Results:
- Nasal olfactory degeneration identified as the primary endpoint for acute exposure risk assessment.
- HECs derived for developmental (7.4 ppm bystander), nasal (4.5 ppm), and neurotoxicity (10 ppm) endpoints.
- PBPK model incorporated species differences, showing humans are less sensitive to developmental toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Nasal degeneration is the critical effect for acute iodomethane inhalation risk.
- The PBPK model provides a refined approach to human health risk assessment for iodomethane.
- Derived HECs support risk management strategies for occupational and bystander exposure.
Related Concept Videos
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane
Carboxylic acids react with diazomethane in an ether solvent via alkylation at the carboxylate oxygen atom to give methyl esters of the corresponding acid with excellent yields.
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Toxidromes: Clinical Features
Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Toxicity Testing in Animals
Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...

